Soldier Invades Brazil, Taken Hostage, Escapes With Big Smile

WOW, OMG! I love Brazil, I love Rio! Between Pattaya and Rio, I don’t know how mongers can travel anywhere else! Weeks later, I’m still in awe. OK, now for the trip report/how to guide.

Extra thank you to Ruffnutz and TicaFan for so much intel which came in extremely handy. Thank you to Travelboy for showing me around Ipanema. Also, Bwana Dik’s Rio Guide 2005 is a must read/have. CRT and CH were the two best boards for info. CRT guys gave me great advice here, and in-country there were CH guys everywhere who also lended a helping hand from time to time.

United Airlines Chicago (ORD) to Rio International (GIG) for $777. Rain delay equaled missed connection (UAL only has one flight per day from Sao Paulo to Rio). Transported by United to Domestic Airport (Santos Dumont - SDU), past the site of the recent plane crash, for a flight on TAM Airlines. The interesting thing with TAM is that, although your boarding pass shows an assigned seat number, it really isn’t an assigned seat. Seats are SWA style, first come, first serve. This made some tourists really upset when the front seats were taken by Brazilians this way, glad I met some Brazilians in the airport who took me under their wing for this flight.

Airport Transport. Do yourself a favor, TAKE THE BUS. It really is safe as can be and runs pretty regularly. The bus line to take to and from the airport is REAL BUS. The bus stop is right in front of the airport and a sign for REAL BUS stop is posted. It costs 6 Reals ($R6 ~ $3USD), the seats are very comfortable and the bus is air conditioned. When I was ready to get off, I told the bus driver, he pulled right over, and I walked a block to my apt. It is a lot better than paying a taxi driver ($R60). I took it to and from the airport and was very pleasantly surprised.

Accommodations. Went thru Gringo Management (www.gringomanagement.com/) originally for a nice 1 bedroom for $65 USD/night on Rua Paula Freitas. Had some struggles early on and eventually found new accommodations. However, Gringo Management and I have discussed this and I think I may give them a shot the NEXT TIME I GO! I spent the rest of my time in a place one minute a way from HELP DISCO and the beach for $75 USD/night. This place was great and the proximity worked out very nicely. I rented this place from Americoa Tours, and let me tell you, these guys here really are great and will tell you everything and anything you need about Rio. I cannot talk more highly about these guys, they really are awesome.

Transportation. When faced with the decision, if at all possible, DO NOT TAKE TAXIs. You always get the vibe that they are trying to rip you off, and they are extremely expensive. The bus system really is great there and will take you almost anywhere for ~($R2). There is also a van system that will take you to the same places for the same price. All these vehicles are well marked with the locations that they are going. These are also very safe, in fact I felt safer on the bus than I did the taxis. Also, the subway system is very good (www.metrorio.com.br/english). I took that to go to the soccer stadium, cathedral, and the Jesus Statute (with bus connection). You would be amazed how easy and inexpensive it is to use the public transportation here and how much money you can redirect toward other activities.

Copacabana v Ipanema. Yes, Ipanema is nice, it’s quieter and has a beautiful beach patronized by the more affluent of Brazilian society. However, I would never stay there. http://ipanema.com/ The energy and excitement of the people of Copacabana made Rio come alive. The moment you walked up to the beach, you already started smiling and looking around for the perfect spot (just dont let that be next to the rainbow flag section of the beach). So many beautiful women, all in thong bikinis, sunbathing. The section near Meia Pataca is where the working girls sit. Chairs for rent, I think it was $R10 for a long chair if I remember correctly. The guys renting the chairs will fight to rent to you, so make sure you tell them that you want the best place next to the hottest women or otherwise you will not go with them. They do pick great places (though never let them negotiate a price w a girl for you, they will add their markup fee for services rendered.)

