Surfcrest
February 28th, 2012, 08:55
There has been a fair amount said here on the Global Forum about South American destinations, especially about Brazil without a lot of specifics beyond simple speculations from people that have either never been here or consider themselves to have been by virtue of some Googling.
I've been here in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval 2012, while on a South American tour which began in Chile and Argentina some time back.
My favorite spot on the planet has been Dong Tan beach, down at Jomtien for me for over 20 years now. I've always preferred a setting where my usual chair awaits me each morning in the same spot and with the same great friends that I hold dear. The sunshine, the friendly service and the convenience of having it so close to my part time home keeps me coming back year after year. Having said this, I've always sought out a similar environment in other parts of the world, having found some similarities at the Blue Chairs in Puerto Vallarta or down at the beach in Albufiera Portugal...albeit not really a gay thing (to more than just a few of us) at the latter.
Now, you may have heard that Rio has a bad reputation for being a dangerous city and in many parts of the central city this is very true..as it probably is with many cities around the world. Things have really changed though recently for Brazil since I've been here last. For one, the economy has really taken off and more and more Brazilians not only have money, but have an awful lot of it. I know I've seen a marked increase in the number of Brazilians back home in Vancouver with the money to travel, study and certainly spend abroad. Rio still has that razor sharp line between rich and poor, which is probably why you can still find boys here for rent at a reasonable price.
Without digging the Where are the Big Dicks are thread, 3 pages in (from this thread) here on the Global Forum or lighting a match under Latintopxxx to get him going again, I can tell you that there are plenty of Whoppers to be found down here without a single Burger King in sight (if you know what I mean). I think the only drawback is the language barrier. Being so close to other European countries, many in Portugal speak at least English in addition to Portugese...with many speaking Spanish as well. Such is not the case here, even down in Ipanema or Copocabana. Brazil has been fairly isolated over the years and even now, with hotel rooms going for several hundred of dollars per night even for simple lodgings (and a thousand or more during Carnaval)...quite often the tourist population is made up mainly of other Brazilians (that can afford these rates) from other cities within the country. Being fluent in Spanish as I am is of little use here for conversation sake, although it certainly helps with reading Portugese.
Anyhow, not looking to start posting here or even visit this forum more than just occasionally. I thought it would benefit some to update what little real information that has been posted on Brazil and Rio de Janeiro.
Surfcrest
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/Surfcrest/P1070775.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/Surfcrest/P1080079.jpg
I've been here in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval 2012, while on a South American tour which began in Chile and Argentina some time back.
My favorite spot on the planet has been Dong Tan beach, down at Jomtien for me for over 20 years now. I've always preferred a setting where my usual chair awaits me each morning in the same spot and with the same great friends that I hold dear. The sunshine, the friendly service and the convenience of having it so close to my part time home keeps me coming back year after year. Having said this, I've always sought out a similar environment in other parts of the world, having found some similarities at the Blue Chairs in Puerto Vallarta or down at the beach in Albufiera Portugal...albeit not really a gay thing (to more than just a few of us) at the latter.
Now, you may have heard that Rio has a bad reputation for being a dangerous city and in many parts of the central city this is very true..as it probably is with many cities around the world. Things have really changed though recently for Brazil since I've been here last. For one, the economy has really taken off and more and more Brazilians not only have money, but have an awful lot of it. I know I've seen a marked increase in the number of Brazilians back home in Vancouver with the money to travel, study and certainly spend abroad. Rio still has that razor sharp line between rich and poor, which is probably why you can still find boys here for rent at a reasonable price.
Without digging the Where are the Big Dicks are thread, 3 pages in (from this thread) here on the Global Forum or lighting a match under Latintopxxx to get him going again, I can tell you that there are plenty of Whoppers to be found down here without a single Burger King in sight (if you know what I mean). I think the only drawback is the language barrier. Being so close to other European countries, many in Portugal speak at least English in addition to Portugese...with many speaking Spanish as well. Such is not the case here, even down in Ipanema or Copocabana. Brazil has been fairly isolated over the years and even now, with hotel rooms going for several hundred of dollars per night even for simple lodgings (and a thousand or more during Carnaval)...quite often the tourist population is made up mainly of other Brazilians (that can afford these rates) from other cities within the country. Being fluent in Spanish as I am is of little use here for conversation sake, although it certainly helps with reading Portugese.
Anyhow, not looking to start posting here or even visit this forum more than just occasionally. I thought it would benefit some to update what little real information that has been posted on Brazil and Rio de Janeiro.
Surfcrest
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/Surfcrest/P1070775.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/Surfcrest/P1080079.jpg