This night actually took place on the Saturday night we returned from Angra.

HELP Disco has been lauded as the largest disco in Latin America; Well, gents, it is sadly dwarfed by a place in Rio called Via Show.

At Don and Rich's invitation to join them, I headed out with two cuties to visit this place, not having ths slightest idea of what I was getting into.

First of all, understand, it is a long cab ride from Copa. Metered at about $R65 at the (#2) night rate. Flat rate, you can probably get $R100 or lower RT.

The girls giggled (you will hear about them later)with delight when I told them we were going there. They were concerned they didn't have the right clothes but I assured them they would be fine in their tight fitting jeans and newly acqured tops. They both took showers, were primping, doing their hair and make-up and were basically flitting around in an air of excitement.

We hopped a cab and $R65 later, pulled up to this huge auditorium looking place that had hundreds of people lingering around outside. Since I had two cuties on my arm, I didn't really pay too much attention to the talent outside but I suspect for the entrance price, you could easily find a date to join you;

Entrance was around $R15 and one of the girls even paid her own way (which I quickly refunded to her once I had some change)

Once inside, it was quickly... sensory deprivation;

WARNING WILL ROBINSON-

You will immediately lose two of your key senses when you enter this place. Sight and Sound.

The incredible amount of laser lighting is a constant distraction to your eyes; The decible level of the...yes...get this...38 piece band and 40 dancers on stage will make it impossible to hear anything anyone says to you...even a little difficult to hear yourself think; As far as space orientation, I would guess 6-8 times the size of HELP packed with 3-4,000 people, elbow to elbow, bumping and grinding to the ever present Hip-Hop and Brazilian Rock music (with an occasional American tune thrown in).

Finding Don and Rich was going to be like looking for a needle in a stack of needles. We grabbed a drink and decided to call them. I don't know how one of the girls was able to hear on the cell phone but we narrowed their location to a balcony area upstairs and off we went. We had to pay extra to get upstairs and they gave us a number on a piece of paper. All of this process and procedure was being lost on me and I was just kinda following the girls.

Sure enough, they walked right to where Don and Rich were located. It was kind of a boxed in space surrounded by railings, overlooking the dance floor. A couple of seats, a table for drinks and a small space for dancing. Kinda like boxed seats at a ball game with the seats removed.

Asses were shaking everywhere, drinks appeared out of nowhere (aptly delivered by two of Don and Richs regular cab drivers) One of my traveling buddies was there (although my regular travel buddy had opted to stay home and session).

What took place over the next couple of hours was a total blur. I was dancing with both my girls, Richs wife and any other cutie that happened to be close enough to shake asses with. Incredible dancers on stage that would shatter any hour long aerobics class in the US. They didn't even look like they were breathing hard.

When it was finally time to leave, everyone kept asking me for the piece of paper with the number on it. Hell, I didn't have it but everyone seemed to think I did. Seems it was the only way we were going to get out of there. Kind of like your exit pass at 4X4.

Since it was 3:00AM,and I had had my share of Cuba Libres, I was quickly asleep in the back seat with my girls. My buddy was in the front seat. When we got to my Apt., I woke up and he was kissing one of them (stretched from front seat to back seat). I offered for him to take her home (he had a different place) but he declined and she was happy to stay with me.

Again, if you don't like the loudness, crowds or the music at HELP, stay away from this place. If you want a totally mind numbing, sensory overload, grab assing place full of hot garotas (not sure how many on the programma but many drunk enough to just walk out with IMHO), then you need to add a night at Via Show to your itinerary.

I was to find out the next day that Via Show is not in the best area of Rio and some of the locals won't even go there. In fact, it is located right next to a very large Favela. Makes sense to go with someone who knows the ropes or their way around.

I couldn't even begin to tell you what area of town it was in but the cabbie seemed to know the way. (Maybe Rich will fill in more details).

No session that night but woke up to a beauty next to me who was ever so grateful for the fun from the previous night. I gathered her day to day lifestyle didn't afford her many opportunities to go to places like this very often. She showed her appreciation in the most delightful way by crawling under the covers and giving me a morning hummer wake up call.

We were leaving tonight but the girls seemed to want to prolong the departure as long as possible. They stayed all day, helping us pack, having lunch and listening to music. One that had become a favorita actually was sobbing uncontrollably on my shoulder and squeezing the breath out of me. She curled up in my arms on the couch, put her head on my shoulder with tears running down her face and repeatedly asking me to call her and write to her. She also pleaded to be with me when I returned in December. She even shut down my Travel Buddy when he tried for an afternoon session with her.......He will confirm, she only wanted to be with me...he he.

New experience for him, new experience for me. Ya see, she was 18 and not a regular programma girl. But that, gents, requires that I get back into the correct sequence of this adventure.

Sandman

Sandy:

Looks like you were "pintando o sete" as usual. ;-) Via Show is up by the GIG airport, $65 on bandeira 2 is about right, beware that occasionally the highway up here is closed at night, hanks to gunfights between the drug gangs and the police (at Favela do Mare). If that happens, have your cabie go to the nearest motel and stay there for the night. ANyway, here's Via Show's website:

http://www.viashow.com.br

Looks like fun!

BS

Thanks BS. I knew someone with more local knowledge than me would post some info on the place.

Quite the experience though!

Like the Love Motel idea...he he

Sandman

I was assured by my driver Hilton, that the vast majority of girls at Via Show were not on the program and were just normal girls. He told me if you are looking for a real girlfriend go there, and that if you meet a girl there she will go with you because she wants to, not for money. The biggest problem is there is virtually no way to communicate verbally, because of the noise level. Also the English language is virtually
non-existent there.

Badseed, why are there so many motels on the way out there? I remember seeing dozens and dozens of motels in the highway and my girl couldn't explain why?

The only negative thing about Via Show is that you can't reserve a VIP table, you have to show up early and claim a booth. There is another club in Caixias called Rio Sampa, that you might like. Same setup as Via Show, however you can reserve a table beforehand. Awesome places to take a girl for a fun night (nice to getaway from Help sometimes).

I did not like this place, although the beer garden sitting area out front was pretty nice. When I was there, it was really too crowded and I found it difficult to get a beer, let alone twelve. Also, having to pay to go upstairs was a bummer. I do recommend the place, however, if at least to just check it out once. The girl/guy ratio definitely did not look good the night that I was there.

I think its only 10R to go upstairs, much better than being in the mosh pit downstairs. You can have a great view from any of the booths, plus you have a waiter who can bring you all the drinks you want.

THumper: No real reason for all the motels except that it's one of the main entrances/exits into Rio (i.e. outskirts of the city), so it's at the same time easy to get to from most of Rio, but also FAR away from home (i.e. the wife!).

BS

thanks for the description.

I bring US made ear plugs to events like this. This way you still will have functioning ears when you reach 50 years of age.

eh? What's that you said?

Next time I will bring some...trust me