Over the last few trips to Rio I have started to branch out more and more to the "regular girls", while of course mixing in a little paid fun. With it I have had my share of fun & soap opera.

For those of you interested in finding a regular Brazilian girl and are not very familiar with Rio, I suggest the following places:

1) Shenanigans in Impanema,
2) Melt – Rita Ludolf 47, Leblon
3) Nuth (Barra)
4) Baronneti -Rua Barao da Torre, Ipanema
5) and a place that I think is called Bolo (its close to Melt).

There are other clubs, but these seem to be the main and most popular ones.

The hook-up ratio is high. With the exception of one time, I have always hooked-up with someone. I usually just scan the room, find the ones I am interested in and preferrably those that are checking me out.

Last night I visited the place close to Melt (I think it is called Bolo's, not sure). The Boite was packed but within about 15 minutes I made eye contact with a cutie. A little bit later, we danced, talked, and of course kissed. She was a girl from Sao Paulo visting Rio and a friend. We exchanged phone number's and set-up a date for the next day. She had to leave a few hours later, but it did not take long for me to meet the next one. After grinding, kissing, and groping, she returned to my apartment for the night. This, however, is the exception then the rule and was a nice surprise.

While kissing is pretty much a given, fucking the first night is not. It is easy to think that is the natural progression after a heavy make-out session, but generally it is not until follow-up dates.

I have also met girls in restaurants and stores. There it seems to be best to visit a few times and flirt before asking for a phone number.

Today I have the choice of four dates - too bad I can only accomodate two (one in the morning/afternoon, the other in the evening).

Now, a word of caution - Related to dating Rio is a small place. The regular crowd hangs out at the same places and it is easy to run into girls that you have met before or be spotted by their friends. For me, however, it is all part of the fun.

Leave your shyness at home and just say "what the fuck" and try.... It's a blast and quite rewarding.

To the other experienced Rio travelers - Any other good places I left out?

the place close to melt may have been bombar, which is a popular dance club and a good place to meet women, although it is much more of a jiu jitsu type crowd, guapo louco is also close to there, as is a place called the juice company which is newer and more of a lounge type place.

hard rock cafe is ok also (the last time i went there it was closed though, last sunday). the only problem with the place is that the lines can get very long and the two times i tried to bribe a bouncer so i wouldn't have to wait they wouldn't take it which left us waiting for a half hour or more to get in. there is a live music place in the same shopping center as hard rock but i don't recommend it at all, especially for picking up women. There is another shenanagins in barra da tijuica that is cool on most nights. the last time i went to shenanagins in barra da tijuica i got at lot of attention from the girls, much more than in other places. unfortunately i was with a local girl at the time (which may or may not have had something to do with the attention i was getting).

there is a really cool dance club that is more exclusive (you have to be on the list but if you say you are an american only in town for a little while so you couldn't get on the list they will let you in) it is located near the park that is near the dividing point between ipanema and leblon, sorry i can't give better directions but the locals know it. it is on a side street there.

sounds like you are having an awesome time. i salute you. i have found the same thing with normal brazilian girls, they are willing to kiss like crazy, but usually having sex is another thing entirely. there are some good places in lapa and centro also that brasilians have taken me too, i forget their names though. like you, i have been trying to date brazlian normal women during the day (and some nights) while also hitting the termas and help. i have found that the girls i end up meeting that i really like are a lot of work to sleep with, even more so that in the USA, they want me to meet their family, friends, etc. and basically be their boyfriend before having sex with them. this is not all of them by a long shot, but the ones i want always seem to be like this and it is rare that i can sleep with a girl the first night i meet her (this has only happened to me once from meeting a girl in melt). i really enjoy hanging out with the locals though, it is something different and gives you much more of a feel for what the country is like from a different point of view. also i usually have better luck picking up brazilian girls if i am with other locals, because they see me as safer. i have one brazilian male friend whose sister works at 4x4 (he doesn't know it though) she introduced me to him as a friend from her "waitress" job and he and i go out and pick up women.

also, after partying at the places in leblon be sure to go to pizzaria guanabarra (i think i spelled it right) in leblon. it is where a lot of the girls and guys go after or during a night out and there is usually a beautiful crowd there. not only do they have good pizza (yet I haven't figured out why cariocas put ketcup and mustard on pizza), but if you are with locals they will always know people there and sometimes this can help in meeting some of the women there.

oh yeah, and does anyone know a dance called foh ha or foq quah or something like that. i don't know how to spell it but that is how it is pronounced. another thing, listening to the funky music in brasil now that i speak portuguese ok it crazy, they say things that even the hardest rappers in the us wouldn't say, it is shocking and the girls love the stuff.

Gr8tr,
Are you talking about "Forro"? (pronounced "foh ho"). It's a very traditional dance popular in a number of states in Brazil.

Yes, the lyrics can get pretty interesting, but you should hear the stuff played at the funk balls!

That's EXACTLY my experience, and is opposite Sao Paulo. If you hook up in SP, you are going to get some action THAT night, no exceptions. I think the girls in Rio put us off for a day or two because they automatically assume we are on the program (MDP, Monger do Programma ;>) and have no sincere intentions.

Any other theories?

You're right, Defconsul. And this is why I'm having such a good time here in Porto Alegre, because there are ZERO gringo mongers down here (OK, 1), so every woman I meet doesn't immediately assume that I'm a safado cachorro (I am) here just to have casual sex (true; I'm working, but I'm also here to have casual sex). In Rio, especially within 20 miles of Copa, every garota assumes you are, in fact, what you are (a lust-driven fucking machine) and thus has her guard up immediately.

Are you guys telling me that by leaving Rio, speaking only enough of the language to get by, I might actually make it with the regular locals?

Um, yeah - I'd bet my last dollar - consensus is that we have Safado tattood on our foreheads in Rio.

yeah, the whole girls thinking we are in rio for easy fucking is definitely true. i had to come up with a whole bullshit story why i am there, etc. and it helps to have a brazlian friend there backing you up. it is unfortunate because i have met a lot of american guys around ipanema who really are just there to check out the scene and meet girls at shenanagins and other places, and don't even go to termas or help. it is guys like me who are hurting their chances (although even if they don't go to help or the termas, etc. they are probably in rio cause they think the girls are easy).

bwana, that sounds like the dance i am talking about, i don't know anything about it but am going to a place soon where they are dancing it so i will know more soon (and most likely about my lack of skill doing it, it doesn't help that the guy i am going with is an instructor in florianopolis and basically dances it for a living so next to him i will look like the uncoordinated white guy i am). most of the girls i have asked about it don't like it so lets see how it works out. the funk balls sound interesting, i am going to try to go to one if i get a chance.

