Well, not really the last plane, but the place cleared out as first American and the United ended direct service between the US and Rio. Delta still has a flight between Rio and ATL, but you'd have to be out of your fucking mind to go to Rio now.

I bailed out of town on 3/17, a day earlier than planned. Other fellow mongers split before I did.

That said, until I left it was paradise. The dollar was trading at R$5.00, and girls were so desperate for business that they actually had dropped their prices. I never paid more than R$250, and in several cases had great freelancers for R$100-150.

I even made a trip out to Villa Mimosa with fellow CH members, and it was jumping, but two days later the city shut it down, and a few days later all the termas were ordered to close.

I had a moment in time where Rio was at its best: stunning weather (sunny and 80º every day), beautiful, hungry women, and the best exchange rate in history.

We'll see what happens when this all clears up. It may be awhile.

Funny, I was about to ask you if you got out of there. I do wonder how long it will be before anyone is able to post new trip reports (about a trip just taken, not a retrospective report) on this board. It could be sometime.

I saw today that the Indonesian Rupiah is over 16,000 to the dollar. Holee sheet, I have never seen such a great exchange rate for Indonesia. Unfortunately there's no way to take advantage of it!

BTW, how was Bangkok?

Murasaki,

BKK was fun. I was so lucky. Left BKK just as it was starting to lock down, and left Rio just as the numbers started to rise.

BKK seemed completely normal the day I arrived and totally on edge by the time I left.

It pains me to look at the amazing exchange rates in Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, and even a decent rate in BKK, and know I'm not going anywhere.

Stay well.

Bwana_dik we're talking about returning to Rio after this mess is sorted out. What is the Terma situation? Has 4x4 opened yet? We really need a new bible on the today's Rio. If anyone should write one it's you - a 20year update of the original masterpiece.

Bluelight, 4X4 had not reopened yet, and it seems unclear exactly when it will. I'm guessing the bribes required to reopen are pretty stiff. But Tino says that it will be reopening. 65 is back up and running, and Solarium is better than ever. Cancun is still going, but with a name change--it's Termas New York, or something very similar.

I know, I should update the guide. But who's even going to Rio these days? I never see younger gringos.

Testing of new Discus posting. Note, posting currently only functional on existing 2020 Trip Reports at the moment (earliest being Matrix's Budapest report).

Bwana dik;
thanks for the update. I do hope the situation improves and this covid 19 is a thing of the past; i miss a lot Rio and its sexy women !!!!!!!

MP