2nd trip to Rio de Janiero

[capoeiraguynyc]

This was my second trip to Rio de Janiero and I am more in love with Rio than ever. My first trip 2 years ago was with family so my night time activities were limited. On this trip I went with my best friend . The first time I stayed at the Copacabana Palace Hotel which is one of the most elegant and sophisticated hotels in South America. For this trip my friend and I wanted to be in Ipanema near poste 9 where the beautifull boys go . We rented a luxury air conditioned oceanfront 2 bedroom apt furnished with 2 bathrooms for $360.00 a night internet access and daily maid service with 2 swimming pools...of course we never used the pools or the gym facilites at all.

 

As for the sauna adventures which all of you want to know......I went one evening by myself to Point 202 it was about 9:30p.m. and I felt I was in the middle of a frenzied sample sale. So many men to look at and so little time since I was expected back at the apt for dinner. I did meet a beautifull young man who wanted R180 but with negotiation we settled on R60.

 

On another evening I took my friend to Estaco.... I understand why so many of you like the small scale and intimacyof the space . The boys there are less agressive in their sales techniques compared to Point 202. The selection of boys was smaller but they were all sweet in their personality. I met a 24 year old "surfer " type named Victor. Again we negotiated to a price of R60. My friend met a handsome mulatto man named Wagner with a cocoa colored skin and a strong athletic build.

 

Amother evening I took took my friend Jorge and his friend Tom from New York who we had met at the beach to Point 202. It was Sunday evening the the drag show was in full force. My friends were overwhelmed by the amount of boys that were on duty and the different body types....and looks.

 

Since we had been in the area for 5 days we recognized a lot of the boys from the beach and clubs.....later we found out that the boys thought Jorge was my body guard...which I thought was amusing.

 

We later went to Corrujinha's which was disappointing the restaurant was a bit worn as well as the patrons we saw a few of the boys from Point 202. The capoeira group did their performance on the streeet which seems to be their Sunday ritual and then pass their tambourine for donations. I did meet a lovely gentlemen at the next table that gave me instructions to a "hip" club/resturant called ZERO ZERO in the Gavea section by the planetarium. That was fabulous!!!! ZERO ZERO on Sundays is when the club becomes a mixed scene for Rio's privileged beautifull boys and girls. .

 

The five days we were there were sunny and not a cloud in the sky.

 

I do want to remind travelers not to bring guys back to their hotel/apt. I had friend in rio while I was there bring 2 guys back to his apt and it became an unpleasant situation he had to call the front desk and have security remove them . Fortunately he was not harmed, but why take the chance when you can take them to an inexpensive sex hotel.

[+ Axiom2001]

"I do want to remind travelers..." It's perfectly all right to bring a guy back if he's known in the sauna in which he works, and if he checks his id in with the hotel's main desk.

 

I do completely agree with you in discouraging the taking of an individual or individuals back to your domain whom you meet outside of specified venues. That guidance is here in the archives as well as at GayTravelBrazil.com.

 

Thanks for your short vignette, and please tell more about Zero Zero if you can. Did you only venture there on a Sunday, or did you ever go when it was exclusively gay?

[capoeiraguynyc]

I was told by a hipster carioca that ZERO ZERO during the its 6 days of operation is a "straight" venue. Sunday evening is the only night when it is offically called a "mixed" crowd. I believe the Sunday event is relatively new. When I had the opportunity to question the local carioca's about ZERO ZERO all of them said they had not heard about the restaurant or the event. With the exception of the gentlemen in Corruingha's.

 

The entrance charge is R40 which is high for the locals. We did not see any of the local sauna boys there or anyone from the beach scene. The boys that were there I had not seen at all. The crowd was entirely white with the exception of myself. For a visual comparison think of Carie at a club from Sex in the City with boys.

 

The building is free standing and very contemporary in its design......the entire space is set on one level. There are interior and exterior spaces to lounge and sit. Upon entering you give the receptionist your name, she writes it on a sheet of paper and then on a "tab" which you give to the bartender when you order your drinks. When you are ready to depart you take the card to a cashier who tallies you out and gives you a receipt to present to security when you exit. The music that evening was a mix of lounge and techno, more of the danceable bearable techno.

[trilingual]

That's a good description of 00 (Zero-Zero). There are no exclusively gay nights, but it's well known for its "mixed" Sunday evenings catering to Rio's well-to-do, including well-known people in Rio's fashion and entertainment industries. You're not likely to run into sauna guys/escorts there. It's not that kind of scene. For those who like it, 00 is popular somewhat earlier on Sunday evenings, from around 11:00 p.m. After warming up, many guys go on to LeBoy, which is very popular on Sunday nights. On Thursday nights the Galeria Cafe in Ipanema also is popular with a similar, but almost all gay crowd. Galeria has a high cover charge to discourage attendance by the lower classes, so again it's not a place you're likely to find escorts.

 

00 is located in Gávea, next to the Planetarium. As well as the dance club, there is also a restaurant, so it's possible to go there for dinner followed by dancing.