This post is a follow up to Brasil 202. Seems that thread was deleted from
the database and several people have sent me PMs with questions. Many things that were mentioned there may be covered here again and mostly this is a repost with some minor additions. I've received a lot of
questions through PM since that thread was deleted and I've decided to
address a lot of that here. Considering the amount of interest in Brasil
maybe this thread will eventually become a sticky so that it doesn't
disappear like the Brasil 101 and 202 threads. Brasil 303 is a follow up
course;however, we will include some introductory materials for our new
students whom only have a rudimentary understanding of Brasil and it's many
delights. I will not write another one like this again. So save it.
I have been living in Rio and Sao Paulo since Dec. 05. But I have been traveling here for years.
I have included some pics of non "Club Help" Brasilian women from another post I made.
To make this post easier to navigate I'm going to dissect this course into
"lessons". The lessons covered are as follows:
1. Brasil: An Introduction
2. Portuguese: Rudimentary Conversational Portuguese and How It Affects Your
Trip.
3. Lodging: Hotels and the Importance of Securing an Apartment.
4. Money: Currency Discrepancies and Pricing
5. Brasilian Nightlife: A Special Study of Rio de Janeiro for the Single
Traveler.
6. Nightclubs and Bars
7. Navigating the Environment
8. Being a Tourist: Some Sights You Must Visit.
9. Other Destinations in Brasil.
10. Red flags and Other Warnings.
11. Special Consideration for the Black Man Traveling to Brasil.
12.The Carioca: The Women of Rio de Janeiro: a minicourse for extra credit
A. Whores
B. Regular Carioca
13. A Case Study:O Brasileira: A Picturial display of quality and diversity.
14. Conclusion
1. Brasil: An Introduction
Hmm..where do we begin. Brasil..the land of enchantment, samba rhythms, and
carnaval. People travel to Brasil for several reasons. My first trip was
several years ago and it was also because of a music video I saw in 99...saw
all the exotic women and bought a ticket a couple of weeks later for a stay
of 9 days during Carnaval. I've gone from a wet rookie to a seasoned pro
over the years. I've gone from generally staying in Copa with the tourist
crowd to speaking portuguese, having many good friends there, and rarely
coming over to Copa. I can understand only wanted to go to Copa if you don't
know portuguese and only have a few days. Most people come down and only go
to Club Help. That's cool and for some people that serves the purpose as
that place is the only reason they decided to come in the first
place;however, you are missing out on a lot that Rio has to offer by
restricting yourself to Copacabana. I'll give you the scoop on things to do,
but also give you a bit of insight into the culture. Many of these things
should assist you in having an enjoyable trip to Brasil.
The essentials:
Airline Tickets: intratours.com
Pricing: I've gotten as cheap as 500 or as expensive as 850 roundtrip for
various locations.
Apartment: blameitonrio.com or rentinrio.com
Pricing: depending on quality but reasonably you can get a 1 bedroom for 50
dollars a day. If you have a Brasilian get it for you, you can get it for much cheaper.
However: expect triple and more for Carnaval and New Years.
During low season(May to Oct) I've gotten 3 bedroom places in Copa for as
little 25 dollars per day.
Now because I speak portuguese and have friends there, I can get local
prices. It also helps that I rent for months at a time sometimes as much as a year.
Passport and Visa:
REMEMBER: Not only do you need a passport, but you also need a Visa for
entry into Brasil.
If you can't go directly to a consulate or embassy, this place is the
best:http://www.brazilfiesta.com/
Pricing:45-120 depending on where and speed.
Spending money:
Navigation: Expect to spend 10 dollars per day with taxis
Food: I spend 30 per week in groceries 20 per day snacking and in
restaurants
Clubbing: if you party everynight: 30-40US per night. but that is entry and
alot of drinking..i'm estimating this based on a short trip where you are
partying every single night.
Sightseeing: Maybe 120US for your entire trip.
Bring your own condoms. Brasilians condoms should be illegal they are so
bad.
2. Portuguese: Rudimentary Conversational Portuguese and how it affects your
trip.
There are a couple of reasons why you should learn basic conversational
Portuguese. One of the major reasons is that it will greatly increase you
ability to navigate Rio or whatever city in Brasil you decide to visit.
Speaking even basic portuguese also opens up a plethora of opportunites to
meet local Brasilian women. You will be surprised at the amount of women,
especially in nicer areas of Leblon and Ipanema that speak some basic
English. However, they only tend to attempt to speak English if you try to
speak to them in Portuguese first. Brasilians are flattered by foreigners
attempting to learn their language. They will embrace you for it. Even just
walking about to a women and saying "Voce fala Ingles?" Can be enough to
start a conversation in English. However, they may ignore you if you speak
only in English. They often don't get much of an opportunity to practice
English and they enjoying using it.
Besides the communication that attempting to speak Portuguese opens up...it
only goes further to perpetuate your "exoticness". Please understand that
you are a foreigner. The thought of your counterpart being exotic is a
mutual thought. Your also the foreign figure in their native land. For
instance, have you ever spoken to a woman who only had a rudimentary
understanding of English..for instance a French woman...have you noticed how
sexy a foreign accent can be? Well contrarily, you can be in the same
position. Even when I speak incorrectly, the women adore it...I can't
remember the amount of times i've heard : "Eu amo quando você fala no
Português"= I adore when you speak to me in portuguese. It's very sexy to
them. Also, you can say flattering things in a foreign langauge being a non
native speaker that you can never say as a native speaker...i.e..you have
more opportunities to quickly seduce. You may think a limited understanding
of portuguese is a liability..however, at times it can be a great advantage.
Learn a few phrases. If you are going to invest the time and energy to come
all the way to Brasil, why deny yourself a greater experience by not taking
a few days to learn some basic phrases.
Also, many women think men come to Rio de Janeiro specifically for the
whores in Copa. Which is true in 99 percent of the cases. Some will try to
distance themselves from you if you speak no Portuguese as they know you are
limited to Copa/Help section of Rio. They don't want to be associated with
that crowd. My portuguese is very nice now. But even when I first began,
just knowing basic portuguese was enough to get in the door with a lot of
women that normally wouldn't give a foreigner the time of day..they rarely
meet a "gringo" who can speak portuguese so it really sets you apart. Often
it goes from teaching you how to say a couple of words..to teaching you how
Brasilian's kiss..to showing you how Brasileiras ride like you see on those
porn videos. They must teach this in classes down there. To make my point
clear, going to Brasil with no knowledge of portuguese is liking going
Golfing with no clubs..you can get to the course, you can put on all the
golfing clothes, etc..but at the end of the day, you can only spectate. You
really can't enjoy the real game unless you are swinging the clubs. When you
leave Copa and you know Portuguese..it is like those Nike commercials "I am
Tiger Woods".
If you learn nothing else, learn these words and phrases:
1. Use "oi" (oo-y) for "hello" and "tchau" (ch-a-w) for "good-bye."
2. Introduce yourself by saying "Meu nome e" (may-eu nome é), which means
"My name is," and then add your name.
3. Be courteous by saying "por favor" (pore fah-vore) for "please" and
"obrigado (oh-bree-ga-du) for "thank you."
4. Use "Eu quero" (eu ke-ru), which means "I want." Just point to whatever
you want, remembering to tack on a "por favor" at the end.
5. Say "sim" (seen) for "yes" and nao (now) for "no."
6. Say "a onde" (ah and-du), which means "where," when you are asking for
something.
7. Make your life easier by asking "Fala Ingles?" (fa-la En-glesh), which
means "Do you speak English?"
I - "eu" (ehu).
You -"voçé" (vosseh) polite or "tu" (too) informal.
How much - "quanto é?" (quantoh eh)
I want "eu quero" (ehu careroo)
Phrases to help you be understood:
I don't understand. Não compreendo.ou Nao entendo
Please speak slower. Pode falar mais devagar?
Would you write that down please? Importa-se de escrever isso?
Could you explain that please? Poderia explicar isso, por favor?
How is that pronounced? Como se pronuncia isso?
How do you say that in English? Como se diz isso em inglês?
What does that mean? Pode repetir isso?
This is one of the best sources online for learning basic portuguese.
http://www.sonia-portuguese.com/
3. Lodging: Hotels and the Importance of Securing an Apartment.
There are several reasons why you will want to rent an apartment. It will be
less expensive, you will have a kitchen, it is more secure...but most
importantly..you will have privacy and you can have guests with no problems.