Gr8ter,
There are a number of clubs that play forró in Rio. The best known is Asa Branca in Lapa. I've gone with GPs to this place and had loads of fun trying to learn.

The funk balls (the real ones) are almost all in community centers in the favelas. Generally it's not recommended that you wander into them without being invited. However, there's one in Castelo das Pedras that is quite safe and will give you a good sense of what they are like. Find some hip garota and ask her to take you.

DeeG,
I'm not sure about you, but MOST hombres could pull it off. The one's you don't have to pay don't want guys with squirrel units ;-)

What's a good club to go to that plays techno/club music?

i know there are rave parties frequently. if no one responds on here tons of the terma girls (and probably help girls also) love techno, raves, etc., especially the younger ones and they can lead you in the right direction.

Forro is played at a lot of places. It is little more than a texas two step and very easy to learn the basics. From there, you can branch out to spins and twirls.

The music originated when the US servicemen were stationed in the north of Brasil during the war. It was originally intended as music "for all" but quickly picked up the more traditional Brasilian name of forro (foh ho). The ferria at San Cristoval plays the music live at both ends of the fair everyday from Thursday to Sunday. Many clubs also play it. You only need to watch it a few times to pick it up and begin dancing.
As Bwana mentioned, Asa Branca in Lapa is another good place.

Cold...You might want to try Club 6 in Lapa. They have three different dance floors on different levels. One plays techno and a lot off brasilian funk. The others play rock and popular music.

As LovingMarvin mentioned, it is really easy to pick up these girls in regular clubs. You should be kissing them within 5 minutes of meeting them or they will think you are not interested. REALLY...Just watch the local Carioca guys. Don't expect to bed them the first night though, although, it has been known to happen. If you can dance that is a very big added plus...VERY BIG!

Sorry Deeg! Chipmunk dick and 4 left feet. Stick to the termas buddy!

Yup, it was indeed Bombar. The place is small and PACKED, almost to the point of making it hard to move around. In the beginning all I could do is squeeze myself against the wall and wait for "an opening".

Well, got lucky for second time during the same week with a regular girl.... was able to score with a girl I met the night before. The problem is that most of them are looking for boyfriends and things progress quite quickly afterwards. The girls tell me that most of the Brazilian guys shy away from commitment and want to play. That seems to be the reason why there are so many single girls.

Hmm, Gringo's are so different :-)

That Club 6 sounds awesome....will have to check it out.

My favorite club at this point is "Nuth" in Barra. Its a large club with an excellent restaurant and food (at least I think so). The girls are hot and the place quite classy. Great music too. Get there before 11:00 if you can, because lines start forming after midnight and it can difficult to get in on the weekends. At 10:30 or so it is still possible to get a table in the restaurant without a reservation and the place is relatively empty, but that rapidly changes as the night progresses.

Like I said in my initial e-mail, however, Rio is small place and just be prepared to be discovered if you are playing the field with multiple regulars.

Another wonderful thing about Brazil is that a 22 year old does not blink an eye if you are in your 30's or potential 40's.

For right now and reasons that can't be posted here, it is now time to 'chill' a little bit. My branching out has created somewhat of a soap opera for me, but as I mentioned before, it is all part of the fun and building a library of stories to share with my buddies in the US.

Now that we're mentioning Bombar, I'll toss in my warning about the place. Yes, its small and packed. Was there last year with a gang of friends - two CH'ers and some 4 or 5 girls, I forget - some other girl pepper-sprayed the girls I was with. End result - the bar cleared out, the bouncers blamed *ME* for the pepper-spray and I had to do some fast talking to avoid getting pummelled and handed over to the police (those are situations in which it's good to completley forget that you speak portuguese....). To add insult to injury, one of my girls decided to have a nasty allergic reaction to the spray and I spent the et several hours at Miguel Couto (local ER). Never again!

Of course, you can run into problems anywhere in Rio, but fuck Bombar.

BS

(Message edited by badseed on March 28, 2005)

Whilst we our on the subject of warnings 2 friends of mine got picked on by a gang of Jiu-Jitsu boys in Melt for chatting to some local women. One got a smack in the gob. The other guy is an ex-soccer hoolie with one of the top UK firms and will back down from no one. Security were pretty cool and were trying to get my two mates out thru the kitchen without incident. He had a different idea and grabbed 2 kitchen knifes to go back out and have a second bite at them. Despite this security remained cool, thankfully restrained him and eventually bundled the two into a cab. In the cold light of day both felt security had been very fair and not taken the side of the locals.

Wrt meeting regular girls I personally wouldn't bother with Shenanigans. It's an Irish bar in name only and I'm not keen on either the waitresses or the crowd that goes there.

Well, those are some interesting reports. I have been lucky so far and have spent many months in Rio without incidents. I am not an agressive guy and will first check out to see if the girl I like is with another guy. Brazilian guys are extremely jealous and hitting on a girl with a potential boyfriend present is most likely going to result in trouble. But that is the case almost anywhere - Guys will react differently & some will want to fight if their girl is being checked out. Personally I feel proud if I am with a beautiful that other guys check out RESPECTFUL (i.e. eyes only)

My motto - I am not looking for trouble, so trouble is not looking for me. So far this has worked for me, even so I have entered many areas considered dangerous. Additionally, since I am usually alone (since I am in Rio for extended amounts of time), things just go smoothly.

I figure it is just as easy to get into a fight in Miami Beach as it is in Rio - a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Then again is it really worth getting into a fight, or simply backing up and saying "No problem' and move on? I got nothing to prove, so I prefer the latter.

On my last trip to Rio I visited a lot more nightclubs and did make two more key observations. Try to get there early, i.e. 11:00pm if you want to get in without a problem. Later it has the potential to become more difficult for a single guy to enter without waiting forever. If you do get there later and are alone or with a group of guys, talk to some single (at least for the night :-) girls trying to enter as well. It will be easier to enter if you are not alone and with a group of girls. Keep in mind that most of the nightclubs try to keep the ratio of girls higher then guys. A wonderful thing once you make it in.

