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South America Guide
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Username: South
Post Number: 43
Registered: 3-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 22, 2004 - 11:31 pm: |      |
BRAZIL
Conventional Long Form: Federative Republic of Brazil
Conventional Short Form: Brazil
Local Long Form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
Local Short Form: Brasil
Capitol City
Brasilia
Location and Climate
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Population
184,101,109
Religion
Roman Catholic 80%
Language
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Currency
Brazilian Real (BRL)
1 USD = 2.8300 BRL (October 2004)
Internet Country Code
.br
CIA FACT BOOK
Airports
Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Holidays | Best Time to Go
Fixed Holidays:
January 1: New Year's Day
April 21: Tiradentes Day
May 1: Labor Day
July 9: Civil Holiday (São Paulo State only)
September 7: Independence Day
October 12: Our Lady Aparecida
November 1: All Saints Day
November 2: All Souls
November 15: Proclamation of the Republic
December 8: Immaculate Conception
December 24: Christmas Eve (half day)
December 25: Christmas Day
December 31: New Year's Eve (half day)
August to November – low season, lower crowds
Carnival in February, month of December – high season, more crowds, more expensive hotels and transportation
Visas/Duty Free/Health
If you’re from the US, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia, you need a visa to enter the country. If you’re from the UK, you don’t. Your visa is good up to 90 days before you leave and another 90 days after you get there. You can renew it for another 90 days if it expires while you’re there. Get your visa from either a Brazilian embassy or consulate.
If you get sick or hurt, remember that medical treatment is generally good, although very expensive. Better to buy traveler’s insurance before you get there.
Don’t trust the tap water. Drink bottled water.
Although Brazil can be a vacationer’s paradise, it’s also a third-world country, and the cities contain some unsafe elements. Crushing poverty is apparent. Brazen gangs of youths have been known to assault and rob tourists at knife or gunpoint. If you keep your wits about you, you should be fine. However, you should understand the risks. Therefore, when you’re in Rio and elsewhere, take the following precautions:
- Don’t make yourself more of a target then you already are. Dress down in public; don’t wear flashy clothes or jewelry. Don’t flash cash.
- Take taxis after dark (see Transportation, below), even if your destination is only a few blocks. Do not walk.
- If you have to walk somewhere, do so only during the day and in groups, if possible.
- Shop during the day. Take only the money you need.
- Consider carrying an old wallet with 10-20 dollars and perhaps an old watch to offer the mugger in case you’re robbed.
- Take only one credit card, and use it prudently (for example, to pay the tariff at better hotels).
- If you go to a disco or club to pick up women (see Freelancers, below), watch your drink so no one drugs it. Never accept drinks from strangers.
- Don’t take a freelancer back to her place. She may offer to pour you a drink, into which she’ll put knock out drops. Once you fall asleep, she’ll rob you. Best to take her to a “love hotel” (the taxi drivers know where they are) rather than your own hotel.
- When visiting the beaches, never leave your belongings unattended and make sure you leave before dark.
- Leave your passport, other important documents, and valuable possessions in the hotel safe.
- There are Tourist Police present on the streets to assist you, but it’s not unheard of for corrupt police to commit crimes.
HIV/AIDS (2003 est.):
Adult prevalence rate: 0.7% | People living with HIV/AIDS: 660,000 | Deaths: 15,000
Transportation - Rio
Airport to City:
Take a flat-rate taxi from the airport to Ipanema or Copacabana. Cost: about US$20.
Subway:
The Rio Metro is limited but efficient. There are two lines. You can take Line 1 from the city center to the Copacabana beaches in about 20 minutes. A single ride ticket is 2 BRL. A double-ride ticket is 4 BRL.
Taxi:
Rio taxi cabs are yellow with blue stripes. Hail them from the streets. Taxi cabs display flags that indicate the fare. A number 1 means a normal fare. A number 2 means a premium fare. You’ll pay more after 10 PM, on holidays (for example, Carnival) and Sundays, and during December, when crowds are at their worst. Ask the driver how much the fare is before you get in the cab. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up the bill and telling the driver to keep the change is appreciated.
