A different kind of Rio

[Guest ihpguy]

I thought it might be of interest to some fellow M4M'ers to read about a different sort of RJ vacation than the typical Copa/Ipanema sex buffet that is open and available almost around the clock. On my first trip to Rio in October for the M4M festa, I experienced only a very small percentage of what Tomcal does, but certainly enough to quench my thirst. I inquired of Carlo of a possibly more "off-the-beaten-path" Rio, and he turned me on to a small island in Guanabara Bay that is actually part of Rio. This trip of three weeks from 9 January through 3 February began with my arrival at GIG and taxi ride to Praca XV in Centro. Met my procuradora/broker at the ferry docks and he got me settled in my new home on Paqueta. The website is http://www.ilhadepaqueta.com.br. Beside being busy with all of the legal and home improvement stuff, I made time on my second day for a trip to Pointe 202 and met up with an incredible guy who also happens to be a Rio de Janeiro policeman, who sometimes moonlights there to bring in extra money. I had a simply wonderful time going with him on the trains and subways to different parts on Rio that hardly any tourists get to; certainly far away from the Ipanema/Copacabana/RioSul axis. Whether having a suco and empada in Meier, looking for furniture in Madureira

or shopping in a supermercado in Fatima on a holiday with hundreds of other ordinary Cariocans, I think I learned much more than most tourists what life is like, as well as how it is to live day to day for very many ordinary Brasilians. Of course, the days and nights that he was off of work and came out to the island for the sun, the sea and the sex were not bad at all. On my last Saturday in Rio, at the local Praca do Bom Jesus, the fishermen land their boats in the morining and sell gorgeous fresh fish for 3 and 5 Reais as well as fresh shrimp for 15 Reais per kilo. He thought that price was awful and got the fisherman down to 700 grams for 7 Reais. We had some drinks in the Praca looking out onto the bay, bought some T-shirts and cigarettes and went back to the house to put away the fish for supper that night. This was followed by the usual shower, sex, swim and siesta. As almost always, the sunset was beautiful, accompanied by the chirping of thousands of birds and the snapping of crickets. That night, my saute of the fish in olive oil with tomato, onion, garlic and olives was super. Afterwards, with more sex and another shower, there was a 70's disco party at one of the local hotels on the island. It was a blast dancing once again to the tunes I danced to when they first came out in the 70's and early 80's. Walking back to the house was great without any of the fear that you might have on a Copacabana street at 2:30AM. Not being a monk, let me just say that a couple times while visiting Copa I stopped at the Pointe, Estacao and 117. I wasn't a total monogamist and did indeed search for a little variety. And I was successful!In fact, a number of the sauna boys wanted me to take them back to my house on Paqueta. There are many M4M'ers who go to RJ to experience one type of vacation and view one type of lifestyle when they travel there. I thought that some of you readers(or lurkers like me) would like to know about a different type of vacation that at least one Gringo enjoys. One with more direct contact of ordinary residents, a definite improvement in my Portuguse and for me, a much more enriching time spent in a foreign country that I have come to love so very quickly.

[jackhammer91406]

ihpguy,

Loved reading your story. I spent very little time in the saunas myself (one sauna on my first day, and two on the second of 14 days).

Much of my time was spent with Alex going to places outside the normal tourist tracks. I spent one Sunday with a Brazilian couple at their home for a traditional pool party and Bar B Q. Later in the week the same couple showed me around some places only the locals go.

I love meeting local residents and seeing their life in the cit I am visiting.

Tell us more when you can...

[+ Lucky]

RE: A different kind

 

"I love meeting local residents and seeing their life in the cit I am visiting"

 

That settles it for me! On my next trip, I am going to search out the locals annd see what they do with their lives!

[Guest Gringo]

RE: A different kind

 

Rio is the #1 point of call in all of South America. Once there, at least for many of the posters on this MC, life evolves around the saunas and although that is certainly an adventure, that can be a very limiting experience. Some people spend the bulk of their visits within a 10 block area. There's alot of history and culture just a few minutes away in Centro where everything really began. There's a different feel when you travel north to Sao Christvao and the wonderful weekend market there. There's sooooo much to the carioca experience. It just depends on your interests and available time. :+

[Guest YFSC]

ihpguy,

Thanks for a delightful account of your trip. It makes me want to go to Brazil, when the sauna-orgy model didn't.

