São Paulo - Memorial Day Weekend

[Guest dreynsol]

Venturing out from my Rio comfort zone with my friend Bobby for our first visit to São Paulo.

 

For inquiring minds, yes I am partially visiting São Paulo to see my valentine Cezar, but if not, I'm sure there will be many other diversions there as well. Cezar and I do have some unfinished business! :-)

 

Have to warn you though, I have met my own gorgeous Latino (Brazilian look-alike) here in the states. He's from LA and last night I told him "te amo muito" (I love you a lot) and he said "voce tambem"! (you too) :-)

 

Of course, no one will ever come between me and Brazil! :-) I asked him if he'd ever been to Brazil and he replied "why would I go there, they all look like me!"

 

If anyone is in São Paulo that weekend please let me know, since I always enjoy meeting fellow gringos!

 

Tchau, e te amo muito

- Drey

[Alaska14k]

Drey,

Will be in Rio May 14 through the 31st--which includes Memorial Day. Why don't you and Cezar make a side trip on down?? Would be great to see you on the beach again.

Are you bringing another football to Brazil--or a different kind of sports equipment this time???

Have fun.

Alaska14k ;-)

[Zippy]

> I asked him if he'd ever been to Brazil and he replied "why

>would I go there, they all look like me!"

 

He really does need to go to Brazil, then. Because Brazil has such a diverse population that no one in looks like EVERYONE in Brazil.... its just impossible.

[Guest dreynsol]

>Drey,

>Will be in Rio May 14 through the 31st--which includes

>Memorial Day. Why don't you and Cezar make a side trip on

>down?? Would be great to see you on the beach again.

>Are you bringing another football to Brazil--or a different

>kind of sports equipment this time???

>Have fun.

>Alaska14k ;-)

 

Well, it is baseball season, and they definitely have the steroids for it! :-)

 

Unfortunately, it's going to be a short trip. Arrive Friday morning and return Monday evening. It would be great to meet you on the beach again, as well, but I'll probably just let him show me around São Paulo. Soak up some sun for me and have a great time!

 

>He really does need to go to Brazil, then. Because Brazil has such a diverse population that no one in looks like EVERYONE in Brazil.... its just impossible.

 

Zippy, you're right, he's originally from Mexico and has some Latin America traits, but obviously he's never been to Brazil. Maybe I'll take him to Brazil some day, if he truly is marriage material. Until then, I'm looking forward to seeing Cezar one more time! :-)

 

Tchau,

- Drey

[Guest dreynsol]

Was wondering where the ATMs/cambios are located close to the Bourbon Hotel in São Paulo. I have them all mapped out in my head in Rio, but São Paulo will be a new adventure. Thanks in advance. :-)

 

My gorgeous Latino (Brazilian look-alike) here in the states turned out to be a dud, unfortunately. As a recovering LA escort, he still has a lot of issues he has to deal with, and I'm not willing to take on another project! x( Next! :-)

 

Looking forward to the land of passion and 'tranquilo' where therapists need not apply. Three weeks from today, I'LL BE BACK! :-)

 

Tchau,

 

- Drey

[Guest dreynsol]

Forgot to mention that I booked the hotel through Carlo Romano. It took a few days, but he responded back with a great rate and with well wishes as usual.

 

Talked to Cezar in Rio and he promises to meet me in São Paulo.

 

However, I might put Cezar on the back burner if I run into this Brazilian.

 

http://gonline.uol.com.br/livre/na_cena/edicao07/imagens/19_g.jpg

 

I love the website I found him on, but I have yet to get them to accept my American credit card. If anyone has any luck, let me know. The free video they offer is well worth checking out the site.

 

http://gonline.uol.com.br

 

Tchau,

 

- Drey

[marc anthony]

>Venturing out from my Rio comfort zone with my friend Bobby

>for our first visit to São Paulo.

>

>For inquiring minds, yes I am partially visiting São Paulo to

>see my valentine Cezar, but if not, I'm sure there will be

>many other diversions there as well.

 

Actually, for me, on my recent first trip to Brasil, I found the saunas and discos superior in Sao Paulo (compared to Rio).

 

Rio is great because of the beach atmosphere, and all the eye candy just walking along the streets of Ipanema, etc...