Help Nightclub. http://www.discoteca-help.com Wow, Help is huge! Probably the size of Del Ray, BM, and KL combined. Every girl is a working girl. Prices ranged between $R150-400. Buy your entrance before midnight and save $R10. you can buy the entrance and then walk away to come back later, just hold on to the ticket. Drinks werent overly pricey for a discotec. You just have to prepay yourt drink tickets at designated cashiers before going to the bar for service. The stage seating area is not VIP, anyone can walk up there and grab a seat at one of 5 tables (which has its own waitstaff). Almost all the music is hip-hop and you hear the same songs over and over again in the same night. Avoid the Redbull-Vodka drinks the girls want, you will shoot your nightly budget fast on those. Outside of Help before midnight, there is a great restaraunt for food and pre-drinking. Girls are around there too, scouting in order to find someone without going into Help (women pay cover to enter Help, so it hits their bottom line too.) Never buy any woman's cover! Let them meet you inside if they want to go in. Once you buy it, they will move on to other guys inside, they are looking for the highest bidder afterall. At the end of the night, I had no problem walking home. There are K*D beggars around. Dont try to avoid them quietly. Scream at them to go away and shake your arms (like us latinos do) and they get the hint. Otherwise, there is no escaping them until you get into a cab. There are a lot more cops around which keeps people from out-and-out robbing you, but dont expect the cops to provide any extra protection. Many a-time I saw a Brazilian and drunk American get into it outside in front of the cops, and it usually ended the same, Brazilian walking away screaming and American walking away with a bloody nose.

Termas. Termas are awesome and were my primary source of mongering. Cover charges were around $R50 and in most places credit cards were accepted. Go in, get naked and into a robe and flip flops, then enter the bar of ladies. Watch the girls dance and when you are ready to talk to one, smile and wave her on over. Most Terma girls spoke some english. I would order up a couple of drinks, make out with the girls, get a handjob under my robe, and then finally when I couldnt take it anymore, up to the room. Usually around $R200 for girl and room for 40 minutes. Afterward, hit the shower and sauna, go back to the bar and look for something new. Id sometimes do 5 or more hours in one Terma, session usually 2-3 times. As for pictures, the staff doesnt allow cameras, so sneak it into the robe and negotiate it with the girl. They usually said yes to me as long as i promised that the pics wouldnt make their way to the internet.

My favorite Terma by far was Luomo. Located near the subway, its about a 10-15 minute walk from the beach. Also, every night they had an all you can eat buffet of local food, and the waitstaff always took care of everything I needed. For the first few days in Rio, the only place I ate, showered, and did personal hygene was in Luomo. It was great, and there were with 30 women or so to choose from, all of them were beautiful. Lesbo and strip shows nightly was a nice feature. http://www.luomo.com.br/

Second fav was 4x4. Located in the central, the bus ($R3) was a great way to get there. Things are a lil bit cheaper here, but get there early, because by 6 there are so many people there that its hard to find a seat, and with so many people standing it just doesnt give the comfort feel of other places.

Not impressed with the other termas, just didnt have the great vibe of the other two places I frequented. http://www.solarium.com.br/ http://www.termasmontecarlo.com.br/

Escorts. Widely available. Tried the most popular, Karlas models http://www.karlamodels.net/topo.htm Girl came to my room within a half hour. Wasnt impressed with the service, very mechanical and the pics from the site are definately touched up. Also, they now add on the taxi fee of the girl, $R30. Knew that there were better ways to spend my money. However, here is the most complete listing of escorts for Rio that I found http://travelsexguide.tv/brazil/rioescorts.htm

Non-Mongering. The Jesus statue is great. http://www.corcovado.com.br/ Cost $R3.50 on the train w/ bus transfer for a ride to the hill. Met by a Govt tourism official who details the ways to get up there. For $R30, you can wait for the cable car that takes you straight to the statue or for $R50 you can take a pre-designated taxi, the drive stops at 3 points along the hill for siteseeing and then finally the statue. Driver will stay with you the whole time and you pay at the end. Site was great, its one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Brazilian Soccer is crazy, went to the Maracana soccer stadium on the train $R3 which dropped me off minutes from the stadium. Seats 180,000, most of which seemed full. Fans are truly fanatical, people bring their own fireworks to the stadium and set them off randomly. Chants the whole game, gorgeous women cheering on their team, dancing, screaming was awesome. Beer was about $R3 and the same for Hot Dogs at the game. There is not event in the US that has as much fan energy as this game did (and it was just a regular game, not like it was the national team or something).