The last time I approached two girls outside the boite and asked if I could enter with them. They responded "sure". I ended up hooking up with one, plus 6 of their friends arrived just a short time later. I started of alone and ended up dancing with 8 Brazilian cuties. Since there was so much competition between the girls, one of them grabbed me pretty quickly to "claim me". Worked out quite good :-)

Once you speak the language it is relatively easy to meet girls even outside the boites. I remember sitting in one outside restaurant and a girl working at a place across street was checking me out. After returning there a couple of times and ongoing flirting we got hooked up as well. I have even met girls walking on the beach in Ipanema - the only problem there is that it is a mix of working and non-working girls. But, you can easily weed through them once you start talking to them.

Getting hooked up is easy, but there is one major problem. Rio is a small place and if you like to play the field you will get caught or seen by someone. So, playing with regular girls will usually limit you to only one unless you are ready for a big scene if you are caught with someone else (Yes, I am talking from experience). I tried to avoid those types of scenerios by heading to Barra or other places, but ultimately the main areas in Copa, Ipanema, and Leblon are relatively small and visited by the same people over and over again.

That's the way to play it. I mean, it's easy to get a little spoiled with all the pussy on demand, (why not just pick up at help), but you will have a more enriched experience if you hook up with some regular girls. Also, they know what they are gettting into with the Americanos...

My continuing experience with "regular girls". Visited Melt recently and picked-up an American Girl from Houston of all things. We both left and took a taxi together and she invited me up to her room. Did the deed. Ok, I have to admit she was marginal and probably would have preferred one of the Brazilian hotties, but she latched on to me and I could not disappoint. She was so overwhelmed by Brazilian guys hitting on her non-stop and aggressively, I practically "saved her". A little nice guy routine went a long way until.... Boa noite! Since she was on vacation she probably just said "what the hell". Didn't strike me as the type of girl that would have done that back home, but then again you never know!

I think it is funny that my experience so far with regular Brazilian girls has been that they kiss like crazy when you meet them in the nightclub, but normally nothing can be expected afterwards until you work on it on subsequent dates (with one exception, here and there). I meet an American Girl and she proved easier then most of the Brazilian girls....

GDP's are fun and guaranteed, but after awhile the challenge of regular girls fulfill me more... I guess I need that occasional ego boost which I definitely do not get from the GDP's usual Gringo lines.

To fully appreciate the enormity of my fuck-up last night, one must go back to the cowboy-steeler super bowl and think of Jackie Smith´s dropped pass in the end zone.
I was in Nuth last night and saw a God´s honest 10, easily out of my league. But this is Rio. I did not know how to approach or even if I would dare. By luck, later in the night we happened to be descending the stairs in unison and I said something harmless to her and she responded back how she liked my accent and a conversation ensued. We´re getting along great. She was in from Sao Luis for a week for a wedding. She asks me to dance. Honestly, we´re dancing and I just thought I was dreaming that I can´t be here for real having this amazing leggy bombshell grope me for a half-hour on the dance floor.
So afterwards, she mentions how she doesn´t like the people she is with and (and this is probably one of the places where I screwed up) would I take her home or it might have been would I take her to my place. I think I mistranslated one of the critical possessive pronouns. It probably didn´t even matter as I was too busy being a gentleman and slow-playing the whole situation, asking for her number(she gave it me) and perhaps getting together before she left for Sao Luis. I have a habit of going slow with Cariocas as it is the rare girl who will go with a gringo the same night. It usually takes about 3 dates. But this girl was on vacation and wanted to fuck TONIGHT. She read that I was either a nerd or as dumb as box of rocks and excused herself from me.
Later on in the night I saw her leave with somebody else. Damn.

Boy Joe did you fuck up or what? - Hemp

I'm sure your afternoon termas run salved your heart, right?

Wow, that's not Jackie Smith -like, that's Leon Lett -like. You should be banished from the brothren

Its been awhile since this thread has been updated - Well, I am still actively hunting out there with great success!

My all time favorite now? Rio Scenarium in Lapa. Its located on Rua do Lavradio, 20 - Centro Antigo. Best on Saturday night, but get there by 10:30 otherwise the lines get quite long later. Beautiful place - three stories. First floor has a live Samba show, the second floor has a large nightclub with live Brazilian popular music. Many beautiful girls. I have met someone there everytime. Actually, I am spending quite a bit of time with a woman that I met there recently. She is a beautiful 30 year attorney, smart, morena - well, hopefully my next girlfriend here. We shall see, but every date has been fantastic.

The class of people you find at Rio Scenerium is quite good - I have a friend who is a Surgeon and of course uses that to his advantage when talking to the ladies. The weekend he went with me to Rio Scenerium he started to talk to two beautiful girls standing together. Turns out both were doctors as well! Oh well, at least they had something in common and talk about! However, in the end he did get shot down.

Also - if you are not into a late night, there is a great place in centro - close to Rio Branco. Cinelandia metro stop. It is called Pampa Grill. After 6 it turns into a nightclub Monday through Friday. By 7 or 8 at night the place is packed. I was there on Tuesday and it was full. My understanding that place is good all week. By 11 the crowd starts to thin out. I also met a great lady there previously, a medical assistant.

The address of Pamap Grill is Av Almirante Barroso, 90.

There are some fantastic women to be found in Rio. I really do not believe that most think badly of Gringo's... it really depends on your personality and how shy you are. You will most certainly have to approach them and be able to talk a little..... I think it is funny how people in the US I speak to think that every Brazilian is easy and will throw themselves at Gringos .... That is very far from the truth. Also, not all of them want to live in the US if they have good jobs and strong family ties!

The good news is that if you get shot down - which of course will happen at times - you always have 'Help' as a stand-in to make you feel better and 'help' you lick your wounds!

One suggestion from me - Avoid admitting or mentioning 'Help' in any of your conversations :-)

Happy hunting!!!!

Here is the latest update -

Still successfully hitting the clubs.

Monday's = Nuth in Barra
Tuesday's = Pampa Grill in Centro. Begins early, around 7-8:00pm. Restaurant turns into a two story nightclub. Mostly after work crowd. Crowd starts to thin at midnight. This club is good after 8:00pm Monday through Friday.
Wednesday = Baronetti. If you have trouble getting in, hook up with a single girl and enter as a couple. Younger crowd....
Thursday = Melt in Leblon!
Friday & Saturday = everywhere. Nuth, Baronetti, Melt, Guapo Loco, Devassi (Barra), Rio Scenerium, etc, etc....
Sunday = Baronetti & sometimes Melt.....

Last Monday I picked up a one night stand in Nuth. She was in her early fourties - not bad - and we went to a hotel close by.