 

BUT... for sheer action, hard to beat the saunas of SP. Lagoa is unbelievable, and I also found AltaRosa to be quite intriguing. Besides those, the gay clubs were like I have never seen elsewhere. Yes, the clubs in Rio like LeBoy and Ideal have gorgeous boys. But the action in the clubs of SP is pretty amazing.

 

And if those are not enough for you, take a drive through "Hustler Park". Really, there is nothing like it I have ever seen in my life (I was too scared to partake, but man was it something to see).

[trilingual]

>Was wondering where the ATMs/cambios are located close to the

>Bourbon Hotel in São Paulo. I have them all mapped out in my

>head in Rio, but São Paulo will be a new adventure. Thanks in

>advance. :-)

 

Easy. Turn right out of the hotel and walk towards the Praça da República. When you reach the street bordering the plaza, turn left. There's an HSBC branch on that block. When you reach the next corner you'll see branches of Bradesco and some other Brazilian banks. There's a Citibank branch at the corner of avenidas São João and Ipiranga (an intersection everyone in Brazil knows, immortalized in one of Caetano Veloso's best-loved songs) which is about two blocks from the square.

 

The metro station is in the Praça da República, on the Av. Ipiranga side. Across Ipiranga is the retail shopping district downtown. Walk down the pedestrian street 2 or 3 blocks to the Theatro Municipal, the Shopping Light (in the former HQ of the electric company) and the Vale do Anhangabaú with its landmark viaducts.

 

You won't have much time to see a lot of SP, but if it isn't pouring rain go one afternoon to the Av. Paulista and visit the MASP and the exotic (and cruisy -- usual cautions apply) Trianon Park across the street. Another afternoon visit the Pinacoteca do Estado (19th century Brazilian art and special exhibits) and the beautifully restored park (SP's oldest, started in the 1700's) and Luz train station adjacent. These attractions, along with the magnificent new concert hall in the recycled Julio Prestes railroad station, are near the Bourbon; you could walk from there if you wish.

[Guest dreynsol]

Thanks Tri for your wonderful advice as usual! :-)

 

I'm sure my trip to São Paulo will be wonderful, thanks to all the advice from the board and some great friends of mine.

 

All I can offer in return is a bit of recent news that I hope comes true, and will eliminate some of the hassle of newbies visiting our beloved country.

 

>>>

Brazil's Minister of Tourism, Walfrido Mares Guia, urged, yesterday, passage of a bill ending the visa requirement for American tourists. According to the Minister, this measure could earn Brazil more than US$ 2 billion a year.

 

"If there weren't so much bureaucracy in issuing visas, we would be all set to receive over a million American tourists. And this would generate profits for the country, since Americans are the tourists whose daily expenditures are the highest. And they spend a lot," remarked the Minister, who participated in a public hearing before the Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Relations and National Defense Commission.

...

Over four million tourists visited Brazil in 2004. Around 700 thousand of them were Americans.

<<<

 

Tchau, e muito obrigado! :-)

 

- Drey

[nycpaul]

Where/what is the "Hustler Park" you mention? And you mention that you drive through it? Does that mean you have to have a car or is this also a park you can walk through?

 

Also, does anyone care to describe the relative merits of the Bourbon Palace vs. Alameda Apartments, which is also a hotel recommended by Carlo. Thanks in advance.

[marc anthony]

I don't know the exact street address, but the park is somewhere between the Intercontinental Hotel and the Residencia Alameda, and we did drive through it, although I guess you could walk... but I am not sure you want to be walking around in that neighborhood at night (when all the action is). Really, I am not sure I know exactly how to get there again, as our guide drove us there.

 

You drive into these gates where there are police waving you in (LOL)... and then there are literally hundreds of boys in the park, with their dicks out, and some fucking in the bushes, etc. Some are VERY VERY hot... There was this one unbelievable kid in a hat....oh well, I digress.

 

Cars are just driving around and around cruising. There were large buses parked there too... ?????? Wonder who they bus there, tourists or workers, LOL?

 

Anyway, it is quite tempting as the talent is plentiful and clearly very available. But for me, the "danger" aspect was a little too intimidating. So I stuck with the tried and true saunas, which are fantastic in SP, and IMO overall a better group than the ones in Rio.

[+ Axiom2001]

Last year I spent a week at The Alameda Apartmento Hotel which is one block from Paulista Av; The only thing that I know about The Bourbon (sp) is that it is located near many gay clubs and bars. It's supposedly a fine hotel from what has been reported here on numerous occasions.

