Info about Sao Paulo

[+ Lucky]

Well, I do agree with tomcal! Hooboy's experiences increasingly seem to be a product of his own karma.

[HooBoy]

I haven't read what TomCal said about me, but to make things perfectly clear....

 

If you read what I wrote about my trip to Rio -- I had a wonderful time. We laughed all the way from Rio to Sao Paulo. Even when our poor driver was ticketed for speeding. A ticket, by the way I paid for, as well as a generous tip on top of his fee and all his food.

 

I am the luckiest guy in the world. People treat me wonderfully, maybe because I treat them with respect.

 

Eduardo is still with me and we're having so much fun, I am taking a break from posting reviews...

 

For those who do not know, there is a very old joke about men never asking for directions and I included it my little story, which I prefaced was a funny story.

 

I knew exactly where we were and arrived at my hotel within 15 minutes of arriving in Sao Paulo during the height of traffic time. I have pictures that will forever remind me of one of the most fun memorable days I have ever had.

 

If you took me seriously and did not recognize the humorous aspects of the events, I am sorry I offended your sensibilities. I am far from being perfect, but I have a great time wherever I am and when I walk up and down Paulista Avenue (a major avenue in Sao Paulo) or the street where my hotel is, people wave at me, many call me by my real name and everyone smiles back at me.

 

Maybe it is because I do not treat them like they are second class citizens and act as if they should be kept in "their place."

 

Or maybe it's just because of Karma.

[trilingual]

Well, it's both! You tend to get back in life what you give. If you give respect, and treat people with dignity, you'll get it in return.

 

Those are important values anywhere, but especially here in Brazil. I've been told more than a few times by some of the escorts that they like me, enjoy being with me, and take care of me because I treat them like friends and professionals. They get a lot of bad attitude, I guess, from some foreigners and a lot of Brazilian clients (who can be outrageously class-ist). So they appreciate it when they're treated decently. They'll walk you to the metro or back to your hotel on streets that aren't real safe. They'll knock themselves out to try to retrieve things if some guy you don't know rips you off. They'll make efforts to be helpful in any way they know how. And vice-versa: I translate for them, try to explain the mysterious thought processes of gringo tourists, help them with their e-mails, etc. It's a two-way street. Yes, they're sex workers, but since I don't consider that a bad thing, per se, it doesn't bother me in the least, as long as they're honest and decent people. And far and away, most of these guys are!

 

Once in a while, some guy will screw up and do something bad, but it's not an everyday occurrence. As Hoo points out, when you try putting yourself into the shoes of some of these fellows you realize what hard lives they've had (and continue to have, in many cases) and how tempting it can be to improve their lot at the expense of some unimaginably rich gringo. It's amazing that so few succumb to that temptation.

 

Anyway, I'm glad to see that Hoo, like so many others of us, has experienced the generous and giving side of Brazil. It's the main thing that makes people fall in love with the country. Lots of places have beautiful scenery and gorgeous men, but none of them combine that with such kind, generous, and caring people.