If you need to call for a cab, remember that you’ll pay about 20 percent more. It’s worth it for the safety factor if you have to travel at night. In Rio, dial Transcoopass at 021/2560-4888 or Coopertramo at 021/2560-2022.
Bus:
Buses are inexpensive (you do need exact change), but are not air-conditioned and are crowded. Also, they’re havens for pickpockets and petty thieves, especially during rush hour. If you have to take one, avoid window seats and the back rows (so you don’t look like a tourist) and don’t travel alone.
Internet Cafés – Rio/Sao Paolo
Cybercafe Internet Center - Downtown
Rua da Alfandega, 80/401, Rio
(near Uruguaiana Subway Station (Metro)
Tel: (55) (21) 224 1743
Email: comercial@iconline.com.br
Cost/Hour: US $5
Hours: M-F/8A – 9P; Sa/8A – 3P
Internet House
195, Nossa Senhora de Copacabana Avenue, shop 106, Rio
Tel/ Fax: (55) (21) 542 3348 / (55) (21) 542 3348
Email: cybercafe@internethouse.com.br
Cost/Hour: BRL 10
Hours: M-Sa/9A – 10P
Na Rede
R. Ministro Godoi 1169, Sao Paulo 05015-001
Tel/ Fax: (55) (11) 38651479 / (55) (11) 2805660
Email: info@tonarede.com.br
Cost/Hour: US $3
Hours: M-F/11A – 11P (Tu/3P – 11P)
Net Corner (A Internet a seu alcance)
Loja de Campinas, Rua Coronel Quirino, nº 1.252,
Bairro Cambui, Campinas, São Paulo
Tel: (55) (11) 3842-0072
Email: webmaster@netcorner.com.br
Cost/Hour: BRL 6
Hours: M-F/9A – 10P; Sa/9A – 3P
Telephone
Telephone numbers: 7 digits for land lines, 8 digits for cell phones
Long-distance country code: 55
In Rio: dial the number directly
Long-distance domestic calls: 021 + city code + phone number
International calls: 0021 + country code + area code + phone number
Collect calls: 9 before the numbers
City codes: Brasilia 61, Rio de Janeiro 21, São Paulo 11
Police: 190; Ambulance: 192; Fire: 193
Electricity
110 volts or 220 volts; two round-pin plugs are standard. You’ll need an adapter.
Cuisine
Since Brazil is close to the ocean, you’ll have lots of fresh seafood to choose from. Also, try the feijoada. It’s Rio’s signature dish. It’s made from pork and black beans, and comes with rice, kale, and flour of manioc, which is an indigenous tuber, similar to a potato.
When you’re really hungry, definitely visit a Churrasco restaurant. Waiters bring large slabs of grilled meats (pork, beef, sausages, prime rib, etc.) on skewers and cut slices for you. There’s also a buffet for salad items and side dishes. It’s all you can eat.
Budget to moderate-priced restaurants run from $5 to $15 per person. Ten percent is added to the bill for a service charge. Rio Restaurant List
Legal Status
Prostitution itself is not illegal, but pimping is. Legal prostitution here takes several forms:
Sauna Houses (Termas). Your best bet for action during the day in Rio. These are full sex clubs with sauna/massage facilities and a boite (bar) or two. You pay an entry fee (average 40 BRL). Bikini-clad women see to your pleasure in private rooms (typical fee: 100-130 BRL for a 40-minute session, more for a 60-minute session). Credit cards accepted.
You dress in a bathrobe and flip-flops. Spend some time (kissing, sharing drinks – drink prices are the same for you and her) with your selection before going to the cabine (room). Some women tend to be aggressive (initiate kissing, grabbing, etc.); the less attractive ones even more so. Rio Terma List
Freelancers.
The most popular spots in Rio are at Help disco, the boites, or the cafes along Copacabana beach. Get to Help early, best action starts around midnight. Hour sessions: about 100 BRL. All night: US $100. Prices and talent level drops after 2 AM. Hit the cafes in the mid-afternoon (4 PM). Don’t pay up front. Pay after the fact.
