My second trip to Rio

[alankay]

I just returned from my second trip to Rio and it was even better than the first. I stayed at the Windsor Palace and would recommend it ONLY if you get a corner room on an upper floor. I stayed in 1505 (SE corner) and had a great view of the Atlantic. The room had a corridor connecting a small dining area with the bedroom and a balcony added to a feeling of spaciousness. Other rooms in the middle are very small (1501 is a suite). The cost = $70/nt (incl a great breakfast) and a plus at the hotel are two internet connected computers that are free for hotel guests. I found this hotel a lot more comfortable than the Atlantico Copa.--and quieter. (I also had no problems bringing my 1st Rio trip love, Fernando, to my room).

On day one I was finally able to be with the famous Dalton. The guy is wonderful and a plus for me was that he had not shaved his body and he looked great au naturel! On my way out of Estacao with fellow posters Jake and Jaunty I ran into FERNANDO!! It seems that Fernando no longer works in the sauna but I was able to see him at my hotel several times. We also traveled to Niteroi together to see the space ship like museum (not much of an art collection but a GREAT building. Unfortunately, Fernando is now in London. He left Rio on 1/22 and is apparently trying to establish residency there.

One guy that caught my eye at Estacao was a new fellow from Sao Paulo named Eduardo. He is tall, dark and handsome (aren't they all) but he has a luxurious hairy chest that I fell for. Alas, a 5 PM rendevous the following day at Estacao passed with Eduardo a no-show and I never saw him again. If anyone happens to know about this young man I would love to hear more. For the majority of my trip I spent most evenings at 117. I met Santos there and he was Fabulous. Santos is about 6' tall and has a Frank Zane type physique (not too heavily muscled). Santos is a great kisser and is a dynamo TOP (I saw him in a cabine the two nights he was at 117). I recommend him without hesitation. Santos is apparently a Marco Studio model and is probably one of the most handsome BBs I have ever met. A guy that tried to rip me off at 117 is named Mario. I met him in the steam sauna and decided to go to a cabine. We agreed upon a price and had great sex. In the end, however, he demanded more money and tried to play on my lack of familiarity with Portugese. I knew I had clearly articulated the price and he had agreed so I stood my ground and ignored him for the many return trips I made to 117. My new love in Rio is also from 117 and his name is Mozart. (Pronounced "Mosich.") Mozart is in his early 20s and is a short BB with a very masculine face who also is a great kisser. He and I connected and I saw him virtually every day. We did an excursion to Lapa (he was a great guard in this rather seedy but picturesque area of Centro). We then hopped on the tram and went to St. Therese. Upon returning to Centro I treated Mozart to lunch at Confeteria Colombo--where he had never been and was thoroughly delighted to experience. We ate on the second floor and he was great company. The waiters helped him navigate the complex table setting and a very elderly waiter was absolutely one of the best servers I've had. I plan to return to Colombo's on each trip--I think it is the best restaurant in Rio. On another day Mozart and his friend Fabio and I went to Sugar Loaf. Neither of them had been there and it was a treat to see them point out various sights in Rio from this new vantage point. Neither young man expected any money for the trip but I paid them as guides and enjoyed a visit to a Churrascaria in Rio Sul shopping mall that they wanted me to experience. When departure time came it was truely a sad event for me. I took Mozart and Fabio to an apartment that Jaunty is staying in and said goodbyes there. I understood that they wanted to accompany me to the airport but this was not possible. My plan is to return in May or June and I again find that I cannot wait until I return. I want to thank Jaunty and Jake for a great time in Rio. I truely enjoyed dining and visiting various haunts with both of you. I hope that your stay in Rio continues to go well and that we will share Rio again soon!

[Guest Tomcal_]

Thanks for a great update, I met both Jake and Jaunty in Rio when I was there in Oct. Glad to know Dalton is still around, I am looking forward to seeing him in April. It seems the only slight disagreements I have ever had in a sauna with a boy has been at 117. Interesting that you had that experience there as well. I have found that the management at Rogers and Estacio to be much more "customer friendly" and make sure that the dispute is resolved in the customers favor! the women who owns 117 acted like she couldn't get involved, with two of my friends, when on separate occasions they had a dispute over $50. vs. $100 with a couple boys(not any of the regulars) and then I saw here laughing with the two queens that work behind the desk. The last 3 days of my last trip i only visited Rogers and Estacio, as they are within walking distance and the boys at 117 I liked , I had meet me at the hotel and then I didn't have to make the trek over there!

[Mavica]

Santa Teresa

 

Thanks for the trip report.

 

I leave for Rio on February 6th, and current information is helpful to me (and to others, I'm certain). I have a question about your trip to Santa Teresa. I'm traveling with an expensive camera, and I've read and familiarized myself on the personal safety/crime issues . . . but, I plan to make the trip by cable car and have read comments in the Lonely Planet Rio guide that say that some young guys from neighboring favelas sometimes jump on-board and rob passengers, and then quickly jump off (grab backpacks, bags, etc.). Did you hear anything of this, or did your escorts for the day mention any particular safety concerns? Thanks for any first-hand information you can pass along, and, again, for the trip report.

[Driver]

Was Fabio any chance a forest ranger?

[Guest Ernani]

<<< I have a question about your trip to Santa Teresa. I'm traveling with an expensive camera, and I've read and familiarized myself on the personal safety/crime issues . . . but, I plan to make the trip by cable car and have read comments in the Lonely Planet Rio guide that say that some young guys from neighboring favelas sometimes jump on-board and rob passengers, and then quickly jump off (grab backpacks, bags, etc.).>>>

 

.......Most trolley cars in Santa Tereza have a policeman inside it just to protec tourists from any problem with favela people. So, choose one cable car with a hot cop and sit besides him. It´s a good excuse to start a conversation with him (something like:"hmmmmm...how big is your gun ? ")

[+ Axiom2001]

After reading about AlanKay's experiences-- I continue to await my return (especially in April) although I am indeed looking forward to Carnaval (Carnival), too!