Because of the rampid prostitution in Rio, many hotels have a "no female
guests" policy. Even if she is a regular carioca, you will not be able to
bring her into the hotel. Then the others will just charge you a fee. There
are a few that have no policy either way. However, why not just save
yourself the hassle and get an apartment.
http://www.rentinrio.com/
http://www.blameitonrio4travel.com
4. Money: Currency discrepancies and pricing
The current exchange rate is about 2.2 Reals to the dollar. Check here
www.xe.com to stay up to date.
This was mentioned earlier, but I wanted to repeat. Also with the continual
decline in the value of the U.S. dollar it hasn't exactly made things easier
in Brasil. For instance, everything is now twice as expensive from when I
first began traveling there. However, it is still relatively cheap. Now I
pay 12 dollars for a good meal with a few beers instead of 6 dollars.
Airline Tickets: intratours.com
Pricing: I've gotten as cheap as 500 or as expensive as 850 roundtrip for
various locations.
Apartment: blameitonrio.com or rentinrio.com
Pricing: depending on quality but reasonably you can get a 1 bedroom for 50
dollars a day
However: expect triple and more for Carnaval and New Years.
During low season(May to Oct) I've gotten 3 bedroom places in Copa for as
little 25 dollars per day.
Now because I speak portuguese and have friends there, I can get local
prices. It also helps that I rent for months at a time.
Passport and Visa:
REMEMBER: Not only do you need a passport, but you also need a Visa for
entry into Brasil.
If you can't go directly to a consulate or embassy, this place is the
best:http://www.brazilfiesta.com/
Pricing:45-120 depending on where and speed.
Spending money:
Navigation: Expect to spend 10 dollars per day with taxis
Food: I spend 30 per week in groceries 20 per day snacking and in
restaurants
Clubbing: if you party everynight: 30-40US per night. but that is entry and
alot of drinking..i'm estimating this based on a short trip where you are
partying every single night.
Sightseeing: Maybe 120US for your entire trip.
5. Brasilian Nightlife: A Special Study of Rio de Janeiro for the single
traveler.
Before we go through the list of clubs,etc, I want to give you a basic
rundown of how the nightlife operates. Brasilians tend to have late dinners
with a lot of their friends joining them. Dinners last hours and people take
their time, converse, and drink many beers. Thus the club hopping generally
starts late. For instance, there was one club in Rio, named Prelude, that
didn't start jumping until about 3:30. Typically clubs don't really start
getting packed until 1am;however, they often go until 5 sometimes 6 in the
morning. So take note, unless it is a big event or there is a famous Dj
performing, getting there before Midnight is early unless you just want to
get their early and drink.
Also for the most part Brasilians dress very casually. Tshirts and Jeans are
typically cool unless you are going to a really trendy Club like Nuthe or
Barronetti. Even still though..a button up will get the job done. Just
understand that if you go during the high season, it will be hot as hell in
Brasil. Even during their "winters" it is still in the 80's..it just rains
a lot. Keep it light....shortsleaves and light materials are always best.
6. Nightclubs and Bars
Also try www.riofesta.com.br for party announcments while in Rio. However,
the site is in portuguese, but you should still be able to navigate.
This list is subject to change at any given moment. As we all know, hot
spots and clubs and change overnight. This is no exception for Brasil. Also
take into consideration that Brasil, more than any other country I've been
to, is a very particular "best night" environment. To be clear: You have to
go to a club on the right night. So become familiar with the nights and
asked the locals for suggestions to stay current. Also, consider that
tuesday-thursday are often the best nights for clubbing. Seems ironic, but
that is the reality. I will list some clubs here along with the address and
contact information. When you go to any of these clubs, ask about other good
clubs. You will be surprised by the percentage of people that speak some
English and will offer for you to join with their crew and go with them.
Brasilians, for the most part, are very open and will almost accept you as
family overnight.
Also, if you ever get a chance to go to a "brasilian funk" party..as long as
you are cool with the environment..GO! These parties have nothing but
"Popozudas"...Funk music typically talks about nothing but Sex and all the
woman are bout it for the most part. These are the parties where you will
see the Brasilian women with bodies like the Brasilian pornstars "Michelle"
and "Alaiyah"
I'm going to List the clubs and give a basic evaluation of what to expect.
Then I will list them on the best nights to go...at least in my opinion.
Also in terms of pricing: At the most you will pay 15-20 dollars to get into
a club. However, on those occasions that usually comes with an entry card
that allows you 2/3 drinks included in the entry fee. DO NOT lose the card.
You will use it to get drinks,etc. You will pay for your entry fee and
drinks when you leave. You give them the card and they total it up and you
pay with credit or cash. This is pretty consistent with all clubs. You don't
pay for your drinks at the bar and you don't give the doorman money. You
just pretty much use "club credit" with your entry card until you cash out
before you leave. Losing the card is a fucking nightmare of the worst kind
because you will get charged a huge fine..just an FYI.
For the most part though, the clubs are cheap. For instance, if you go to
Asa Blanca in Lapa, the entry free is like 3 dollars US and the drinks about
2 dollars each.
Clubs and Bars
Sunday
Sky Lounge - The new hot spot..pumps from like 3pm - like 4 am
Baronetti - In ipanema..trendy..so pay attention to your dress.
Baixo gavea- college student environment.think like a block party
Monday
Nuth- Very trendy place..in Barra...dress to impress
Severyna
Tuesday(both of these places are in Leblon..i usually get an apartment
around those corner from these two places..both are small.hold about
400...but certified dime pieces with many English speakers..Melt is open
almost everynight..and at least decent)
Guapo Loco
Melt- melt is real nice..real chilled bar downstairs and dance floor and
stuff upstairs.
Wednesday
Mariuzinn - in copa..locol spot..no English speakers, but can find some
DIMES.
Bombar- this was my favorite spot.the one in Leblon..went there so much
everyone knows by name...always good music, quality women, english speakers.
Thursday
Melt
Lapa (about 8/10 clubs and bars)
Friday
Club Six (if you can't get a tight girl in here, something is wrong with
you..huge clubs..holds thousands)
Rua Do Mercado
Asa Blanca( local spot in Lapa..won't find many english speakers..but if you
can salsa..you can learn how to "forro". Often the local women come to up me
saying "Gostoso"..which means delicious. I usually go there dressed kind of
GQ to stand out..works like a charm.
Saturday
Bombar
Zero Zero
Bunker 94 (hip hop spot in Copa..can be off the chain sometimes with fire
mulatta women)
Salguera (samba carnival group..practing for carnaval..off the hook!)
Baronetti
Rua Barao da Torre 354
Ipanema
Nuth
Av. Armando Lombardi 999
Barra
Mariuzinn
Av N.S. Copacabana 435
Copacabana
00 Zero Zero
Av. Padre Leonel Franca 204
Gavea
24540-8041
www.00site.com.br
Bombar
RAv Gal San Martin, 1011
Leblon
2509-3599
Bunker
Rua Raul Pompeia 94
Copacabana
2521-0637
www.bunker94.com.br
Club Six
Rua da Marracas 38
Centro (lapa)
2510-3230
Guopo Loco
Right next to Bombar
www.guapoloco.com.br
Melt
Rua Rita ludolf
Leblon
2540-0705
These other two clubs are not for the faint of heart. I actually saw a kid get murdered at one of them.
Via Show:
This is the largest club in all of Brasil. It is about 45 minutes by taxi. If you decide to go, go with multiple people and preferable with someone who speaks Portuguese. Thursday and Saturday are the best nights. Thursday is usually samba and pagode and Saturday is funk. The clubs probably holds about 6 thousand people. It is a big ass club and its easy as hell to get lost in there. But is it worth it. If you like the negras and mulattas...they are all over the place there and waiting for you. You will find some real dime pieces. It usually good to arrive by midnight. It costs about 15 reals to get in....drinks are really cheap. If you want to get a feel for a regular club in Zona Norte..its a place to see. But be careful.
Olympo.
On a good night. This club can be off the hook. It is in Madureira. Another large club...almost the size of Via Show. Music is a range of all types of shit...entry is like 10 reals...beer is cheap as fuck..on some nights...5 cans for 3reals. They are bunch of banging brasilian women in here...wearing next to nothing. But, language can be a barrier. I speak portuguese so it is not problem for me, but you might struggle without it because the music is so damn loud. But damn....just some fucking fire as woman in there...worth the trip.
Saturday Night hangout spot.