If you can understand Portuguese, try the personals section of publications such as O Globo, O Dia, and Jornal do Brasil. More info here
Escort Agencies (Acompanhantes). Rio outcall escorts are generally available from noon until early morning hours. Prices are normally 150 BRL for 1 hour and 200 BRL for two. It’s best to have some command of Portuguese, so you can give your preferences to the operator and to the lady when she arrives. Escorts tend to be slightly less attractive as the better Help or termas workers. Of course, YMMV. Rio Escort List, more information
Massage Parlors (Clinica de Massagem). Massage parlors are popular in Sao Paolo. Try Antares, CelCenter, or Francebel.
Brothels. The traditional brothel scene is stronger in Sao Paolo. The comfortable Bomboa is a popular place to go.
Streetwalkers. If you’re interested and in Rio, you’ll find them along Ave. Atlantico (the main street along Copacabana) after dark. They tend to be unattractive or strung out on drugs, and all too often, transvestites.
Links
Rio City Guide
Insider’s Guide to Rio |
Casey
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 23, 1999 - 8:26 am: | |
Brazil was a country where slavery was predominant in the 16th, 17th, 18th and even into the 19th centuries. The percentage of black population is very high, which means that many of the women are black, especially in the South and major cities. There are also mestizos and europeans and mixed race. Economically, a small group of europeans and mixed race form a group of well-off to astronomically wealthy which means that the largest number of available women will be non-european and european women will be much more expensive.
Be especially careful regarding your security in the big cities. Brazil has never been very secure and the recent financial crash in Brazil will make the situation worse.
Good hunting. |
Claus
Rating: 
Votes: 4 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 5:15 am: | |
I am a German guy so I hope you will excuse my English.
During my travels around the world, I stopped many times in Brazil in the last 10 years and I still love visit it.
Nowadays Brazil and especially Rio had become a quite expensive place to stay but you have to compare the prices to western world standards and not to the average income which is still very low. Security is a big problem but if you follow some basic rules there should be not more trouble than in every other major western city. Avoid walking alone through silent places, at night, use a taxi even for short distance trips, don't wear expensive looking watches or anything that makes you obviously a worthy subject to robbery. Don't even think of going into the favelas (slums).
Sure other countries are less expensive and more safe than Brazil but personally I like more the Brazilian girls and their way of making love. You feel like most of them really like what they are doing and they do it real good though they are a bit selfish sometimes but for me this makes it even better. This is easy to understand if you know a little about the Brazilian way of life which is more a way of easy going. What could be a better way of living for a beautiful girl in Rio than lying on the beach all day and dancing in a disco at night and thereafter do what they like most and even get paid for it? Sure this is a very simple-minded point of view but true in many cases.
On the other hand brazil had become an very expensive country since 1994 but the average income is still very low. The fixed minimum income (Salario minimo) is less than 200R$ a month and that is what they would earn whilst working e.g. in a supermarket or as a hairdresser. This truly is not enough to make ends meet or to support the family. Nowadays the girls charge from 50R$ to maybe 200 R$ depending how you bargain and how long you like to stay with her, she will discount you if you stay several days with her and take her out for dinner and so on, but be careful, some are really looking for a man to marry to get out of the country. Off course it is important that she is attracted by you too, so the good looking young guys usually pay less. But after all, the age is not so important to Brazilian girls, it is sympathy what matters.
But I have to say that things changed considerably in the past 10 years. The scene has become more commercial and many of the girls work in foreign countries during low season. These girls return to Rio in high season and are only looking for the fast money and will promise everything and sometimes afterwards do nothing, so never pay in advance. E.g. if she told you she would stay for all night and at 2am she suddenly has to go because maybe she has to look after her baby, you can be sure to meet her again at 2.30am in "Help" or one of the boites looking for the next customer. But even these girls might be worth the money. Use your knowledge of men to make your choice. Despite of all these deterioration's I still love to be there once or twice a year.