Miscellaneous. National beer is Brahma. At the bar, it runs about $R4. Where available, draft beer is cheaper, called Chopp (pronounced Sh-o-ppe). Citibank has some locations here for banking purposes. McDonalds, KFC and Dominos are available if you have the taste for American food. Credit cards widely accepted, though 5 places didn’t accept Visa.

Regrets.
1. I didnt hit any apartment-Sex parlors. Gotta make time for that next time.
2. Explore Ipanema more, have greater confidence talking to non-working Brazilian girls.
3. Dont waste money on taxis.
4. Experience a few more sober sunrises on the beach, they truly are beautiful.

Lessons Learned:

1. Make sure you hit the international Duty Free before traveling to the domestic terminal to buy alcohol. You don’t want to miss out!

2. Use public transportation, don’t take taxis. When walking at night, walk with someone or at least walk into another group going your way.

3. Don’t talk Spanish unless it is very, very good and has a latin accent, and even then expect some difficulty communicating. Portuguese may be similar, but if you sound like an American talking it, it will just get confusing. Otherwise, learn some Portuguese or just find someone that speaks English.

4. Buy food and take it with you before you go check-in back at the airport to leave Rio/Sao Paulo. Once you pass security, there is a very small snack shop (Reals only accepted), but otherwise no restaurants or drink machines. In Sao Paulo Airport, there is a small snack shop (cash only) but again very small and they run out of things.

5. Finally, respect this country. Its not America, its Brazil. Act as a graceful guest and you will be treated greatly. Act as a money flaunting, foul-mouthed American and all you will leave with is half-assed sessions and empty pockets.
_________________
Because there is strong, and then there is Army Strong!

On the far side of immigration at Galeao (GIG) the food pickings are very slim, but if you go up to the second floor BEFORE you go through immigration there are many restaurants at the end of the hallway.

I agree, avoid taxis whenever you can take the metro. It's much cheaper than a taxi and nicer than riding on a bus.

I also had issues with Gringo Mgt my last trip and solving them is compounded by the fact that the manager you deal with lives in the US in the west which is about a 5 hour time difference. My advice to other travelers is to use them as a last resort.

However, I must disagree with one point you made. Buses are not safer than taxis. Buses are held up. Taxis aren't. Riding on a bus from the airport with all of your belonging screams rob me.

Instead, go up to the departure level and grab a taxi that is dropping off someone. You will make their day. It will cost around $R35 max for a ride to Copa, not $R60.

BTW, there is no "national beer." There are quite a few local beers, mostly crappy, including Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Bohemia (all owned by the same company), Kaiser, Bavaria and Nova Schin.

Glad you enjoyed your time in Rio, Mexidan!

I agree with most of what you all have said. I guess that, with any trip report, YMMV.

Yes, there is a food court on the lower level of GIG (go down the escalator, make a left, go all the way down around the corner). Its decent food (though if I never eat another Bob's Burger, i will be one happy guy), but again just make sure that you get something to take with you too, because once you pass security, there is very slim pickings, and when you get to Sao Paulo Airport, you are stuck behind the one wall that doesn't lead to the rest of the airport, and where you are stuck, there are very slim pickings as well (Snackshop).

I saw minimal evidence of crime there when i was there, and it had nothing to do with robbery or anything serious. Yes, YMMV. I went to Rio after the Pan Am games, so there is still a great police presence. Yes, I am a latino and mix in well with the local populace which may have protected me when I rode the buses, both the airport bus and the local buses to get around town. Yes, I am a stocky guy and a soldier, so my hyperviligence combined with my mongering experience probably benefited me when I walked alone, at night, after drinking, throughout the entire town (usually from Luomo to Help) and never had anyone approach me as I walked down the street. Also, how many beggars (and possible would-be robbers) run up to taxis to hit up the gringos rather than run up to the buses (after all, if the people on the bus were known to have money, would they be on the bus? this is a point that I can say is not lost on criminals.)