[Guest YFSC]

>ihpguy,

>Thanks for a delightful account of your trip. It makes me

>want to go to Brazil, when the sauna-orgy model didn't.

 

Before anyone potentially gets bent out of shape or starts pigeonholing my views and putting me on a "side," let me say that I have nothing against the other model for guys that want it. It's just not me.

[trilingual]

I don't think the sauna/orgy model fits most of the readers of this board. (Of course, there are a few exceptions!) Most of the guys I correspond with or have met through M4M have other interests, and have spent significant parts of their stays exploring Rio or other parts of Brazil, going to museums and historic sites, general sightseeing, shopping, dining out, going to music shows, taking Portuguese classes, etc. This isn't a one-dimensional crowd, although you might get that impression because this site is about male escorts and sexual matters so that's the main topic discussed. That doesn't mean that's the only thing guys who read or participate in this site are interested in!

[Guest YFSC]

>I don't think the sauna/orgy model fits most of the readers

>of this board.

 

OK... this is what I was trying to forestall, but I can see I wasn't careful enough about my choice of words.

 

I didn't mean to suggest that anyone followed that model to the exclusion of all else. What I meant by "model" was the account that appears in posts. Substitute "post" for "model" and maybe that will work better. I was reacting to the account in ihpguy's *post* and saying that it did more for me wanting to visit Brazil than the detailed *posts* of people's exploits/experiences in the saunas - and there have certainly been some of those. I like to read those, too, but for other reasons and they have a different effect on me.

 

Maybe that's clearer.

[+ Axiom2001]

"This isn't a one dimensional crowd..." You can write that again! As most of you know-- I've been to Brasil 3X's. In spite of my acute limited experiences with Brasilian Portuguese, my time and experiences have definitely been diverse. I've traveled with a guide, with tour groups, with Carlo, with other M4Mers; I've experienced the many fine cultural attributes of the country and of Rio as well as a few day to day experiences with the local inhabitants by myself.

 

I enjoyed the read, but I abhor generalizations! Will the respondant continue his saga devoid of those nasty little things that have a tendency to escalate into anger and remarks that could have initially been avoided. :-)

[Funseeker 22]

Ax,

Let it go.

The poster`s message should be of great interest to the group without generalizing or categorizing anyone. A different alternative that I would certainly enjoy however don`t have the time to spend this long a period in Rio.

P.S.This might also be the same cop that I hooked up with one afternoon in Ipanema last Oct. Don`t remember his name but his schoolteacher friend was Michael.

[Guest miguelmiche1]

in the end did you close on the purchase of yr home?

[+ Axiom2001]

>Ax,

>Let it go.

>The poster`s message should be of great interest to the group

>without generalizing or categorizing anyone. A different

>alternative that I would certainly enjoy however don`t have

>the time to spend this long a period in Rio.

>P.S.This might also be the same cop that I hooked up with one

>afternoon in Ipanema last Oct. Don`t remember his name but his

>schoolteacher friend was Michael.

 

 

 

Did you misread my second paragraph, or did I misread your response?

Axiom----

[Guest ihpguy]

Thanks for the responses to my post concerning my experiences in RJ last month. I certainly didn't want to cause any arguments concerning political correctness or sexual tourism. Simply that there are many types of experiences available to tourists that wish to interact with a native population that can be very warm and hospitable; not only interested in our tourism dollars, but as new friends as well.

Having vacationed in many places, both in the US and abroad, it seems that we as tourists frequently are isolated in beachfront hotels or all-inclusive resorts. This degree of isolation can be incredible. I also felt that the Hotel Atlantico/Point/Estacao/ Corujinhas/LeBoy track up and down Siqueros Campos with stops at different restaurants shops can also get kind of repetitive. Indeed, be another type of isolation in the enormous surrounding city, let alone neighborhood of Copacabana. At least that is the way it felt to me after my first three days in Copa/Rio last October. Certainly not a bad feeling, just not all that I was looking to get out from my first trip to RJ. Many thanks to Carlo Romanus, who suggested I check out other a few other places near Rio.

I hoped that my post might show others that the there are many different types of vacations one can create around visits to the incredible saunas, super beaches, great weather and wonderful, fun-

loving Cariocas.