Getting downtown:
After arriving at Rio airport most of you will go to a hotel or apartment in the Copacabana area. If you go by taxi you should use a fixed price taxi which will cost you a shocking 48 Reals(1 R$ = 1 US$) or you can take the "Real Omnibus" which will cost only a few R$ and covers all the major hotels at Copacabana (tell the driver where you want to drop off). Depending on the time of day you arrive and the place you have to go it might be better to go by taxi and avoid walking with all your belongings through dark or quiet roads which could end your holidays on the very first day.
Places to stay:
Hotels are expensive and sometimes not worth the money but they have some advantage in security and comfort, although I never made a bad experience with girls personally, many tourists had been robbed off by girls in private apartments. A small but very good Hotel is
"Hotel Rio Roiss" at "Rua Aires Saldanha 48"
located right behind the five star "Rio Othon Palace" (close to "Help" and "Meia Pataca"), they don't charge extra if you have a girl with you, they just don't like if you take her to the breakfast room in the morning, but they serve breakfast in your room for an extra charge of 2R$ if you like. They charge about 60 to 120 R$ for a night, depending on the season and how you bargain (Double prices around a few days at New Years Day and Carnaval which all other hotels will do ). One of your readers recommends "Hotel Debret" which is located in the same area. I have been there this June and found it ugly and overpriced . I changed to "Rio Roiss" the next day for only a few R$ more.
But if you take an apartment you will be free to do what or with whom you like. They can be easily found through various agencies located mainly in "Av.Nossa Senhora de Copacabana". If possible take an apartment close to "Help" discothek or "Av.Prinzcessa Isabell" on the beginning of Copacabana. In these areas you will spend the night and it will save you some taxi-money if you have only a few meters of walk home in the morning to your flat just around the corner. But before renting one of these flats, have a look inside first. Don't trust the beautiful pictures they will show you. In high season (December to the end of Carnival) it might be necessary to make a reservation in advance, but in the rest of the year go for the first night into a hotel and then look around for a good apartment and change the next day.
How to spend the night:
First you have to learn that in Rio the night starts late. There is nothing going on before 11 pm except in the various street cafes at the beach front in Av.Atlantica. So when you come from the beach, maybe at 5 pm, just have a few drinks in one the cafes like "Mabs" (close to "Hotel Meridian" at Av.Prinzcessa Isabell" at the beginning of Copacabana) or "Meia Pataca" (close to "Hotel Rio Othon Palace" at the end of Copacabana) and thereafter go to your room and sleep a few hours to get ready for the night. But maybe you found your dreamgirl already in one of these locations or at the beach and you don't have to "sleep" alone. Anyway, you will not go out for dinner before 9 pm. If you are hungry try a "Churascaria" with "Rodizio" which means that you pay a fixed price and can eat as much as you can, this costs you about 18R$ to 25R$ plus drinks. A good place is "Marius Churascaria" in Leme (close to Hotel Meridian). There are many more around in Copacabana but in my opinion Marius is the best. For a small snack just try one of the "Lanchonettes" in the by-streets.
Around 11 pm the so called "Boites" are becoming crowded. "Boites" are bars with a lot of girls and sometimes with show. Theses shows seldom start before 1 am, so if you go for a show (Samba, Striptease or Live Sex) avoid being there before Midnight.Exceptions are the three big Shows of "Scala" , "Oba Oba" and "Plataforma Uma" which start around 8pm and are very tourist stile but worth visiting (one of them should be enough). In the "Boites" you can meet many girls who actually don't work there, which means they only came there to meet Y O U !! They are free to go whenever or with whom they want. You don't have to pay a bar fine except for those who work in these places for nude dancing or making some kind of show. These bars are all near "Mabs-Restaurant" close to Av.Prinzcessa Isabell. One of the best with the most beautiful girls of Rio had been "Barbarella" at "Av.Prinzcessa Isabell". There they had a very good Samba-Show, but even 10 years ago the girls started to bargain at around 100 US$ for all night. I don't know what they are charging now but even in the cheaper places like "Pussycat" nowadays they start at around 100 R$ sometimes even more so you can imagine...!