Viaduto de Madureira
Saturday nights there are hip parties underneath this large bridge(viaduto). On a nice spot, it is probably the best place to hang. You can get there in 20 minutes with a taxi. Women are fire, music is good(brasilian and american hip-hop), crowd is real chilled. You can find the wifey type out there....really top notch quality dimes there. Some of the girls in the photos I met there. Best time to get there is about 1am. But you can get there early and drink and chill. Costs like 5 reals to get in.
Cidade Alta (High City)
Although the name of City of God is Cidade de Deus....a lot of that film was made in Cidade Alta. I have a friend who lives there. They have street parties every wednesday night thrown by the local drug king. That mofo is OFF THE HOOK. Thousands come...a party goes on in an soccer type stadium(small one) and then all in the streets..like a baby mardi gras...shit is tight, but you need to go with a local. If you want to get a feel for how people party IN the favellas...this is the thing to do.
7. Navigating the Environment
Car Rental
Don't rent a car. Cariocas make drivers in NYC look like Utah mormons. Case
in point: At night they don't observe red lights..because of the
possibilities of car jackings, people just roll through red lights. Don't
take the chance. Also, I find Rio difficult to navigate, you would only get
lost in a car.
Taxis:
Transportation of choice. Cheap and effective. Just make sure the driver
cuts the meter on and you are cool. No matter where you are and no matter
what time..you will also find a taxi easily. If you stick to Copa, Ipanema,
and Leblon taxi rides will be about 5 dollars US.
Bus:
Cheap, frequent,and convenient. However, getting on the wrong bus could get
your dropped off on the Favela...not really...but it can be hard to navigate.I would suggest avoiding unless you know portuguese or absolutely sure of your location and bus number.
Subway.
Also cheap and convenient..same as above applies.
8. Being a Tourist: Some sights you must visit.
.
Sugar Loaf
The Sugar Loaf is relatively close to Ipanema and Copacabana, and the best
way to get there is by taxi. I suggest you plan your visit for the
afternoon, to enjoy the sun and the incredibly view far above the lights of
Rio, the domestic airport and Niteroi on the other side of the bay. You will
find a big bar on the summit, where you can buy some drinks. It is open till
10 PM. However, if you go to Corcovado, I don't think it is necessary to go
to Sugar Loaf...but that is just my opinion.
Price: 10 US
Corcovado (Jesus Statue)
Not that close to Copacabana and Ipanema, and the route there goes through
some of the rougher parts of town, but this is probably the most famous
landmark of Rio. That is where the pictures are taken for the famous Rio
postcard views. The view is nice. Seriously, the voice is really something
that you won't forget. Just remember to go on a very clear day.
Price: about 20 dollars US with transportation
Doing a Favela Tour.
Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts and extremes. Overwhelming energy and
glitz go hand in hand with poverty and desperation. However, even those who
live in the shady parts of the city have kept their "joie de vivre" and
optimism, and that is what makes Rio unique. You can get past the shine of
Copa and do a tour to see the Favelas. They are safe. This is also an
opportunity to have a close look on the work done by many volunteer-based
organizations to improve the conditions of life in these poor neighborhoods.
Most of the projects aim to provide conditions for a better future for the
children who are the innocent victims of social inequalities. If you really
want to have a full picture of Rio, this part of it is also worth seeing.
The people are very friendly. Don't worry about running into "The Runts or
Lil Ze' "
Price: about 25 dollars US
Hang Gliding.
I know alot of you might not want to mess with this, but it is worth it.
Depending on the weather and wind, flights are about 15 to 20 minutes.
Starting at the "Pedra da Gávea," you will fly over the Rainforest of Tijuca
and Barra Da Tijuca and will land on the beautiful beach of Sao Conardo.
Enjoy the incredible panoramic view of Rio's ocean coast. This is a must-do
while you visit.
Price: About 45 dollars US.
Maracana(futbol dome)
If you are there during soccer season, you have to go to a soccer game at
this stadium. The shit will blow you away. I've actually been to a
championship game here and celebrated in the locker room with Flamengo. My
friend's dad used to run the team for several years. One of the world's
largest stadiums, Maracana was built for IV World Cup of Football that
happened in Rio in 1950. Soccer is the national sport in Brazil, and the
stadium is often filled to capacity with more than 90,000 people when there
is a major match, and the official record is of 183,341. Insane! and you
have never seen people at a game like this...It can often just seem like a
party at times. Maracana is also used for mega-shows every now and then, and
artists like Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have
already performed here
Price: about 10-15 US dollars for a game.
9. Other destinations in Brasil.
I will only make small suggestions about other places as I'm sure most
people won't venture past Rio.
1. Sao Paulo: Big city. Can even intimidate a New Yorker. It is the largest
city in South America....but very similar to New York...lost of restaurants,
businesses, etc. Diametrically opposed to Rio... Cariocas often say the best
things about Sampa(Sau paulo) is the flight back to Rio. Paulistas(residents
of Sampa) say that Cariocas only care about going to the beach and are lazy.
I live here now. I think the nightlife is much better than Rio de Janeiro. The clubs are better..the music is better..and the women are physically more beautiful....they may not have the Carioca bodies but they are really beautiful women here..and more likely to speak a bit of English.
A couple of good clubs.
Jose Bom Bom
Saturday night is the best night here. Music is tight. Dime Alert!!!! crazy dimes
Blem Blem...close to Jose Bom Bom...same thing as above
Carioca Clube: samba and pagode..a hidden gym
2. Salvador: the largest population of African people outside of Africa.
This was the first slave port of the western hemisphere and still has much
its african roots. 90 Percent of the population can trace their ancestors
directly back to Africa. Those the music and culture is heavily dominated by
African Themes....for instance, you will see capeiora being practices all
over the place. Baians(people from the state of Bahia where Salvador is) are
very friendly people...extremely. Salvador is known for its laid back
culture. The women are also very beautiful..especially if you are into
mulattas and negras..also very very gracious. The nightlife like Rio, but
you can find enough to do. However, Salvador is home of the largest Carnaval
and street festival in the world. It is by far the best in all of Brasil.
Recife, Fortaleza,etc...cool stuff to see up North, but it is hotter than a
muthafucka up there. The best beaches are here, but the sun will be
tapdancing on your fucking neck.
10. Red flags and other warnings.
1. Do not wear flash jewelry. I don't care where you are from, it's
luxurious compared to the slums in Rio...and why flaunt your wealth. Some
dudes(banditos) come to Copa specifically to jack tourists. However, being
black you can blend in, but they will notice that you aren't brasilian. On
my first trips I would often be mistaken for a brasilian until I spoke. Now
some chicks things I'm playing around when I say that I'm really American.
They think I'm faking an accent. But back to the point, the thiefs tend to
target our pale faced American counterparts because they are obviously
tourist and just generally are more vulnerable targets....but still leave
the jewelry, watches, etc at home when in Copa. Ipanema and Leblon are fine,
but that Club Help area is suspect.
2. Don't trust the Police. If you think they are corrupt here, you have no
clue. In Brasil a policeman may make less than 100 dollars per month..so
they make their money hustling. One of their hustles is shaking down
tourist..don't get caught with weed,etc. I know two white boys from Cali
that were down there and got caught with cocaine..took those mofos straight
to the ATM and cleaned them out..ironically even let them keep the coke.
They probably made a year's salary off those kids. So watch out.
3. Respect the Brasilian "gangsta". If you are in a regular club, don't go
down there on some ignorant ghetto shit. 70 percent of Brasilian dudes have
studied brasilian jujitsu..For those of you who think you are "gangsta" and
often get drunk and start shit in clubs. If you think you will do so and
plan to go outside of the tourist area, Do a search for Vanderlei Silva and
watch a couple of hightlight clips and realize that most brasilians play
soccer and learn jujitsu as second nature. There is a good chance you will
get your ass beat something awful. If you should happen to get yourself in a
situation, which is highly unlikely if you aren't looking for it, it's not
going to be pretty. Just remember that you are on vocation and are there for
fun..not for trouble. I've seen a few 6 foot 4 type muscle head arrogant
americans catch some of the most brutal ass woopins imaginable by some
little 5 foot 7, 150 pound Brasilian dude. And those are the nice ones that
just want run you out of there and chop you up(like up in Zona Norte spots).
Just Say my bad and keep it moving..remember you are there for encounters
with women, not men. I have seen cats get bodied at Club Olympo..chess blown out....4 in the chess.then the AKs came in spraying. Be careful in Zona Norte Clubs.