Melt on Thursday has been good to me as well. Talked with a doctor who was a little difficult and distant at first, but then quickly warmed up after a few drinks. Later I found out why she was so difficult at first - she was married - with her friend looking to us very disapprovingly. Didn't stop her from telling me that she wanted to make love and go home with me. Too bad her friend was there and stopped it! Our night stopped at 6:00am after some Pizza in Leblon. Oh well!!! Third married woman I have met at Melt! All were more then willing to make-out all night & exchange phone numbers. But I have no desire to have some angry brazilian husband chasing after my ass!

Moral of the story - brazilians have every reason to be as jealous as they are!!!

Make sure to get to the clubs early during high season, i.e. right now, and weekends. I would suggest 10:30, otherwise you might not get in or have to wait forever in line.

Another place good to meet more common girls is Asa Branca in Lapa. Mostly Forro music and girls from the Favela's.....Speaking a little Portuguese is suggested.

Best of all - a strike out is no problem....'Help' is always a back-up plan!

Continuing to collect my single life in Rio stories in Rio for my future book :-) Just kidding!

Sweet man nice job with the 40 year old,

I had some good luck at leboy and legirl this last trip , I have 2 friends with gay roomates and the roomates introduced me to every single girl in the place,

pulled a few pirigettes from gunabarra and emporium , The street in front of guapo loco/ Devassa in leblon was packed with hotties every weekend but they were all young for me like 18 -22 and was sort of a cliquish vibe plus my wingmen had 0 game,

melt and scenarium were strictly making out and phone numbers , I had the most luck with cashiers/ waitresses who flirted , just exchanged numbers and went from there. also introductions by brazillian friends had a high success rate.

Lovingmarvin, you got my monday and tuesday nights down pat. You might want to try www.acordaamor.com.br. You may have to register to find out when the parties are. They are usually once a month in Horto, plenty of coroas.

If you guys are in town over the coming weeks and into March, let me know.... a good wingman is always needed! Strength in numbers.

Thanks for the link.

I have heard that Nuth will now have two new locations - one has already open and Centro and the other is in Lagoa. I'll be exploring them soon.

Maybe I'll make a trip out to Via Show also...too bad it is so far away!

Also want to check out a Baile Funk, but I have heard it is best not to talk to girls there since you never know if that have a boyfriend there. A pissed off jealous boyfriend from the favela can get you pretty messed up or dead!

Captain Lovingmarvin continuing exploration....

LOVINGMARVIN i WILL BE IN RIO MARCH 3RD. hOPPING TO MEET UP WITH YOU FOR NONPRO CLUBBING.

Hey Denny - I'll be there....just send me a note and we will certainly get together!

Right now I have four girlfriends that I have met through various clubs.... a little hard to keep up and I am starting to cut a couple! By March I'll be ready for a new batch!

Life is good!

Awesome Saturday -

Hit Llumo on Saturday early evening. Good selection. Spent time with a regular who loves anal in both doggie and missionary position, after popping a nut gets me going for a second round with an awesome BJ before my 40 minutes expire.

Afterwards went to Lapa. Met someone at Rio Scenerium - a 30 year physiologist. Not my typical target, blond, white, very gringa looking. This is certainly a trend that I am finding, the "white" and blond girls I meet are from more upper class families, university educated, with good careers. While the darker are more often common girls working in shopping centers or unemployed. Racial equality is certainly a myth in Brazil, at least in my opinion.

At about 3 in the morning her friends were ready to leave, we exchanged phone numbers and made a beach date for Sunday.

Then I left Rio Scenarium and headed for Asa Branca. Mad eye contact with two girls walking in the street. Ended up talking with them, 10 minutes later kissed for a bit with one, 10 minutes later got her phone number and told her I was tired. She was still ready to hang out, but the night is young and more opportunities to be found.

Entered Asa Branca and noticed a cute girl with long black hair standing alone alongside her friends. Walked over to her and introduced myself. She was a little reserved at first and made some comments for Gringo's looking for easy women and reminding me that she was not one of them. My normal nature is to be "touchy", but she pushed away my hand a few times and told me she was not the kind of girl that would kiss immediately before even knowing the man. Well, 1 hour later we were making out, hugging, like a long lost boyfriend and girlfriend. Around 5:30 Asa Branca started to close and we moved our make-out session to the Pizza place. At 6:30 I was about ready to fall asleep at the table and headed home.

To me that is an awesome Saturday night.... today (Sunday) going to the beach with the girl from Rio Scenerium and see where that goes. The best thing is that 'Help' or a terma is always waiting if the dates fizzle.

Oh did I mention the two girls I met on Yahoo encontros? Weekends and nights are just too short :-)

(Message edited by lovingmarvin on March 10, 2007)

It seems one of my other hang-outs to meet civilians, Shenanigans in Ipanema, is turning more and more into a GDP situation. There were always some, but lately there seem to be more. Was in there about a week ago (on a Thursday) sitting at the bar when a girl approached me talking in english. She asked me if I was sitting alone and if she could sit with me - I replied "of course". After a little bit of back and forth conversation she asked "Do you want to fuck me" which took me by surprise in a place like Shenanigans, and I asked her to repeat it to make sure I understood what she said in her broken english - twice - and finally I responded "yes". The problem? She asked if i was willing to pay for it... I said "no", oh well! 20 minutes later I joined a birthday party with a bunch of girls, followed by a night in Melt partying. A few weeks ago I also visited Shenanigans and noticed a couple of beauties at the bar. Problem was that they were dressed up like hookers and ended up being just that....One was a drop dead gorgeous black girl in high heels and mini skirt who had a little too much to drink. We started to talk after which point she shared with me the fact that she had a very jealous German boyfriend. She showed me her cell phone and a ton of phone calls & messages from her boyfriend in Germany expressing her frustration in his jealously....followed by a proposal for me to spend some time with her. Paid, of course...I still wonder and ponder to this day why that boyfriend of hers is so jealous :-)

Definitely check out Asa Branca in Lapa. Pulled out a very nice mulata babysitter, 20 years old, tiny little thing, and we have hooked up a few times since. Asa Branca is where the Babysitters, maids, etc, go for a good time! Saturday late night is best.... if you strike out Rio Scenerium, go to Asa Branca afterwards! Many girls gringo hunting...good stuff! My problem is now that I met a girl at Rio Scenerium that I like alot and is turning into a serious girlfriend with potential real fast....but that was the same night I met the Babysitter :-)

Shenanigans has always been a GDP spot, nothing has changed. It was just that the garotas were looking for a longer term payout than simply exchanging sex for money that night.
You would have to ask yourself why a normal brasilian garota would want to pay that much money to just have something to eat and drink?

How much are the GDPs at Shenanigans asking for?