Six years ago I had been in a boite called "Don Juan" in "Rua Belfort Roxo" just across "Pussycat" on the other side of the small park. German insiders called this place "Blaeserstuebchen" which means something like "Small blowjob room". This was really bottoms end and the girls did it e.g. while your where standing at the bar drinking a beer or in the toilet if you had been the shy type of guy. There are lots of boites around this area at the beginning of Copacabana, so check out yourself. Be careful about the bill. Many times they charge too much don't be shy, complain, it will help !! Ask the guy at the entrance how prices are and pay after every drink to avoid problems. These bars don't have cover charges but mostly you have to pay for at least two drinks. Prices are from 14R$ to 25R$ for two drinks depending of the kind of show they have. So have a look inside first and decide whether its worth to stay or not. I always like to go to "Pussycat" at "Av.Prado Junior" where they have reasonable prices and you can go there as early as 11pm because the show does not matter. Normally the girls don't ask for drinks as they have free drinks inside. Prices for a single drink are from 5R$ to 10R$.
You can stay all night in this area or move to discothek "Help" which is located on the other side of Copacabana next to "Hotel Rio Othon Palace". It will cost you about 4R$ to get there by taxi what you really should do at night. It is not worth to go inside before 1am but if you arrive earlier sit down outside and watch the action. Outside the street cafe "Sombre as ondras" is crowded by tourists and hookers looking for a guy who will pay the entrance fee (8R$) for her or even more. Sometimes these girls, especially when drunken, are very aggressive. Don't mess around with her, even if you don't like her, stay polite and tell her you are waiting for your girlfriend ("Tenho outre encontro") or something like that. Many of them carry a razorblade with them and some guys returned home with some ugly souvenir across their face. You can find your choice for the night outside but don't miss to get inside "Help" it is a M U S T. "Help" is
South Americas largest disco with up to date music and reasonable prices (1R$ for water, 2R$ for coke or beer, 3R$ for long drinks which are very heavy, more expensive drinks are available too). Nowadays you can be sure that every Brazilian girl inside is selling her pussy even those who are looking shy but these might be the best choice. No girl from Rio that takes care about her reputation will ever go inside "Help" but this will not be a reason for you to stay outside, will it? For every man inside there are at least three women willing to spend the night with you. It is the heaven on earth for the single male, even if you are just looking around, but you won4t!! You will see lots of the girls you saw in the boites before. The girls usually charge at least 100R$ for the night but if you bargain it will be less and at 4am even the Playboy models go with you for 80R$, again depending on demand and sympathy which should be important for you too. During Carnaval they have events every night which you can enjoy on some "Buttman" XXXvideos. As you can read in the toilet of "Help" be careful using one of the taxis waiting outside of "Help" when going home. If it is too far or to late to walk home you better bargain with one of those gangster waiting outside. Double or triple of the normal price should be OK at 4am or later. In any case don't take the dangerous but cheap choice of walking through dark and uncrowded areas.
There is another possibility to go out at night looking for girls but I have to say that I did not do it in the last 6 Years, so my report is not up to date. In the harbor area downtown Rio there is a place called "Praca Maua" where a few boites had been located which were preferably visited by seamen of all nationalities.In these boites there used to be many low priced girls, not necessarily ugly and it was fun to be there. The problem was that it was not too safe leaving from there and the way home by taxis waiting outside was usually expensive too (the same problem than at "Help" but more expensive due to the greater distance to your accommodation at Copa).
Finally a word concerning HIV and other sexual diseases:
Most of the girls are working independent and are not registered as hookers, that means they don't need a frequent medical check up like e.g. bargirls in Thailand!!! Although most of them state that they never do it without condom, this is, as you can imagine, increasing the risk enormously !!!
Don't be a fool, use a condom in any case!!!
From Germany, Claus |
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