4. Don't drink tap water. Only bottled water.
5. Make several copies of your passport and keep a copy with you.
6. Don't ever go to some whore's apartment..always go back to your place if
you go that route. You may have some dudes run up in the apartment and pull
a jack move while you are running up in her. It has happened. Despite the
lovy dovy shit, remember what Club Help is really all about..don't get it
twisted. I would suggest just avoiding Copa altogether, but that's just me.
7. Never carry more than 100U.S. dollars with you. You will never spend that
much. Keep your money tucked away in a safe place in your apartment. Don't
forget your room key.
8. For you cats that are just nasty and do give a fuck..stay away from the
street whores. Claudia is more likely just Claudo.
9. Also, Carnaval is not the best time to go to Rio. I've been there several
times for Carnaval and last time actually peformed in the parade. During
Carnaval, the city is taken over by tourists, the younger locals go to
Salvador so the clubs aren't jumping, and the prices are triple of the
normal rates..this is a common misconception. Do not come for Carnaval
unless you specifically want to see the Parades.
11. Special Consideration for the Black Man traveling to Brasil.
Generally speaking, Brasilians are very receptive and open. For the most
part you will feel right at home. If you don't want to look like a blatant
tourist..leave the jersey's, gold chains, baseball hats, and all of that at
home. Over the last few years, there has been a burst of young black men
coming down to Rio..especially to the Copa area. Generally speaking, the
whores in Club Help don't care how you act or dress because you are just a
walking ATM machine to them. Lapa is cool for wearing hip hop shit..like for
clubs like Club 6. However, if you want to really set yourself apart when
talking to regular women..just keep it nice and clean and try to fit in.
You'll be much more well received..when in Brasil, do as brasilians do. But
you have a lot of young guys coming down and acting a fool down in Copa..that
only works with those whores in Club Help. If that is where you want to
remain at Club Help during the duration of your trip...to each his own.
However, if you want to expand and enjoy more of the delights of Brasil.pay
attention to the culture and at least adjust in some minor ways.
12.The Cariaca: The Women of Rio de Janeiro: a minicourse for extra credit
A. Whores
B. Regular Cariocas
A. Whores
If you are really down there only for Club Help women, I will give you a
little insight. However, I'm not going to get too much into this as it isn't
my ballgame. I take friends to Copa and to Club Help, but when they leave
I'm never over there. I don't even take women out to dinner here..unless
they are long time friends or she paid the night before. I don't believe in
sponsoring chicks so I'm definately not going to lease the pussy. However,
if that is what you want to do, that's you're ballgame. It's cool.
Obviously Club Help is the central location for all of your whoring needs.
Club Help is right across from the beach in the center of Copacabana. It is
often called "The Office" because that is where all the hoes go "to work".
Get there before 12 o'clock to get the discount entry rate. Last time I
remember it was 15Reals before Midnight and 25R after midnight..something
similar to that. When you get in..just be prepared for some "Dusk to Dawn"
anything goes type of thing. Sometimes its fun just to people watch because
you see some tripped out shit. The club probably hold about 600 hundred or
so people. You will find anything from butt ass ugly trolls up the the
occassional fire dime-piece. All the women there are "available". Personally,
I think that a majority of the chicks there aren't that tight;however, this
is relative. My first few trips I was still caught up in the exotic nature
of the chicks in general. As I ventured into other areas, I realized that
Club Help girls really are bottom of the totem pole in regards to Brasilian
women. But on your first visit there you may come away impressed because
there will still be dimes that shit on their American counterparts.
Find the chick you want and get her early. Make sure you get your terms
settled early.
Also if Strip clubs and stuff like that are your scene try the Lido district
which you can walk to in few minutes from anywhere in Copa. The nightlife
around the Lido quarter is something unique. Not everything will match
everybody's taste here, but anyway take a look in to a strange world. In
this area you find some of Rio's most famous strip clubs and bars. Over all
you can see neon signs at the doors, and photos of dancers in erotic freaky
postures. In other parts of the area you can find pubs and bars as Boite
Holiday, Frank's Bar, Cicciolina, Pussycat, Scotch Bar, Niko's. When there
you can ask for other "Boites" with more upscale surroudings. The names
allude me because I've never been, but my friends have gone and come back
with interesting pictures witih some fire ass women from some of the upscale
boites like 4x4,etc. I don't even tempt myself.
Also, one more crazy place is called Villa Momosa. I've actually never gone,
but i've seen pictures. The shit looks like something out of a old western
with saloons and shit. It is like Club Help on steroids and at 10 percent of
the prices. I hear it is a straight up freak show and judging by the
pictures I've seen and the stories from gringoes in Brasil telling me about
it..it seems like some wild shit if you are into that type of things.
Regular Cariocas.
Although Brasilian women are the most exotic i've ever encounted(my passport
is full fellas), their physical beauty isn't the thing that does it. Yes,
you will find a popozuda with ass that you can set a meal on. You will met
blond women with asses that will put a black women's ass to shame here. You
will meet a woman dark as night, with hair like Chilli, with green or blue
eyes, and curves like a boomerang. It really is quite phenomenal what all
that mixing has produced down there. The pictures posted here before..even
those ones I will post don't tell the story. Even in my pictures, I noticed
that I tend go after Morenas and Mulattas...however, I've far from covered
the diversity with my pics of some minhas amigas in Brasil
But expounding..Brasilian women are the most passionate, effectionate,
sensual, sexual, aggressive, compassionate, etc women you will ever meet.
It's not just the looks fellas. It is the Brasilian way. When you experience
it...then you realize what a real women is supposed to be. I don't mean
submissive or anything like that because a brasilian women will not take
anyshit off of you;however, they don't needlessly produce it. They don't
want to be men.unlike their American counterparts. All the things you are
missing here...the leaves you unsatisfied with women here, you will find in
Brasil. This is coming from a man who has always done well with women. Put
it like this, I have former girlfriends who were both in the Miss America
and Miss USA pageants. I've done well..but it's not the physical beauty that
the women here were lacking..it was this extreme femininity. I can't even
put into words. One day of experiences it will ruin you for life. I've had
friends come down and call their girls by the end of the week just to say
they aren't fucking with them anymore. I have friends that still call just
to say that I've ruined them for life by taking them there. Because after
experiencing Brasil...it is like going from watching Michael Jordan
everynight and then being forced to watch Shaw Bradley as your only option.
The contrast is that significant.
Let me give you a basic example. Before my last trip, I cut the shit out of
my hand about 3 days before my flight. Anyway, when my friend and his wife
picked me up from the airport, we decided to stop at an outdoor cafe before
stopping by my apartment. Anyway before our food came, I must have reopened
my wound..before I noticed my friends's wife Priscila pointed it out, get up
and walked off to a drug store. Came back with some bottled water,
neosporin, cleaning clothes, and bandages...washed my bloody hand, cleaned
out my wound, applied ointment, and bandaged it without as much as me saying
a word. Then called later that day to check on my hand. That is what I mean
by compassion. If you can't appreciate a women being like that, something is
wrong with you. This was my friend's wife. Imagine what she does for him.
She is beautiful, a dentist, etc etc and she still treats him like a King.
It is a consistent story of all my friends who are either committed or
married. Brasilian women keep you happy in every way. I'm not even going to
speak on sexually.because it must be something in the water..Brasilian women
are always down for having sex...they just have strong sex drives.
I could go on and on about the Brasilian woman. You will see for yourself
when you get there.
12. A Case Study:O Brasileira: A Picturial display of quality and diversity.
These are friends that I have in Brasil. Either I've met them from previous
trips, through friends, or online since my last trips and will meet them
next week. I stay in regular contact with all of them. Brasilian chicks are
cool as shit too...if you are feeling one of their girls, they will
definately hook you up. No haterism..though once you start hooking up with
them they can get possessive and really jeolous. Now I have a "namorada"
from Sampa... My tastes doesn't really
represent the diversity of Brasil because I generally go for slim morenas
and mulattas and Brasil has so much more to offer.
13. Conclusion
There is really nothing more to day than have a good time. If you are coming
anytime I am there, shoot me a PM, and I will help you as much as I can. Do
your research and practice your portuguese. Brasil can be a paradise. If you
want to meet some Brasilian women before you get there..try
www.datingplace.com For others who are entering their graduate level studies like BigDaddyBuk and Heathcliff, I've introduced them to an invite only community that gaurantees you will at least have one certified dimepiece
waiting for you upon your arrival. But this is invite only..and after you
have completed your studies.