Same as Help?

LM is right about Asa Branca. Learn to dance forrô and you have a pretty good shot at getting laid.

To clarify Cincoleche's comments on Shenanigans always having been a GDP spot. Yes, there have always been some GDP's mixed in with the regular crowd - but they were in the minority. Lately that mix has increased, but Shenanigan's is not a monger destination in itself. If your specific purpose is to find a GDP then you will be dissappointed. Depending on the night, i.e. Tuesday and Wednesday's, you will find more regular young Brazilian's out for the night in groups. GDP's will be mixed in, but it is not a primary spot to go hunting for them. I have met plenty of regular girls there as well. For your own sake don't start offering money to any girl that starts talking or sitting with you! Wait until she gives you some indication - this is not Help. It is really no different then most of the nightclubs there - Melt, Nuth, etc...there will always be some GDP's (fortunately the minority) mixed in. Either they are out themselves for a night to have fun, lucking for the next gringo, or whatever. It is pretty easy to identify them - Do not work, traveled to Spain, Italy, Argentina for extended amount of time, etc....just take your pic of warning signals.

(Message edited by lovingmarvin on June 01, 2007)

I would think the old standbyes - get a table, have a drink and lay out a pack of cigs and a lighter on the table - should do the trick. The GdPs will eventually come up to you if it looks like you're fishing for company.

I had a great experience in Shenanigans last Wednesday night. Too good to be true & too good to believe...but it happened! "believe it or not".

Since I have a steady squeeze now, my free weekends are out. Generally, however, I do get some free time during the week. Had nothing better to do and headed for a few beers and to listen to the live band at Shenanigans. The mix of men to women was horrible - about 80% to 20%, with mostly Gringo's. But I was drinking and listen to music and overall happy. That is when I spotted a little morena. We exchanged a few looks and she walked over to me. We talked all night (this is when Portuguese comes very very handy) and around 2:00pm the place started to close.

Around that time some pretty heavy duty kissing started to take place between us, but the bar was closing and we needed to go home. She told me she lived in Copa...cool, I thought, we walk out .. she goes home and so do I. Well, walking hand in hand towards my apartment it became obvious she had no intentions of going home. We fucked like crazy all night long. She even woke me up around 6:00am to go at it again...then again at 10:00am.

Aye, at around that time my girl started to call. Obviously couldn't answer the phone until the other left around noon.

She stayed with me again on Thursday night...again, awesome sex.

Interestingly she asked no questions...no money, nothing. She just loved to fuck and hang-out. Over the weekend I could not meet with her since that is my time reserved for my girl, but again no questions.

Last night, she came over again....again another awesome night after some dinner. Again she woke me up a couple of times to fuck!

No questions, nothing....quite amazing. A true multi one-night stand.

Today she traveled to Spain to "visit a friend". Oh well! The talk of an ex-Italian boyfriend certainly raises questions - but who cares.

Believe it or not!

Vacationing in Miami for a few weeks, prior to returning to Rio this weekend. Got a great wingman who has visited me a few times in Rio, but lives in Miami. Interestingly enough he feels that meeting regular girls is actually easier in Miami then in Rio. I tested his theory and headed out a few days with him to South Beach. In one night I met three girls, including two young Brazilians, an Italian, and Columbian..... another night met a Columbian, a Puerto Rican from New York, and a Peruvian. How cool is that? Now, my buddy is that type of guy that can talk to ANY girl (I am not shy either)....even a group of 6 girls walking together down the street. It certainly helps that he is Puerto Rican and speaks Spanish - a big plus in Miami. His observation is that in Rio the lower class girls generally are easy to meet, but the middle/upper class is more difficult. However, in Miami that is not the case. They all seemed easy to talk to. Hmmm....right here in my backyard. The problem? Buying drinks in Miami at $10 a pop certainly adds up. At the Delano in South Beach even more....freakin' outrageous prices. Well, heading back to my serious squeeze in Rio in a couple of days and my wings will be clipped again. Funny, I will have to vacation in Miami to get any side action! So far, however, I still have Monday through Tursday night free....look for me at Nuth on Monday night, then Pampa grill in centro on Tuesday. Pampa Grill is awesome! Lots of girls.... Met a morena there that stuck her tongue down my throat within about 10 minutes of meeting her. Melt's on Thursday is still good, but has fallen out of favor with me. It just gets so crowded on the second floor that it is hard to mingle and talk, plus the ratio of guys to girls is not favorable. I have also heard that Monday's is good at Isla de dos Pescadores in Barra is great on Monday (Forro night), and Nuth in Barra on Tuesday (Pagode night). Will provide an update soon :-)

Rio Scenerium on Thursday is also attracting a great crowd.....

If you're 20 years old, Isla dos Pescadores is fine on Mondays, otherwise....no go. Tuesdays are a morgue at Nuth. But who know, things change.

Here is a link to the Pampa Grill downtown. It provides the address and also a coupon for R$5 of the cover which is R$20.00 Includes the buffet. Click on "Terca Pampa' in the Happy Hour section (Terca is Tuesday) http://www.pampagrill.com.br/centro/

Love this place! I'll be there tomorrow! Best around 8:00pm until about 11:00 or midnight. Good set-up, party early, sleep early, and if you are horny then you can always head over to Help

Lovingmarvin,

I will be there tonight as well. Big red-haired gringo. Feel free to introduce yourself ;)

Ken

I'll be looking for you :-)

Well, last night at Pampa Grill wasn't too good. Relatively empty, but that did not surprise me as it was raining pretty much the entire day and Carioca's do not like to leave when it rains. Next week should be good, since it is the beginning of the month and people have money in their pockets - hopefully it doesn't rain.

Gibtepie - Looked for you last night, pretty much stayed downstairs since upstairs was empty. Got hooked up with someone there that was part of a birthday party and wanted to pull you in to introduce you to her friends.

Lovingmarvin,

Hey, thanks for the thought, man. It was my first time there, so I didn't know if it was a good night or not. I hung downstairs, but around 8, it looked like most of the cute girls were in the middle of the dancefloor or paired up. I went home around 10...

Will check it out next Tuesday. Hope to see you there.

Gibletpie, I think I may show up next Tues with you , we need to see if this would be a suitable place for Lovingmarvin to hold the bachelor party at, don't you think!

Copperfield, sure, no sweat! Just leave the "properties for sale" section of the newspaper at home, m'kay?

Yes, word to the wise - stick to the "garotas for rent" section of the newspaper. When you start flipping over to the real estate section you know you're in trouble.