 

I will be going back to SAMPA before the end of 2005 and hope to stay at The Alameda again. The personnel were great, especially when it came to my guests arrivng. The desk clerks would ring the room and announce that so and so had arrived; I'd say ok, and within minutes those scorching scorts would appear.

 

This venue was comfortably appointed as well as quiet.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That park sounds exciting, and I'll only venture there in auto or on foot with a local who can speak the language. From what Marc stated, it brought back my memory of the area where the clubs are located. As my guide drove, I viewed many transsexuals alongside of superhung men who had their "talent" on display. It was a visual sight to behold!

[trilingual]

São Paulo has a well-known street/car-cruising scene. The "Hustler Park" (never heard that name before) could be Parque Ibirapuera, one of the main city parks which has the buildings where the art Biennal is held. The scene is at night, and the parking lots where the action happens are close to the Biennal buildings. You have to enter a gate to get to them.

 

On the other hand, it also might be the area around Parque Trianon, whose main entrance is on Av. Paulista across from the MASP. The park is cruisy during the day, particularly the back half of the park (it takes up two city blocks, with the two sections connected by a pedestrian bridge over the street that divides the park in two). At night, the streets surrounding the park (and maybe the street that divides it) are a well-known hustler pick-up area.

 

There is also car-cruising on some of the downtown streets off of Av. Vieira de Carvalho and the Largo do Arouche, where the Hotel Bourbon and many gay bars are located.

 

In all cases THIS SCENE IS NOT RECOMMENDED (EXCEPT FOR SIGHT-SEEING PURPOSES) FOR INEXPERIENCED GRINGOS WHO DON'T SPEAK PORTUGUESE. DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! If you absolutely cannot resist thinking with your little head and pick someone up at one of these places DO NOT under any circumstances take them to your hotel or apartment! Go to a non-escort sauna or to a by-the-hour motel. Also carry minimal cash and documentation when you go to such places and never take your apartment/hotel key with you. Leave it at the desk when you go out.

 

The same rules apply to street pick-up scenes in Rio and other large Brazilian cities. Many of the guys working the streets are drug users, or work in conjunction with the transexual hookers (who are often drug users, too), and make their living "rolling" their unsuspecting customers. Don't be their next victim. BTW, this doesn't mean that everyone working these areas is dangerous, but many are. If you don't know the culture very well and don't speak the language the risk skyrockets because you're not going to be able to pick up on the kinds of clues (verbal and otherwise) that might warn off a Brazilian client. That's why this scene is so dangerous for gringos: the vast majority aren't able to do that and become easy pickings for the bad guys. Stick to the saunas. Not only will the guys be just as gorgeous and hung, if not more so, the entire scene is SAFE.

[marc anthony]

That's why this scene is so dangerous for

>gringos: the vast majority aren't able to do that and become

>easy pickings for the bad guys. Stick to the saunas. Not

>only will the guys be just as gorgeous and hung, if not more

>so, the entire scene is SAFE.

 

I agree with this assessment, and stated so in my post. I think the saunas were great fun, and pretty much satisfied all my needs and more. And I always felt safe in them, which is quite different from the street scene. I only mentioned the park because it is quite unique and an interesting spectacle, and many of the readers here are obviously intrigued by the concept. But believe me, I cannot speak Portugese, but the "BEWARE" vibes were pretty strong for me anyway.

 

Now on the other hand, if that boy in the hat wanted to come with me....

 

:7

[Guest dreynsol]

Hope I'm not boring you folks about Cezar, but I talked to him today, and he said he needs a small amount of money for the trip to São Paulo. He was very glad to hear from me, and he told me he missed me a lot.

 

He suggested I speak with Eduardo about the transaction, but Eduardo said I can send it directly to him, and that American Express would be the best option.

 

One problem is that I know a lot (intimately :9) about him, but not his last name. A good friend said that I can send the cash Western Union and give him a PIN number. Are there many Western Union places in Rio that I can tell him to go to?

 

I don't plan on starting a habit of wiring money to Brazilian boys, but I trust that he really needs a little help to make the trip. I've yet to take one shopping! :-)

 

Thanks as always in advance,

- Drey

[nycpaul]

Why don't you ask him his last name. Then you can send him the money by MONEYGRAM. He can then pick it up at any BANCO ITAU location any where in Brazil. MONEYGRAM offers the latest exchange rate and it only costs the sender $9 for amounts up to $1000.