Heathcliff pointed out a new movie that you might want to check out too
http://favelarising.com/default.php
the database and several people have sent me PMs with questions. Many things that were mentioned there may be covered here again and mostly this is a repost with some minor additions. I've received a lot of
questions through PM since that thread was deleted and I've decided to
address a lot of that here. Considering the amount of interest in Brasil
maybe this thread will eventually become a sticky so that it doesn't
disappear like the Brasil 101 and 202 threads. Brasil 303 is a follow up
course;however, we will include some introductory materials for our new
students whom only have a rudimentary understanding of Brasil and it's many
delights. I will not write another one like this again. So save it.
I have been living in Rio and Sao Paulo since Dec. 05. But I have been traveling here for years.
I have included some pics of non "Club Help" Brasilian women from another post I made.
To make this post easier to navigate I'm going to dissect this course into
"lessons". The lessons covered are as follows:
1. Brasil: An Introduction
2. Portuguese: Rudimentary Conversational Portuguese and How It Affects Your
Trip.
3. Lodging: Hotels and the Importance of Securing an Apartment.
4. Money: Currency Discrepancies and Pricing
5. Brasilian Nightlife: A Special Study of Rio de Janeiro for the Single
Traveler.
6. Nightclubs and Bars
7. Navigating the Environment
8. Being a Tourist: Some Sights You Must Visit.
9. Other Destinations in Brasil.
10. Red flags and Other Warnings.
11. Special Consideration for the Black Man Traveling to Brasil.
12.The Carioca: The Women of Rio de Janeiro: a minicourse for extra credit
A. Whores
B. Regular Carioca
13. A Case Study:O Brasileira: A Picturial display of quality and diversity.
14. Conclusion
1. Brasil: An Introduction
Hmm..where do we begin. Brasil..the land of enchantment, samba rhythms, and
carnaval. People travel to Brasil for several reasons. My first trip was
several years ago and it was also because of a music video I saw in 99...saw
all the exotic women and bought a ticket a couple of weeks later for a stay
of 9 days during Carnaval. I've gone from a wet rookie to a seasoned pro
over the years. I've gone from generally staying in Copa with the tourist
crowd to speaking portuguese, having many good friends there, and rarely
coming over to Copa. I can understand only wanted to go to Copa if you don't
know portuguese and only have a few days. Most people come down and only go
to Club Help. That's cool and for some people that serves the purpose as
that place is the only reason they decided to come in the first
place;however, you are missing out on a lot that Rio has to offer by
restricting yourself to Copacabana. I'll give you the scoop on things to do,
but also give you a bit of insight into the culture. Many of these things
should assist you in having an enjoyable trip to Brasil.
The essentials:
Airline Tickets: intratours.com
Pricing: I've gotten as cheap as 500 or as expensive as 850 roundtrip for
various locations.
Apartment: blameitonrio.com or rentinrio.com
Pricing: depending on quality but reasonably you can get a 1 bedroom for 50
dollars a day. If you have a Brasilian get it for you, you can get it for much cheaper.
However: expect triple and more for Carnaval and New Years.
During low season(May to Oct) I've gotten 3 bedroom places in Copa for as
little 25 dollars per day.
Now because I speak portuguese and have friends there, I can get local
prices. It also helps that I rent for months at a time sometimes as much as a year.
Passport and Visa:
REMEMBER: Not only do you need a passport, but you also need a Visa for
entry into Brasil.
If you can't go directly to a consulate or embassy, this place is the
best:http://www.brazilfiesta.com/
Pricing:45-120 depending on where and speed.
Spending money:
Navigation: Expect to spend 10 dollars per day with taxis
Food: I spend 30 per week in groceries 20 per day snacking and in
restaurants
Clubbing: if you party everynight: 30-40US per night. but that is entry and
alot of drinking..i'm estimating this based on a short trip where you are
partying every single night.
Sightseeing: Maybe 120US for your entire trip.
Bring your own condoms. Brasilians condoms should be illegal they are so
bad.
2. Portuguese: Rudimentary Conversational Portuguese and how it affects your
trip.
There are a couple of reasons why you should learn basic conversational
Portuguese. One of the major reasons is that it will greatly increase you
ability to navigate Rio or whatever city in Brasil you decide to visit.
Speaking even basic portuguese also opens up a plethora of opportunites to
meet local Brasilian women. You will be surprised at the amount of women,
especially in nicer areas of Leblon and Ipanema that speak some basic
English. However, they only tend to attempt to speak English if you try to
speak to them in Portuguese first. Brasilians are flattered by foreigners
attempting to learn their language. They will embrace you for it. Even just
walking about to a women and saying "Voce fala Ingles?" Can be enough to
start a conversation in English. However, they may ignore you if you speak
only in English. They often don't get much of an opportunity to practice
English and they enjoying using it.
Besides the communication that attempting to speak Portuguese opens up...it
only goes further to perpetuate your "exoticness". Please understand that
you are a foreigner. The thought of your counterpart being exotic is a
mutual thought. Your also the foreign figure in their native land. For
instance, have you ever spoken to a woman who only had a rudimentary
understanding of English..for instance a French woman...have you noticed how
sexy a foreign accent can be? Well contrarily, you can be in the same
position. Even when I speak incorrectly, the women adore it...I can't
remember the amount of times i've heard : "Eu amo quando você fala no
Português"= I adore when you speak to me in portuguese. It's very sexy to
them. Also, you can say flattering things in a foreign langauge being a non
native speaker that you can never say as a native speaker...i.e..you have
more opportunities to quickly seduce. You may think a limited understanding
of portuguese is a liability..however, at times it can be a great advantage.
Learn a few phrases. If you are going to invest the time and energy to come
all the way to Brasil, why deny yourself a greater experience by not taking
a few days to learn some basic phrases.
Also, many women think men come to Rio de Janeiro specifically for the
whores in Copa. Which is true in 99 percent of the cases. Some will try to
distance themselves from you if you speak no Portuguese as they know you are
limited to Copa/Help section of Rio. They don't want to be associated with
that crowd. My portuguese is very nice now. But even when I first began,
just knowing basic portuguese was enough to get in the door with a lot of
women that normally wouldn't give a foreigner the time of day..they rarely
meet a "gringo" who can speak portuguese so it really sets you apart. Often
it goes from teaching you how to say a couple of words..to teaching you how
Brasilian's kiss..to showing you how Brasileiras ride like you see on those
porn videos. They must teach this in classes down there. To make my point
clear, going to Brasil with no knowledge of portuguese is liking going
Golfing with no clubs..you can get to the course, you can put on all the
golfing clothes, etc..but at the end of the day, you can only spectate. You
really can't enjoy the real game unless you are swinging the clubs. When you
leave Copa and you know Portuguese..it is like those Nike commercials "I am
Tiger Woods".
If you learn nothing else, learn these words and phrases:
1. Use "oi" (oo-y) for "hello" and "tchau" (ch-a-w) for "good-bye."
2. Introduce yourself by saying "Meu nome e" (may-eu nome é), which means
"My name is," and then add your name.
3. Be courteous by saying "por favor" (pore fah-vore) for "please" and
"obrigado (oh-bree-ga-du) for "thank you."
4. Use "Eu quero" (eu ke-ru), which means "I want." Just point to whatever
you want, remembering to tack on a "por favor" at the end.
5. Say "sim" (seen) for "yes" and nao (now) for "no."
6. Say "a onde" (ah and-du), which means "where," when you are asking for
something.
7. Make your life easier by asking "Fala Ingles?" (fa-la En-glesh), which
means "Do you speak English?"
I - "eu" (ehu).
You -"voçé" (vosseh) polite or "tu" (too) informal.
How much - "quanto é?" (quantoh eh)
I want "eu quero" (ehu careroo)
Phrases to help you be understood:
I don't understand. Não compreendo.ou Nao entendo
Please speak slower. Pode falar mais devagar?
Would you write that down please? Importa-se de escrever isso?
Could you explain that please? Poderia explicar isso, por favor?
How is that pronounced? Como se pronuncia isso?
How do you say that in English? Como se diz isso em inglês?
What does that mean? Pode repetir isso?
This is one of the best sources online for learning basic portuguese.
http://www.sonia-portuguese.com/
3. Lodging: Hotels and the Importance of Securing an Apartment.
There are several reasons why you will want to rent an apartment. It will be
less expensive, you will have a kitchen, it is more secure...but most
importantly..you will have privacy and you can have guests with no problems.