Have you not been to the new bar next to Help called "Regular Girls".

You should meet plenty of regular girls there. I just cannot understand why people have so much problem meeting regular girls in Rio when all they have to do is to go "Regular Girls".

What is the problem?

MM

New places to report on -

I went to Symbols last night and it was fantastic. It is located on the other side of the street from Pampa Grill in centro on Av Almirante Barroso. The place for a Wednesday. Three different rooms playing very good music. It is a large place and it was packed at the time I got there....around 9:00pm. Around 11:30pm people start to leave. You will be given two different entrance option - Pay R$20 entrance + pay for drinks, or commit to R$50 consumption and you do not have to pay the entrance (Each beer is R$5.00). When you first enter there are is a little bar to the right and next to it stairs. Upstairs it was packed, playing good hip hop/popular music. To the left and on the first floor there is another smaller room playing Brazilian music, but there was almost nobody inside. Upstairs to the left is another very large room playing hip hop, funk, and MPB - again full. Excellent. A small buffet is included.

Afterwards, you can head out to Shennigans around 10:30-11:00am. Live music until midnight. Sometimes full, other times not.... however, around 1:00am head over to Emporio in Ipanema. Lots of locals, "alternative individuals", with a DJ and basically alot of fun. Wednesday night around 1:00am gets pretty packed. Easy to make friends if you are so inclined. Mix of GDP's out for a regular night or on "dates", with non-GDP's, etc. Lots of the same faces if you go every week...
Emporio is located on Maria Quiteria with Prudente Moraes.

I also tried a place called Dito & Feito (close to Praca XV) in centro. Packed for a Tuesday and a good alternative to Pampa Grill for the second part of the month (more on that later). The set-up is actually a "ladies club". Ladies enter around 6-7:00pm......then there is a strip show for the ladies, around 8-8:30pm the guys can enter. The girls are all warmed up from the male strip show. Small and cozy place, again packed. They have a website -> www.ladiesclub.com.br. The place is located on Rua do Mercado, 21 - Praza XV - Centro.

Now one piece of advise for going to the nightclubs and this holds especially true in centro - > Approaching girls requires an alpha-male type. Don't be shy....just talk, be a little agressive, and have fun! The girls tend to be approachable, but there are plenty of guys in there trying to talk to them too. Brazilian guys can be seen grabbing hair and arms to get a girls attention - sometime that works, other times it does not. While I do not endorse grabbing hair, be agressive.... a telemarketer. Choose the R$50 consumption entrance, get warmed up with some beer, and go at it!

By the way, on the budget it is very easy to get to both Pampa Grill and Symbol in centro - take the metro to Carioca. Facing Rio Branco make a right, next major intersection is Av Almirante Barroso. Left there - a few blocks up, Symbol is on the left side of the street (past Pampa Grill) and Pampa Grill to the right. To go home to Copa or Ipanema is super easy via the bus - Just go to Rio Branco and pick-up any bus going to Barra da Tijuca. It passes right along the beach in Copa and Ipanema. Other buses good as well, but watch out for the buses going to Leblon. Some pass via Copa then Ipanema, others make a turn to Lagoa....if you live in Ipanema it will be out of the way. The other places in centro -Passeio Public, Black & White, and Mariuzinn right next to Cinelandia metro stop on Rio Branco. Nuth Centro and Dito & Feito can be reach via Carioca metro stop as well, but require some local street knowledge (Actually both of them are relatively close to Terma Cancun)

SO, now my revised list of places to go for the week is:

Monday - Remains Nuth in Barra, but Isla Dos Pescadores is another option

Tuesday - Pampa Grill for the first two weeks of the month after everybody got paid - This is usually when the place gets packed.

Tuesday - last part of the month - Dito & Feito. If Pampa Grill is not good, then head over there.

Wednesday - For sure Symbol. What an awesome place! Later in the night head out finish the night at Shennigans, then to Emporio later. Make a group of European friends at Shennigans (which I have done the last few times out) and head out to Emporio. The more the better....

Thursday - Melt after midnight. There are also places in centro. Someone told me Passeio Publico on Rio Branco in centro is good..... Will report on that soon. http://www.passeiopublicocafe.com.br/
I also enjoy Rio Scenerium on Thursday nights. Around 9-10 there is a good crowd of people, but only the Samba portion of the club is playing music. Good idea to reserve a table before.

Well, Friday and Saturday - Again good almost anywhere.

I still highly recommend Rio Scenerium which is now one of the hottest places for most locals. The line gets crazy long after 10:00pm, so get there early. Make sure you do not miss the second floor - to the back there is a large nightclub that only plays music on Friday and Saturday beginning around 11:30 - midnight. Gets packed like crazy with many beautiful girls.

Another place I tried on Thursday night is a place called "Cobal" in Botofogo. Bunch of bars, with a nightclub that plays flashback music. I went on a Thursday before a holiday and it was packed, but do not know how it is on other Thursdays.

Friday and Saturday is good at any of the major clubs:

-Nuth (Barra and Downtown).
-Melt
-Barronnetti - Note, entrance for men is now a crazy R120 on the weekend, R$90 during the week (Sunday and Wednesday us good there also)
-Asa Branca (Lapa - easy to approach girls here)
-Mariuzinn -Two locations, one in Copa and another in Centro
- Black and White (Centro)
-Bunker
-Isla dos Pescadores (I love this place on Saturday)
- Hard Rock Cafe in Barra - The last time I went there on a Friday, the ratio of women to men was high. Easy to approach.
- Zero Zero

Another good place to hang out on a Saturday (actually one of my favorites) is Downtown Shopping in Barra. Plenty of places playing live music. Not too good to meet girls, but a good place to hang with buddies.

Tonight it is time to rest (I told myself that yesterday too, but ended coming home around 5:00am)

The Centro nightclubs are really excellent. Early in, early out - Still time to head over to 'Help' at midnight. OR - do the ultimate combo: Start at 4x4 before 5:00 (to save the entrance fee if you take a girl), around 8:30 head to the centro nighclubs, 11:15 or so head to 'Help' to enter prior to midnight (R$23 entrance versus $R33). Just make sure to sleep in each day to save up your energy :-)

Live is good here in Rio!