[straightshooter]

My take is that this guy is not for real, just wanted to push some buttons, get responses. A moving story with a moral. Could be wrong but then again from a guy who had boasted about swimming in guanabara bay every morning... hmm

[Guest ihpguy]

Hi Straghtshooter,

Nope! I am real and I am not the sort to push any buttons. I did not swim in Guanabara Bay every morning or afternoon, some days yes and some days only walked along the beach, even others when I had no time from taking care of business crap in RJ Centro and there wasn't time. One Friday, had dinner with Jake, Gulliver, Carlo and his lover in Ipanema that night and didn't get back to the island until 12:15AM. I was definitely too tired that night. Further, I am in the process of putting in a pool for lap swimming. But after a bay swim, an outdoor shower is recommended.

As I said in the original post, I really am much more of a lurker than a contributor. Most unfortunate. I usually do not write anything unless I feel I have something to contribute of value.

[straightshooter]

OK - a reality check. A necessity on this and other forums. In that case GLAD that you are enjoying Rio - and in particular showering after your swims in Guanabara !!! Try not to accidentally swallow our water while daydreaming about our treasures!!!

[xchris]

It is really nice to attend to other opportunities in Rio.

 

I've been to a Moliere drama, which I enjoyed notwithstanding my limited portuguese. Walking back to Catete in the night gave me the opportunitiy to listen to steel drums on the corner of the road, with samba crowd mounting for the carnival soon to come...

 

Visiting a secluded beach in Ibicuì, near Angra Do Reis was breathtaking, even if hosted in a poor house, sleeping on the floor.

 

Walking on the rail with two friends and jumping on the riding train seem to me to live the "stand By Me" movie, even if the rain found us two kilometers far from a sure roof.

 

Having a cocktail party with just house music and just brasilian friends compelled me to enter as a part of the crowd or end as a part of the tapestry.

 

Going to Maracana for the Flamengo-Vasco footbool game was another strong experience, with the added strong experience of being attaked by four Vasco fans who didn't like my Flamengo shirt...

 

Sometimes this is not easy, but it is unforgettable anyway.

 

I must say that the boys often can give us the possibility to have a look into their real lives, if we just have the courage to ask them for that.

Sex and money sometimes seem to fade...

[+ Axiom2001]

XChris, thanks! What you wrote was so poetic and alive!:-)

Muito Obrigado!

[elpaso]

In this same vein -- exploring Rio beyond the saunas and Le Boy -- I would recommend that the more adventurous Rio explorers might head to Cine Ideal on a Friday or Saturday night. It's the club where the real Brasilieros go to dance. It's downtown, it's all gay, it's non-touristy, it's edgy, and if you love Le Boy, you will probably hate it. It reminded me of the best nights at Limelight in NYC or Les Bains in Paris. Back in the day. Don't go before midnight, don't go unless you like to dance (or listen to great MCs), and don't go unless you speak decent Portugese or have a Brasilian friend to help you navigate. Be sure to climb the 4 stories to the roofdeck. A whole different scene up there.

[trilingual]

But be sure you love techno if you go to Cine Ideal! My boyfriend loves it, but it just gives me a pounding headache!

 

And a word to the wise: DON'T buy drugs there. The police know about and work the place. A popular sauna guy evidently had a small ecstasy sideline and got busted there recently by a decoy female cop there when he made a sale. You never, ever want to become familiar with the Brazilian criminal justice system, especially as a defendant!

[Guest alanm]

Hasn't everyone who has traveled to Rio with any frequency had the experience of connecting with straight guys who visit Rio as a group for sex with women?

 

I spent way too much time at a party recently with a straight guy (kind of cute) who is just as obsessed as many of us with the sexual opportunities in Rio. It was fun to exchange travel experiences, but

his obsession with the various straight pick up bars got boring very quickly. I can usually learn something from everyone, but this guy was an exception. I am sure that Tri has met many people like my new "friend." Has this topic ever been discussed on this site, since every thing else concerning Rio has? Frankly, I had to stop myself from suggesting a visit to a museum or the zoo. The debate on this thread got me thinking about how a straight guy might feel if he read

the discussions on this site.

[trilingual]

It would be tempting to say "but, we're gay, of course we go to museums and do cultural stuff, too!" But the truth is that some of the gay men who visit Rio are just as single-minded as some of the straight guys about sex, sex, sex. I'm sure there are people who've gone to Rio because of M4M who've never seen anything except the saunas, their hotel rooms, and Corujinha! However, I think they're the exception, and not the rule.