Because of the rampid prostitution in Rio, many hotels have a "no female
guests" policy. Even if she is a regular carioca, you will not be able to
bring her into the hotel. Then the others will just charge you a fee. There
are a few that have no policy either way. However, why not just save
yourself the hassle and get an apartment.
http://www.rentinrio.com/
http://www.blameitonrio4travel.com
4. Money: Currency discrepancies and pricing
The current exchange rate is about 2.2 Reals to the dollar. Check here
www.xe.com to stay up to date.
This was mentioned earlier, but I wanted to repeat. Also with the continual
decline in the value of the U.S. dollar it hasn't exactly made things easier
in Brasil. For instance, everything is now twice as expensive from when I
first began traveling there. However, it is still relatively cheap. Now I
pay 12 dollars for a good meal with a few beers instead of 6 dollars.
Airline Tickets: intratours.com
Pricing: I've gotten as cheap as 500 or as expensive as 850 roundtrip for
various locations.
Apartment: blameitonrio.com or rentinrio.com
Pricing: depending on quality but reasonably you can get a 1 bedroom for 50
dollars a day
However: expect triple and more for Carnaval and New Years.
During low season(May to Oct) I've gotten 3 bedroom places in Copa for as
little 25 dollars per day.
Now because I speak portuguese and have friends there, I can get local
prices. It also helps that I rent for months at a time.
Passport and Visa:
REMEMBER: Not only do you need a passport, but you also need a Visa for
entry into Brasil.
If you can't go directly to a consulate or embassy, this place is the
best:http://www.brazilfiesta.com/
Pricing:45-120 depending on where and speed.
Spending money:
Navigation: Expect to spend 10 dollars per day with taxis
Food: I spend 30 per week in groceries 20 per day snacking and in
restaurants
Clubbing: if you party everynight: 30-40US per night. but that is entry and
alot of drinking..i'm estimating this based on a short trip where you are
partying every single night.
Sightseeing: Maybe 120US for your entire trip.
5. Brasilian Nightlife: A Special Study of Rio de Janeiro for the single
traveler.
Before we go through the list of clubs,etc, I want to give you a basic
rundown of how the nightlife operates. Brasilians tend to have late dinners
with a lot of their friends joining them. Dinners last hours and people take
their time, converse, and drink many beers. Thus the club hopping generally
starts late. For instance, there was one club in Rio, named Prelude, that
didn't start jumping until about 3:30. Typically clubs don't really start
getting packed until 1am;however, they often go until 5 sometimes 6 in the
morning. So take note, unless it is a big event or there is a famous Dj
performing, getting there before Midnight is early unless you just want to
get their early and drink.
Also for the most part Brasilians dress very casually. Tshirts and Jeans are
typically cool unless you are going to a really trendy Club like Nuthe or
Barronetti. Even still though..a button up will get the job done. Just
understand that if you go during the high season, it will be hot as hell in
Brasil. Even during their "winters" it is still in the 80's..it just rains
a lot. Keep it light....shortsleaves and light materials are always best.
6. Nightclubs and Bars
Also try www.riofesta.com.br for party announcments while in Rio. However,
the site is in portuguese, but you should still be able to navigate.
This list is subject to change at any given moment. As we all know, hot
spots and clubs and change overnight. This is no exception for Brasil. Also
take into consideration that Brasil, more than any other country I've been
to, is a very particular "best night" environment. To be clear: You have to
go to a club on the right night. So become familiar with the nights and
asked the locals for suggestions to stay current. Also, consider that
tuesday-thursday are often the best nights for clubbing. Seems ironic, but
that is the reality. I will list some clubs here along with the address and
contact information. When you go to any of these clubs, ask about other good
clubs. You will be surprised by the percentage of people that speak some
English and will offer for you to join with their crew and go with them.
Brasilians, for the most part, are very open and will almost accept you as
family overnight.
Also, if you ever get a chance to go to a "brasilian funk" party..as long as
you are cool with the environment..GO! These parties have nothing but
"Popozudas"...Funk music typically talks about nothing but Sex and all the
woman are bout it for the most part. These are the parties where you will
see the Brasilian women with bodies like the Brasilian pornstars "Michelle"
and "Alaiyah"
I'm going to List the clubs and give a basic evaluation of what to expect.
Then I will list them on the best nights to go...at least in my opinion.
Also in terms of pricing: At the most you will pay 15-20 dollars to get into
a club. However, on those occasions that usually comes with an entry card
that allows you 2/3 drinks included in the entry fee. DO NOT lose the card.
You will use it to get drinks,etc. You will pay for your entry fee and
drinks when you leave. You give them the card and they total it up and you
pay with credit or cash. This is pretty consistent with all clubs. You don't
pay for your drinks at the bar and you don't give the doorman money. You
just pretty much use "club credit" with your entry card until you cash out
before you leave. Losing the card is a fucking nightmare of the worst kind
because you will get charged a huge fine..just an FYI.
For the most part though, the clubs are cheap. For instance, if you go to
Asa Blanca in Lapa, the entry free is like 3 dollars US and the drinks about
2 dollars each.
Clubs and Bars
Sunday
Sky Lounge - The new hot spot..pumps from like 3pm - like 4 am
Baronetti - In ipanema..trendy..so pay attention to your dress.
Baixo gavea- college student environment.think like a block party
Monday
Nuth- Very trendy place..in Barra...dress to impress
Severyna
Tuesday(both of these places are in Leblon..i usually get an apartment
around those corner from these two places..both are small.hold about
400...but certified dime pieces with many English speakers..Melt is open
almost everynight..and at least decent)
Guapo Loco
Melt- melt is real nice..real chilled bar downstairs and dance floor and
stuff upstairs.
Wednesday
Mariuzinn - in copa..locol spot..no English speakers, but can find some
DIMES.
Bombar- this was my favorite spot.the one in Leblon..went there so much
everyone knows by name...always good music, quality women, english speakers.
Thursday
Melt
Lapa (about 8/10 clubs and bars)
Friday
Club Six (if you can't get a tight girl in here, something is wrong with
you..huge clubs..holds thousands)
Rua Do Mercado
Asa Blanca( local spot in Lapa..won't find many english speakers..but if you
can salsa..you can learn how to "forro". Often the local women come to up me
saying "Gostoso"..which means delicious. I usually go there dressed kind of
GQ to stand out..works like a charm.
Saturday
Bombar
Zero Zero
Bunker 94 (hip hop spot in Copa..can be off the chain sometimes with fire
mulatta women)
Salguera (samba carnival group..practing for carnaval..off the hook!)
Baronetti
Rua Barao da Torre 354
Ipanema
Nuth
Av. Armando Lombardi 999
Barra
Mariuzinn
Av N.S. Copacabana 435
Copacabana
00 Zero Zero
Av. Padre Leonel Franca 204
Gavea
24540-8041
www.00site.com.br
Bombar
RAv Gal San Martin, 1011
Leblon
2509-3599
Bunker
Rua Raul Pompeia 94
Copacabana
2521-0637
www.bunker94.com.br
Club Six
Rua da Marracas 38
Centro (lapa)
2510-3230
Guopo Loco
Right next to Bombar
www.guapoloco.com.br
Melt
Rua Rita ludolf
Leblon
2540-0705
These other two clubs are not for the faint of heart. I actually saw a kid get murdered at one of them.
Via Show:
This is the largest club in all of Brasil. It is about 45 minutes by taxi. If you decide to go, go with multiple people and preferable with someone who speaks Portuguese. Thursday and Saturday are the best nights. Thursday is usually samba and pagode and Saturday is funk. The clubs probably holds about 6 thousand people. It is a big ass club and its easy as hell to get lost in there. But is it worth it. If you like the negras and mulattas...they are all over the place there and waiting for you. You will find some real dime pieces. It usually good to arrive by midnight. It costs about 15 reals to get in....drinks are really cheap. If you want to get a feel for a regular club in Zona Norte..its a place to see. But be careful.
Olympo.
On a good night. This club can be off the hook. It is in Madureira. Another large club...almost the size of Via Show. Music is a range of all types of shit...entry is like 10 reals...beer is cheap as fuck..on some nights...5 cans for 3reals. They are bunch of banging brasilian women in here...wearing next to nothing. But, language can be a barrier. I speak portuguese so it is not problem for me, but you might struggle without it because the music is so damn loud. But damn....just some fucking fire as woman in there...worth the trip.
Saturday Night hangout spot.