...life...that is :-)

Finished my last Bachelor weekend in Lapa. Twice to Rio Scenarium. Saturday was fantastic. The number of beautiful girls is just astounding. Ended up getting stuck with an older tall blond I met at a restaurant a few days earlier. At the time she was with her friends and flirting with me. On Saturday I had my eye on someone else, but she quickly headed over to me when she noticed me. Not really my type - a tall blond with that upper Brazilian air about her....I like simple morena girls that can have fun and can let their hair down. Rio Scenerium seems to be better now on Saturday then Friday, but the lines are crazy long. Get there by 9:30 now. I got there at 10:00 and the line was already down the block. Now they have two entrances - one without reservations (this one has the crazy line) and one with reservations. I just walked over to the line with reservations and just followed other people in. No problem...skipped an hour or more long line. I was all prepared with my all english "my friends have a reservation" story, then not remember the correct name of the party, etc, etc, story, but it was not needed-- I got right in.

Rio Scenerium has tons of girls, but not the easiest to meet unless you have some game. These are not the type of Brazilians looking for a Gringo....more middle to upper class. Wow, what eye candy.

Late in the night I was ready to shake the blond and told her I was tired. Went to Asa Branca which had a good crowd. There was a nice morena that I immediately started talking to. She had a deep voice, but was very pretty....somethng, however, seemed strange. Sure enough she told me that she was a 'he' and if I had a problem with that. I smiled and politely told him/her that that was not what I was looking for and moved on.... All part of a night's fun! Man, incredible how much he looked like a girl! Never thought in the past that I could get fooled by a TV, but I am mistaken :-) Good thing I did not yet get to the kissing part.....

lovingmarvin
you sure that isnt a selective memory

Well, I have not had much opportunity to play for awhile but still occassionally get the urge. I have found a walk on the beach, late afternoon from Ipanema to Copa is a great way to meet various girls. GDP's are mixed in, but there are some regular ones to flirt and play with as well. Yesterday I sat at kiosk in Copa and a woman and a baby sat across from me. I smiled at her, she did the same, plus gave me all sorts of signals showing she was interested (the nervous playing with her hair, etc)- ended up sitting with her with a little touch going on, including hands, even so she was waiting for her visa to enter the US and marry her boyfriend who is also the father of the baby. Piece of advise for those of you dating Brazilian girls and living in the US, be careful :-) Faithful & Brazilian woman with far away boyfriend = not very likely! Not the first time, or the last time I have encountered this.

Starting to prowl again.... time to update this thread.

To start with, I completely avoid Baronneti now. It is a crazy R$120 just to get in on the weekend and packed. To hard to mingle, at least for me when I can barely move, plus the crowd is just a little to young for me to be consistently successful (18 - 21). Avoid taking a date, as a woman has to pay R$70 to get in - setting you back R$190 just to enter before paying for any drinks! Ouch!

Lapa is still awesome - Estrela de Lapa and Rio Scenarium are good places, with Rio Scenarium consistently drawing large crowds of ladies of all ages. One of the few places where you will see all ages mixing, from 18 to ?. Many professional available women in the late 20' to 30's if that is your game. Make sure you make it up to 2nd floor nightclub, which gets going after midnight. ‘Asa Branca’ is a good place to meet the lower income level women, typically a good place for gringo's :-) I am not a big fan of Carioca de Gema, good music, but too many gringo's and to few girls.

In Leblon, Melt is good, as always, but another place that can get super packed. 'The House' is a new place in Leblon (located on Rua General San Martin, 1011) that has a good crowd.

In Barra, Nuth remains great. If you like older women, Monday's is the time to go when it is Flashback night. Many times is a dud, but occasionally you get a few newbie’s mixed in with the standard every Monday crowd. Monday's only, you can get in for R$40 which is all consumption (you can drink up to R$40 and in effect pay nothing to get in). I have not really found any other places on Monday night (outside 'Help'), which get moderately hopping - only Nuth, so this really is the only place if you want to go out Monday night clubbin'. Obviously, just like any other club Friday's and Saturday's remain the best bet.

Friday night in the Hard Rock Cafe (In Barra De Tijuca) is good. Its flashback night.... the last couple of times I was there the ratio of women to men was excellent.

For a real local experience, head to 'Via Show'. Way the hell out there past the airport in Zona Norte. Mostly favela girls.... easy pickin's. I generally rent a car to go there, as a taxi is quite pricey. However, once inside booze is cheap and the entrance as well. This place is HUGE - the size of a Super Walmart.

I also like a place in Botofogo, called Pista 3. Great music, good crowd.

During the week, Pampa Grill on Tuesday's and Thursday's is great - but it depends on a couple of factors. If it rains, or close to the end of the month (most people have spent their pay checks), the crowd is light. Other times, like the beginning to mid month the crowd is good. End of year, January and February is not good as many people have vacation. This is the most awesome place to couple with a night to 'Help'. Most places in centro get hoping around 8pm at night during the week and empty out before midnight.... Centro nightclubs (including Nuth Centro and Dito Feito) can be really great, but again crowds vary from the beginning of the month to the end, with weather factors (cold and rainy, don't bother). For Pampa Grill, go to http://www.pampagrill.com.br/centro and register. You can then print out a R$5.00 coupon. This means you can enter for R$15.00 which includes a buffet of food (finger foods, sandwiches, pizza, etc). What an awesome deal - can't really go wrong.

Another fantastic place to take a date – not necessarily meet anyone – is ‘Downtown Shopping’ in Barra De Tijuca on Saturday night (get there after 9 or so). Lots of places playing live music, bars, cinema, and one of the best buffets I have seen – Gourmet Buffet. Check out Barra 8000 after midnight, great band – lots of fun.

There are tons of other places.....I'll be reporting on more soon.

Last night (Thursday) was fantastic at Pampa Grill centro.... packed, lots of beautiful available girls. Beginning of the month - everybody has money to go out. What an awesome nightclub concept....go out after work, during the week, party but still be home by midnight. The music mix is great also....Hip Hop, Dance, MPB, Funk, Axe, and general popular music agreeable to everyone. Even if you meet nobody, great place to hang-out. Last night I missed out on a real hottie blond, but I hesitated a little (my beer hadn't quite kicked-in enough to build sufficient courage & make me invincible as the night goes on)....she had looked at me and we exchanged smiles...just 5 minutes later a Brazilian moved in for the kill. 15 minutes later they were making out all night. Could have been me....oh well. Ended up spending time with a somewhat less attractive girl, but the night was an overall success....that is until I headed to 'Help' and the Balcony Bar afterwards (that story is posted in the applicable thread)

Tonight I am heading to 'Via Show".....tomorrow it'll be Lapa & Rio Scenarium.

Checked out the Festa Acorda Amor In Barra last night. (http://www.acordaamor.com.br).

Well, plenty of Cougars certainly sums it up....