 

To be honest, I haven't talked with many of the straight guys who go to Brazil, but at least a few have managed to branch out and see more of the city and country than just the pick-up places. Quite a few straight men end up marrying Brazilian girls, and are drawn into Brazilian life and culture that way. So I think it's probably not so different. Some of the guys are only there for the sex and hardly know what country they're in, others get seduced by the people and the culture and end up becoming Brazil Nuts, like so many of us have!

[Guest dreynsol]

My first day at the Hotel Atlantico, I ended up going downstairs at the bar next to the lobby as we were just settling in from our flight. There was a group of around 6 guys there that had just arrived from the US. From their conversation, I surmised that this was the "straight" equivalent of the M4M group. They were talking about all the girls they planned to be with. So there is a similar attraction for straight guys there.

 

One notable difference, however, they were talking about how they could arrange satellite phone service with a local number in Miami, so that when their wives called Miami, they could answer the phone in Brazil! :-(

 

I agree with Tri in that most of us are not one-dimensional, even though that IS what we like to talk about. One of the highlights of my first trip was chatting with a local (a client) at 117 who spoke perfect English. It was great hearing his perspective and what he thought of Americans. In the end, we parted as good friends.

 

I'm of the opinion that getting to know Brazil is not about where you stay or where you visit while you're there. I really think it's getting to know it's people, especially what they like and dislike about Brazil. Of course, it usually helps if you can speak some Portuguese.

 

Brazilians love to be loved! and they love to share their life with you.

 

Valeu,

Drey

[buckguy]

Despite all the stories of trips to Club 117, etc., I have gotten the sense that the guys who go to Rio usually see more than saunas and cliche tourist attractions like Corcovado. A number have taken the trouble to learn the language and get some idea of what gay life is like for Brasilians. On my maiden trip last year, the highlights for me included the old market area downtown and a trip to Ste. Teresa. I spent a very interesting couple of hours chatting with a garoto, to whom I made clear my lack of interest in hiring (he was very good looking, but I'd had a very full day already)---it was a pleasure to simply talk with a local about his life and given that it was a rainy evening with few other prospects, he was very willing to settle for conversation and something to eat. Although I certainly enjoyed Club 117 (probably my favorite of the saunas on that trip), I also really liked Gloria which was an interesting place to explore and people watch on its own. I'm going back in August after a long trip in the Amazon and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Rio, as opposed to seeing more tourist stuff.

 

I periodically visit the Asia forum and get a sadly, very different sense there. The Thai enthusiasts never seem to get out of Babylon, Silom, or really cheesy tourist attractions. Even the the Thai-style sex venues in other parts of town seem to escape them. Having lived in Thailand and continuing to work there (I'm in Bangkok right now), I'm amazed at how uninformed the posters are about gay life in Thailand (a fairly depressing subject these days, with govt ministries talking about firing gay employees) and how little they've seen of this fascinating country.

[trilingual]

In fairness to the guys who go to Thailand (which I've never visited, although I think I would like to some day) I think it's probably much easier for the "average" traveler to connect with Brazil and Brazilian culture than would be the case in Thailand. There's obviously a big advantage when traveling to Brazil to be in a country that is still essentially part of Western culture, with a Romance language written in Latin characters that is very similar to Spanish, a language that is widely known and studied. With only moderate effort, it's easy to communicate and understand what's going on around you in Brazil.

 

In Thailand, I imagine, it's more difficult, because the cultural references are much more remote. The religious background is entirely unfamiliar to the average Westerner, and that makes many folkways equally obscure. The language is also unfamiliar, and written in a different alphabet, which also limits understanding compared to Brazil, where signs saying "policia" or "aeroporto" or "restaurante" are easily recognizable even to someone who doesn't speak a word of Portuguese. Given the cultural gap between the West and Thailand, it's understandable that many Western visitors will tend to go to places on a well-worn tourist trail where they can more easily communicate and interact with locals who are likely to speak at least some English.

 

Obviously, the barriers in Thailand, while higher than those in Brazil, aren't insurmountable. Lots of Westerners have gone there or to other Asian countries and have learned enough of the language and customs to feel comfortable there. But it's unquestionably going to be more effort than in Brazil, where the similarities in culture with other Western countries outweighs the differences and make travel there relatively easy and familiar.