Viaduto de Madureira
Saturday nights there are hip parties underneath this large bridge(viaduto). On a nice spot, it is probably the best place to hang. You can get there in 20 minutes with a taxi. Women are fire, music is good(brasilian and american hip-hop), crowd is real chilled. You can find the wifey type out there....really top notch quality dimes there. Some of the girls in the photos I met there. Best time to get there is about 1am. But you can get there early and drink and chill. Costs like 5 reals to get in.
Cidade Alta (High City)
Although the name of City of God is Cidade de Deus....a lot of that film was made in Cidade Alta. I have a friend who lives there. They have street parties every wednesday night thrown by the local drug king. That mofo is OFF THE HOOK. Thousands come...a party goes on in an soccer type stadium(small one) and then all in the streets..like a baby mardi gras...shit is tight, but you need to go with a local. If you want to get a feel for how people party IN the favellas...this is the thing to do.
7. Navigating the Environment
Car Rental
Don't rent a car. Cariocas make drivers in NYC look like Utah mormons. Case
in point: At night they don't observe red lights..because of the
possibilities of car jackings, people just roll through red lights. Don't
take the chance. Also, I find Rio difficult to navigate, you would only get
lost in a car.
Taxis:
Transportation of choice. Cheap and effective. Just make sure the driver
cuts the meter on and you are cool. No matter where you are and no matter
what time..you will also find a taxi easily. If you stick to Copa, Ipanema,
and Leblon taxi rides will be about 5 dollars US.
Bus:
Cheap, frequent,and convenient. However, getting on the wrong bus could get
your dropped off on the Favela...not really...but it can be hard to navigate.I would suggest avoiding unless you know portuguese or absolutely sure of your location and bus number.
Subway.
Also cheap and convenient..same as above applies.
8. Being a Tourist: Some sights you must visit.
.
Sugar Loaf
The Sugar Loaf is relatively close to Ipanema and Copacabana, and the best
way to get there is by taxi. I suggest you plan your visit for the
afternoon, to enjoy the sun and the incredibly view far above the lights of
Rio, the domestic airport and Niteroi on the other side of the bay. You will
find a big bar on the summit, where you can buy some drinks. It is open till
10 PM. However, if you go to Corcovado, I don't think it is necessary to go
to Sugar Loaf...but that is just my opinion.
Price: 10 US
Corcovado (Jesus Statue)
Not that close to Copacabana and Ipanema, and the route there goes through
some of the rougher parts of town, but this is probably the most famous
landmark of Rio. That is where the pictures are taken for the famous Rio
postcard views. The view is nice. Seriously, the voice is really something
that you won't forget. Just remember to go on a very clear day.
Price: about 20 dollars US with transportation
Doing a Favela Tour.
Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts and extremes. Overwhelming energy and
glitz go hand in hand with poverty and desperation. However, even those who
live in the shady parts of the city have kept their "joie de vivre" and
optimism, and that is what makes Rio unique. You can get past the shine of
Copa and do a tour to see the Favelas. They are safe. This is also an
opportunity to have a close look on the work done by many volunteer-based
organizations to improve the conditions of life in these poor neighborhoods.
Most of the projects aim to provide conditions for a better future for the
children who are the innocent victims of social inequalities. If you really
want to have a full picture of Rio, this part of it is also worth seeing.
The people are very friendly. Don't worry about running into "The Runts or
Lil Ze' "
Price: about 25 dollars US
Hang Gliding.
I know alot of you might not want to mess with this, but it is worth it.
Depending on the weather and wind, flights are about 15 to 20 minutes.
Starting at the "Pedra da Gávea," you will fly over the Rainforest of Tijuca
and Barra Da Tijuca and will land on the beautiful beach of Sao Conardo.
Enjoy the incredible panoramic view of Rio's ocean coast. This is a must-do
while you visit.
Price: About 45 dollars US.
Maracana(futbol dome)
If you are there during soccer season, you have to go to a soccer game at
this stadium. The shit will blow you away. I've actually been to a
championship game here and celebrated in the locker room with Flamengo. My
friend's dad used to run the team for several years. One of the world's
largest stadiums, Maracana was built for IV World Cup of Football that
happened in Rio in 1950. Soccer is the national sport in Brazil, and the
stadium is often filled to capacity with more than 90,000 people when there
is a major match, and the official record is of 183,341. Insane! and you
have never seen people at a game like this...It can often just seem like a
party at times. Maracana is also used for mega-shows every now and then, and
artists like Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have
already performed here
Price: about 10-15 US dollars for a game.
9. Other destinations in Brasil.
I will only make small suggestions about other places as I'm sure most
people won't venture past Rio.
1. Sao Paulo: Big city. Can even intimidate a New Yorker. It is the largest
city in South America....but very similar to New York...lost of restaurants,
businesses, etc. Diametrically opposed to Rio... Cariocas often say the best
things about Sampa(Sau paulo) is the flight back to Rio. Paulistas(residents
of Sampa) say that Cariocas only care about going to the beach and are lazy.
I live here now. I think the nightlife is much better than Rio de Janeiro. The clubs are better..the music is better..and the women are physically more beautiful....they may not have the Carioca bodies but they are really beautiful women here..and more likely to speak a bit of English.
A couple of good clubs.
Jose Bom Bom
Saturday night is the best night here. Music is tight. Dime Alert!!!! crazy dimes
Blem Blem...close to Jose Bom Bom...same thing as above
Carioca Clube: samba and pagode..a hidden gym
2. Salvador: the largest population of African people outside of Africa.
This was the first slave port of the western hemisphere and still has much
its african roots. 90 Percent of the population can trace their ancestors
directly back to Africa. Those the music and culture is heavily dominated by
African Themes....for instance, you will see capeiora being practices all
over the place. Baians(people from the state of Bahia where Salvador is) are
very friendly people...extremely. Salvador is known for its laid back
culture. The women are also very beautiful..especially if you are into
mulattas and negras..also very very gracious. The nightlife like Rio, but
you can find enough to do. However, Salvador is home of the largest Carnaval
and street festival in the world. It is by far the best in all of Brasil.
Recife, Fortaleza,etc...cool stuff to see up North, but it is hotter than a
muthafucka up there. The best beaches are here, but the sun will be
tapdancing on your fucking neck.
10. Red flags and other warnings.
1. Do not wear flash jewelry. I don't care where you are from, it's
luxurious compared to the slums in Rio...and why flaunt your wealth. Some
dudes(banditos) come to Copa specifically to jack tourists. However, being
black you can blend in, but they will notice that you aren't brasilian. On
my first trips I would often be mistaken for a brasilian until I spoke. Now
some chicks things I'm playing around when I say that I'm really American.
They think I'm faking an accent. But back to the point, the thiefs tend to
target our pale faced American counterparts because they are obviously
tourist and just generally are more vulnerable targets....but still leave
the jewelry, watches, etc at home when in Copa. Ipanema and Leblon are fine,
but that Club Help area is suspect.
2. Don't trust the Police. If you think they are corrupt here, you have no
clue. In Brasil a policeman may make less than 100 dollars per month..so
they make their money hustling. One of their hustles is shaking down
tourist..don't get caught with weed,etc. I know two white boys from Cali
that were down there and got caught with cocaine..took those mofos straight
to the ATM and cleaned them out..ironically even let them keep the coke.
They probably made a year's salary off those kids. So watch out.
3. Respect the Brasilian "gangsta". If you are in a regular club, don't go
down there on some ignorant ghetto shit. 70 percent of Brasilian dudes have
studied brasilian jujitsu..For those of you who think you are "gangsta" and
often get drunk and start shit in clubs. If you think you will do so and
plan to go outside of the tourist area, Do a search for Vanderlei Silva and
watch a couple of hightlight clips and realize that most brasilians play
soccer and learn jujitsu as second nature. There is a good chance you will
get your ass beat something awful. If you should happen to get yourself in a
situation, which is highly unlikely if you aren't looking for it, it's not
going to be pretty. Just remember that you are on vocation and are there for
fun..not for trouble. I've seen a few 6 foot 4 type muscle head arrogant
americans catch some of the most brutal ass woopins imaginable by some
little 5 foot 7, 150 pound Brasilian dude. And those are the nice ones that
just want run you out of there and chop you up(like up in Zona Norte spots).
Just Say my bad and keep it moving..remember you are there for encounters
with women, not men. I have seen cats get bodied at Club Olympo..chess blown out....4 in the chess.then the AKs came in spraying. Be careful in Zona Norte Clubs.