Only 30+, 30-40's, but plenty of nice looking woman. Mostly white Barra de Tijuca, Zona Sul types - favorable woman to men ratio. The place itself is very nice, with a large dancing area and outdoor sitting area.

Had several talk to me - versus the other way around. One tall attractive blond, in her mid thirties had her friend hand me her business card for me to call. We ended up chatting for awhile. There is some expression/name in Brazil for this type of hook-up, but I forgot what it is. Later another (unfortunately much less attractive) started a conversation with me as well. She was an attorney that lives in Niteroi - luckily both her andd her friend were tired and I was able to remove myself quite quickly.

Anyway, if you like Cougars this is the place to go. I do at times (up to the mid thirties is ok for me) - Carioca's have a way of looking quite good even after they get up in age. From the ones I have dated in the past, it is quite a nice change dating an educated woman, who actually has some cash, a car, and treats me sometimes! Plus it is very easy to have a conversation with them.... since in most cases you have something in common, like travel, education, etc.

Also met a couple women that I have talked to over the last couple of years - those that I was not interested in and never called. Quite amazing all the details they remember - My name, where I live, etc, etc. I almost never remember their name, sometimes not even where I met them.

Went with a fellow CH board member to another Festa Acorda Amor party. We were both successful in hooking up relatively quickly, both nice looking attorney's.

Also found a great nightclub that gets going Wednesday's at around 8:30-9:00pm, Happy Hour for all the people that work in downtown. It is Mariuzinn Centro. right on Rio Branco - get off the metro at Cinelandia station and turn right. Right next to Black & White. Great crowd for a Wednesday night. By midnight everybody leaves. R$20 entrance, which includes two drinks, which can either be mixed drinks or beer. A special for 4 Itaipava beers for R$12.00 is a great deal. Pulled a one night stand out of there the previous Wednesday, and this last time made out pretty much most of time with a girl that turned out to be engaged (with the ring and all). The fellow CH member also got hooked up with someone as well.

Afterwards - after midnight - Emporium is also a great place to hang out on Wednesday's, but many working girls there that float between Shennanigans and Emporium. Some I have seen work at the Balcony Bar in Copa, or inside 'Help'. Pulled a one night stand there last night with one of the ugliest girls there - not very proud of that, but mix being drunk with sluts and anything is possible.

Thursday's continues to be excellent at Pampa Grill centro, which by now has become my favorite place of all.

A excellent option for Happy Hour is Eclétíco in Barra Tijuca. It´s on Tuesday nights beginning at 1930. Gets packed by 2100. Mixed crowd from 20´s to 40´s. Entrance is 15r. Address is Av. das Americas, 3434 bloco 4.

I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the address. I have heard of it before, but did not know where it was located.

I am still on a mission to find a place for Monday's. So far I only know of Nuth in Barra, but that can be hit or miss.

I love Happy Hour....what an awesome way to go out. Party, drink, dance, and still make it home early enough not to waste your next day sleeping.

Baile Funk - For something different.

Yesterday (Friday) I went to Salgueiero in Tijuca. The taxi driver dropped us off at the beginning of a street - you have to walk a little bit until you see a large place on the left. Entrance for men is R$10, free for women. All indoors. Seemed very safe to me, a large place, with lots and lots of beautiful girls. Probably the largest concentration of beautiful girls I have seen in awhile.

Just tell the taxi driver that you want to go to Baile Funk, Salguerio - if you do not speak Portuguese, just write it on a piece of paper. Taxi from Copa/Ipanema should be about R$30.00. Get there by midnight.

For a much more raw Baile Funk, like the one that you see in "Tropa de Elite", with guys carrying guns and selling drugs all around, try the Baile Funk in Cantagalo. The Baile Funk is located on morro (hill) of Cantagalo right up deep inside the Favela located in Copa. Access to the Baile is usually via Ipanema on Friday's, as they close of the street access in Copa (Rua Sa Ferreira). The taxi driver will know it. Get's started quite late - better after 2 or so. Not a very large Baile, but quite surreal. Most likely you will see guys walking around with rifles and pistols tucked into their shorts. But, nobody will mess with you - most likely not even glance at you. At no point in the two times I have went did I feel threatened or scared. This is a place to buy drugs and the drug dealers are not there to mess with you or rob you - it is afterall a business for them. Don't mess with them and they won't mess with them. Just be careful talking to girls, since the last thing you want is a jealous drug dealer that needs to show his "alpha male" stance amongst his peers.

Salgueiero in comparison is VERY tame.

Next I will try the Baile Funk in Mangueira. Stay tuned.

(Message edited by lovingmarvin on September 06, 2008)

Excellant review LM!!! Thx a million! Cant wait to hear about Mangueira. I have gone there for Samba parties but never baile funk!

Baile Funk continued - Tried the Baile Funk at Castello Rio dos Pedras last night with a couple of my friends. Wow - the number of beautiful girls is stunning. To get there take Bus #464 along Av. Atlantica. This week I have a car, so I drove there. Didn't exactly adhere to the new "Dry law" here in Brazil, a zero tolarance drinking law, but got lucky and had no problems returning home.

But....be prepared! These are not such easy places to pick up girls as you might think. The average age of the girls is 18, with tons of beefy guys trying to pick them up. Strangely I saw less making out there and girls turning down guys then in most other places I have been too...including all the usual suspect places, including Melt, Rio Scenerium.

So, if you are an older guy it will take work and luck! Some drop dead gorgous 18 year, even if she is poor, will take work!!!

Now, after being blown off by a few I did have luck with a Naomi Campbell look alike. Wow...very nice! But I had to take it slow, until she warmed up to me. We ended up making out, hugging, and dancing but it took work. Two of my friends struck out, including one who I would consider good looking. He is Brazilian, 27, tall, ended up talking to about 10 girls (all about 18-19, with incredible bodies, half were blonds) with minimal luck. I think I took mine by surprise and of guard as I tried the very nice and innocent approach, versus the grab and kiss style of the typical Brazilian.

I also went to Mangueira a couple of weeks ago when they had their Samba School (some times of the year they have Baile Funk). It was so much fun...I drank, I danced, sang (they hand out flyers with the lyrics).

I highly recommend the Samba Schools and the Baile Funk. Salgueiro, Mangueira, and Castello das Pedras are located by favelas but it is safe. Nobody bothers with you and it just great to see all that energy. Even if you strike out with girls at a Baile Funk it is worth just to watch the girls, while getting drunk!

Now with the dollar at 2.30 - much more partying and exploring to do!