Also, yes, there are possibilities for somewhat cheaper taxis. Avoid the taxi stands. IF you want a taxi, try to grab one as someone is doing a drop-off. Also, remember that the airport gets a bit hectic when everyone is trying to leave from their flight at the same time and get taxis, you have just flown 13 or more hours and just want to get back to your place to start enjoying your festivities, and that the longer you stand around outside waiting for the perfect timing to get a break on taxi fare, you could also be robbed (keeping with the crime paranoia). If you take an airport stand taxi or prearrange someone to pick you up, you are gonna pay ~$R60, could be somewhat lower, again YMMV. Just know what I heard which is why I was glad to find out about REALBUS.

Yes, there is not only ONE beer for the entire country. Me calling Brahma the national beer is like calling Budweiser the national beer of the USA when in America Miller Beer is also popular.

Hope this clarifies things.

Mexidan

There is no food court on the lower level of GIG. It's on the upper level. On the upper level you have choices from fancy with linen tablecloths to kilo, to fried chicken etc. No Bob's

Nice report and observations, but as you said, YMMV and mine does a little.

I can't agree about the bus observation. I too took the buses when I was down there and it is my preference as well. BUT, the only reason why I took the bus was because it is cheaper than taxi's. If I could afford to take a taxi to and from Centro daily I definitely would take a taxi instead of the bus.

I've heard a couple of stories of people sitting in the back and a person jumping on the bus through the back door with a gun and robs them and jumps off before the bus starts to move. Then again this can happen anywhere, but for some reason I feel the chances are greater in Rio than say Chicago.

Here's an example. Sorry no hyperlink, but it's not taking the link correctly. Just copy and paste.
g1.globo.com/Noticias/Rio/0,,MUL27746-5606,00.html



But, the most important thing is you had fun and your ruined like the rest of us. Bem vindo ao clube.


(Message edited by rushen on October 01, 2007)

There are two terminals at GIG and the old Terminal 1 is completely different then the new Terminal 2. Who knows which terminal he was in but it sounded like he was describing Terminal 1.

As far as the buses, they would be my last choice, particularly in from the airport. The airport route - I think it's funny it's now the Linha Laranja - is one of the places where the bandidos will hit yellow taxis, as far as buses go that's even better game. Remember the busload of cops from Amazonas or whatever who were robbed coming from the airport? There have been quite a few cases of bus hijackings from the airport.

As far as random buses in the city, they get hit all the time. True, there are many thousands of buses so your chances of getting hit are slim but if you've just flown that far I'm not taking an hour or more to bus in from Ilha Governador. Time is money down there and I'm not that cheap to try and save the cash. I want to exit customs and either grab a yellow taxi or have one of the taxiestas I know waiting for me. No hassles and a chance to chill out after the flight, not lug my shit around and sit on a bus for half the afternoon schleping in from the boonies.

As far as the rest - come on guy, do you think you blended in? They can spot tourists of all nationalites a mile away, all you were was lucky walking around. Everyone gets hit eventually, mostly just pick pocketing but they don't give a flying fuck who you are. If you're wearing jewelry or have a phone or MP3 player or anything at all that they can grab and run with, you're a target. If you're walking around at night alone, you're a potential target. Don't assume you're safe just because you're Mexican or something.

wow, well you dont really seem to know what you are talking about.
We can all pull out articles on how dangerous taxis and the buses are.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Taxis-in-Rio-de-Janeiro-are-Dangerous&id=750946

Real Bus. Buses arrive very regularly, so you dont wait long. Gets you from the airport to Copa in the same amount of time as a taxi, give or take 10-15 mins at the most, so the getting to your location faster argument holds no water. The two doors on the bus are at the front. The first one is to get onto the bus. The second separates the driver from the passengers. There is no back door to the bus. This is done for the safety of the passengers, so you dont have to worry about robbers jumping on thru the back door of the bus as people depart. If you wanna spend money on a taxi, go for it. Its my trip report, and so I wrote what I did and suggest.