4. Don't drink tap water. Only bottled water.
5. Make several copies of your passport and keep a copy with you.
6. Don't ever go to some whore's apartment..always go back to your place if
you go that route. You may have some dudes run up in the apartment and pull
a jack move while you are running up in her. It has happened. Despite the
lovy dovy shit, remember what Club Help is really all about..don't get it
twisted. I would suggest just avoiding Copa altogether, but that's just me.
7. Never carry more than 100U.S. dollars with you. You will never spend that
much. Keep your money tucked away in a safe place in your apartment. Don't
forget your room key.
8. For you cats that are just nasty and do give a fuck..stay away from the
street whores. Claudia is more likely just Claudo.
9. Also, Carnaval is not the best time to go to Rio. I've been there several
times for Carnaval and last time actually peformed in the parade. During
Carnaval, the city is taken over by tourists, the younger locals go to
Salvador so the clubs aren't jumping, and the prices are triple of the
normal rates..this is a common misconception. Do not come for Carnaval
unless you specifically want to see the Parades.
11. Special Consideration for the Black Man traveling to Brasil.
Generally speaking, Brasilians are very receptive and open. For the most
part you will feel right at home. If you don't want to look like a blatant
tourist..leave the jersey's, gold chains, baseball hats, and all of that at
home. Over the last few years, there has been a burst of young black men
coming down to Rio..especially to the Copa area. Generally speaking, the
whores in Club Help don't care how you act or dress because you are just a
walking ATM machine to them. Lapa is cool for wearing hip hop shit..like for
clubs like Club 6. However, if you want to really set yourself apart when
talking to regular women..just keep it nice and clean and try to fit in.
You'll be much more well received..when in Brasil, do as brasilians do. But
you have a lot of young guys coming down and acting a fool down in Copa..that
only works with those whores in Club Help. If that is where you want to
remain at Club Help during the duration of your trip...to each his own.
However, if you want to expand and enjoy more of the delights of Brasil.pay
attention to the culture and at least adjust in some minor ways.
12.The Cariaca: The Women of Rio de Janeiro: a minicourse for extra credit
A. Whores
B. Regular Cariocas
A. Whores
If you are really down there only for Club Help women, I will give you a
little insight. However, I'm not going to get too much into this as it isn't
my ballgame. I take friends to Copa and to Club Help, but when they leave
I'm never over there. I don't even take women out to dinner here..unless
they are long time friends or she paid the night before. I don't believe in
sponsoring chicks so I'm definately not going to lease the pussy. However,
if that is what you want to do, that's you're ballgame. It's cool.
Obviously Club Help is the central location for all of your whoring needs.
Club Help is right across from the beach in the center of Copacabana. It is
often called "The Office" because that is where all the hoes go "to work".
Get there before 12 o'clock to get the discount entry rate. Last time I
remember it was 15Reals before Midnight and 25R after midnight..something
similar to that. When you get in..just be prepared for some "Dusk to Dawn"
anything goes type of thing. Sometimes its fun just to people watch because
you see some tripped out shit. The club probably hold about 600 hundred or
so people. You will find anything from butt ass ugly trolls up the the
occassional fire dime-piece. All the women there are "available". Personally,
I think that a majority of the chicks there aren't that tight;however, this
is relative. My first few trips I was still caught up in the exotic nature
of the chicks in general. As I ventured into other areas, I realized that
Club Help girls really are bottom of the totem pole in regards to Brasilian
women. But on your first visit there you may come away impressed because
there will still be dimes that shit on their American counterparts.
Find the chick you want and get her early. Make sure you get your terms
settled early.
Also if Strip clubs and stuff like that are your scene try the Lido district
which you can walk to in few minutes from anywhere in Copa. The nightlife
around the Lido quarter is something unique. Not everything will match
everybody's taste here, but anyway take a look in to a strange world. In
this area you find some of Rio's most famous strip clubs and bars. Over all
you can see neon signs at the doors, and photos of dancers in erotic freaky
postures. In other parts of the area you can find pubs and bars as Boite
Holiday, Frank's Bar, Cicciolina, Pussycat, Scotch Bar, Niko's. When there
you can ask for other "Boites" with more upscale surroudings. The names
allude me because I've never been, but my friends have gone and come back
with interesting pictures witih some fire ass women from some of the upscale
boites like 4x4,etc. I don't even tempt myself.
Also, one more crazy place is called Villa Momosa. I've actually never gone,
but i've seen pictures. The shit looks like something out of a old western
with saloons and shit. It is like Club Help on steroids and at 10 percent of
the prices. I hear it is a straight up freak show and judging by the
pictures I've seen and the stories from gringoes in Brasil telling me about
it..it seems like some wild shit if you are into that type of things.
Regular Cariocas.
Although Brasilian women are the most exotic i've ever encounted(my passport
is full fellas), their physical beauty isn't the thing that does it. Yes,
you will find a popozuda with ass that you can set a meal on. You will met
blond women with asses that will put a black women's ass to shame here. You
will meet a woman dark as night, with hair like Chilli, with green or blue
eyes, and curves like a boomerang. It really is quite phenomenal what all
that mixing has produced down there. The pictures posted here before..even
those ones I will post don't tell the story. Even in my pictures, I noticed
that I tend go after Morenas and Mulattas...however, I've far from covered
the diversity with my pics of some minhas amigas in Brasil
But expounding..Brasilian women are the most passionate, effectionate,
sensual, sexual, aggressive, compassionate, etc women you will ever meet.
It's not just the looks fellas. It is the Brasilian way. When you experience
it...then you realize what a real women is supposed to be. I don't mean
submissive or anything like that because a brasilian women will not take
anyshit off of you;however, they don't needlessly produce it. They don't
want to be men.unlike their American counterparts. All the things you are
missing here...the leaves you unsatisfied with women here, you will find in
Brasil. This is coming from a man who has always done well with women. Put
it like this, I have former girlfriends who were both in the Miss America
and Miss USA pageants. I've done well..but it's not the physical beauty that
the women here were lacking..it was this extreme femininity. I can't even
put into words. One day of experiences it will ruin you for life. I've had
friends come down and call their girls by the end of the week just to say
they aren't fucking with them anymore. I have friends that still call just
to say that I've ruined them for life by taking them there. Because after
experiencing Brasil...it is like going from watching Michael Jordan
everynight and then being forced to watch Shaw Bradley as your only option.
The contrast is that significant.
Let me give you a basic example. Before my last trip, I cut the shit out of
my hand about 3 days before my flight. Anyway, when my friend and his wife
picked me up from the airport, we decided to stop at an outdoor cafe before
stopping by my apartment. Anyway before our food came, I must have reopened
my wound..before I noticed my friends's wife Priscila pointed it out, get up
and walked off to a drug store. Came back with some bottled water,
neosporin, cleaning clothes, and bandages...washed my bloody hand, cleaned
out my wound, applied ointment, and bandaged it without as much as me saying
a word. Then called later that day to check on my hand. That is what I mean
by compassion. If you can't appreciate a women being like that, something is
wrong with you. This was my friend's wife. Imagine what she does for him.
She is beautiful, a dentist, etc etc and she still treats him like a King.
It is a consistent story of all my friends who are either committed or
married. Brasilian women keep you happy in every way. I'm not even going to
speak on sexually.because it must be something in the water..Brasilian women
are always down for having sex...they just have strong sex drives.
I could go on and on about the Brasilian woman. You will see for yourself
when you get there.
12. A Case Study:O Brasileira: A Picturial display of quality and diversity.
These are friends that I have in Brasil. Either I've met them from previous
trips, through friends, or online since my last trips and will meet them
next week. I stay in regular contact with all of them. Brasilian chicks are
cool as shit too...if you are feeling one of their girls, they will
definately hook you up. No haterism..though once you start hooking up with
them they can get possessive and really jeolous. Now I have a "namorada"
from Sampa... My tastes doesn't really
represent the diversity of Brasil because I generally go for slim morenas
and mulattas and Brasil has so much more to offer.
13. Conclusion
There is really nothing more to day than have a good time. If you are coming
anytime I am there, shoot me a PM, and I will help you as much as I can. Do
your research and practice your portuguese. Brasil can be a paradise. If you
want to meet some Brasilian women before you get there..try
www.datingplace.com For others who are entering their graduate level studies like BigDaddyBuk and Heathcliff, I've introduced them to an invite only community that gaurantees you will at least have one certified dimepiece
waiting for you upon your arrival. But this is invite only..and after you
have completed your studies.
Heathcliff pointed out a new movie that you might want to check out too
http://favelarising.com/default.php
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DAMN E... i didn't even get to the pics yet and you earned 5 stars from me 