[Mavica]

Cable Car

 

Ermani, thanks for the info about the "hot cops" riding shotgun!

[alankay]

RE: Cable Car

 

I agree with Ernani--there is a guard on each Bondi (though none were as HOT as Mozart). However, boys jump on and off the trolley at certain points and I was told by Mozart to watch my pocket when a young boy jumped on the train and stood next to me. I would suggest that you take one of the sauna boys with you--they are great company and provide a greater sense of security. I took a camera with me and placed it in a plastic bag. This does not attract as much attention and I never experienced any problems. As far as the saunas go I should mention that my bill was often double at Estacao in comparison to 117. I did about the same amount of cabine rental BUT the guys at Estacao often wanted me to buy them a Red Bull while the guys I liked at 117 preferred fresh squeezed orange juice!

[Mavica]

RE: Cable Car

 

Thanks for the reply about the cable cars. I doubt that I'll want to have an escort show me around town that day, we'll be visiting some other spots, also (but, one never knows!). I always carry my camera in an inexpensive backpack which I have a good grip on, and don't travel around with much else of value (except my body, of course!). Having survived a number of years living in Mexico, and traveling the Mexico City Metro daily, I'm accustomed to pickpockets and petty thieves. I'm also experienced with someone sticking knife and gun in my ribs (in the U.S., Africa, and Mexico), and that's the kind of experience I'm not looking to repeat in Rio!

 

Ernani, sorry for misspelling your name in my thank you reply above.

[Reed]

Let me tag onto this thread. I, too, just returned today from another trip to Rio and will quickly share some observations. On both of my prior trips my sauna visits were limited to Rogers and Estacao. As a solo traveller with limited Portuguese, these two places were a convenient walk, filled with great looking guys. I still like many of the guys at Rogers, most of whom indicate they will gravitate to the new sauna.

 

I continued to have disappointing experiences at Estacao. This is the only place where guys have consistently insisted on more than $50. I was there Friday night, having paid the $20 entrance fee. When I went to leave I settled up and found out that there was a torrential downpour outside, so I recovered my key and reentered...still dressed, for another drink or two. When I went to leave, I was charged for another $20 entrance fee. When I protested the second charge, the manager refused to budge. He eventually gave me a pass for a free subsequence admittance, but I didnt end up using it.

 

One of the sauna boys from Rogers offered to guide me to the other two saunas....117 and Spa 73, so I finally experienced them. I loved 117. I was there last night and it was full of both boys and clients...a very international flavor. Met clients from Italy, France and USA...and lots of great looking guys. Maybe I just caught it on the right night...but I was VERY impressed...experienced no fee issues. I'm sure it helped having a Rogers sauna boy there, helping with the introductions and limiting fee expectations.

 

The Spa73 was a scary experience. The taxi driver dropped us off in the general vicinity but my guide didnt know exactly where it was. We wandered the streets for 30 minutes or so looking for it, and it was obvious he hadnt brought the address. He asked 8 or 9 different cab drivers who were parked in the neighborhood if they knew where it was and none of them did. He also asked many of the local street merchants for directions and none of them knew where it was either. Eventually a guy walking down the street pointed us in the right direction and we found it. Thankfully I was with someone who knew the language.

 

Once there, the place was a great disappointment. Both the lounge and bar area were very dark and it was hard to get a good look at the boys who were working. The selection was very limited...maybe because it was fairly early...around 6:30. None of the guys were very appealing, so we left without doing any hiring.

 

While the weather last week was miserable, I enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere in Rio and the opportunity to experience a couple of the saunas which I had missed on my prior to visits. I look forward to the next trip in April or May.

[Mike_M]

Sorry you didn't like Spa 73, it was my favorite of the saunas I visited in Rio. I went to all of them except Rodger's. True, it is very hard to find which is a real problem. They have a website which has been noted in other posts that I believe has a little map on it. I located it on a street map I bought and would show that to cab drivers.

 

I preferred Spa 73 because I found the boys less "professional". There was no flashing of aroused dicks or other pressure tactics. They would very politely ask if they could join you at your table or at the bar and sort of warm up to you. I never felt rushed and experienced being made love to like I hadn't felt for quite a number of years. It is almost imperative that you should be able to speak basic, rudimentary Portuguese, which is about the best I could manage. The clientel seems to all be locals rather than tourists and appear to be well known by the boys.

 

Also, I think you must have been unfortunate and hit it on a bad night. If I remember correctly, I believe their best nights are supposed to be Monday and Saturday, when they have shows; their website would have the correct nights. All my times there there were at least 15 guys the same caliber as you would see in 117 or Estaçao. My favorites were Alexandre and especially Daniel. The ladies that worked the desk were very helpful and sweet. I went there after I checked out of my hotel before my flight and they watched my luggage and arranged to have a cab pick me up in time to get to the airport.

 

I have to say also that I really didn't have any of the problems at any of the saunas that others have mentioned - no overcharging or arguments over fees or credit card number being stolen and used. I'm glad however these things were mentioned because it kept me vigilant.

[Driver]

I had some troubles finding this sauna (see my earlier trip report) but would go along with two of the posters here. Firstly it was quiet when I went with only about 6 boys but it was not one of their busy nights. I also found the boys less pushy and the front desk very friendly. On a busy night this could be a good find but less experienced travellers may not like the location. (Great rat bits on a stick sold outside)