As for blending in, yes, I blended in for the most part. When walking alone, it doesnt mean to be a drunk wandering the streets. Hyperviligence, be aware of your surroundings. Walk in groups when possible.
Jewelry? Why wear it? I had a walmart $5 watch. Why would you be so stupid as to walk around with an MP3 player and a phone? Ask yourself to get robbed why dont you. Want to get a girl's number. Its called pen and paper there buddy, try it. Dont want to be pick pocketed? Just take what you need out with you. Cargo pants work well, buttons on the pockets in the front of your pants. Who is gonna pick those without you knowing.
Now, could it be that the people chose to look for the gringos and beg with them? possible. also could be possible, if you can read and did so in the earlier part of my trip report, that there were many cops around town since Pan Am games just concluded. Finally, at night, know where you are going and get there. 2300 hrs is not the time to be confused about where you are going or to do sightseeing. I knew I wanted to get to Help from Luomo, so I took my butt there. The streets arent abondoned at night, there are people everywhere. Dont get the view that the only people walking the street at night are the criminals. Also dont be naive that everyone out are good people. Use the same common sense that you would use walking in Chicago at night.

Best words of advice. Be smart, be viligant, be aware, and follow your gut instincts.

We omitted my favorite beer. Itaipava is my fav. It is cheaper than Skol usually and it includes a foil top, which gives me the illusion of being more hygenic.

Bus travel is more dangerous than Taxi travel. Period. And there is a back door. It opens to let passengers off and anyone who wants can step through the door.

You should visit Rio again if for no other reason than to experience the apartment places. If you see enough of them you could potentially swear off Termas.

Walking at night from Luomo to Help? I have done it probably 200 times with no problems. If I am in a hurry or feeling lazy I grab a bus on Barrata Ribeiro for a couple of blocks. (Yes, I said bus). Anyway, if you walk, walk along Atlantico in front of the resturants. Plenty of people around at that time so you can usually navigate those 10 blocks or so without problems.

Someone mentioned going upstairs at GIG on your way into the country and catching a taxi dropping someone off. You may have mixed results because Taxis are forbidden to do this. If he is seen by another taxi driver he will be fined. So you may not have good luck with this. However, downstairs just pick any yellow taxi and insist on the meter. The price will be the same as if you caught one of them upstairs dropping people off.

I enjoyed your report. Good job.

Sure! YMMV...we go to Brazil to avoid the whole YMMV concept in general. Just to chime in on the bus comments so that nobody who reads this is confused - bus crime in Rio is rampant. Mexidan was lucky...they know you have a camera, wallet full of cash/credit cards and a computer on a bus from the airport. Very bad idea indeed.

Thanks for the compliment on the report GC.

However, REAL BUS (to and from the airport) does NOT have a back door (this bus is $R6). This differs from the regular buses that run around town (these buses are ~$R2)and have the front and back door. I cannot be more adamant about this, at least from the times that I rode the bus. To exit the bus, you HAVE to walk to the front of the bus through two doors to exit.

I rode the bus dozens of times in Rio, never had any problems. Many other CH memebers that I met in Rio have recommended this also once you get your bearings on where things are in the city, but honestly you can walk almost anywhere in a short time (with the exception of going from Copa to 4x4. People ride the buses everyday and somehow make it off safely and with all their possessions, believe it or not Copabrasil.

If things are different in the future when they eventually draw down the cop presence in Rio post: Pan Am games, well than thats different. Buses are not getting robbed everyday as people like Copa try to illustrate. In life, its always YMMV and you can never get away from it, thats pretty obvious and so i dont know why someone would make that comment.

Either way, do whatever you all want to do and what makes you comfortable, because in the end, you want to make it home ok (or not, i wish i was still there!)

I guess the taxi driver I got a couple of months ago at the airport departure area didn't know "the rules" because he didn't hesitate to get out and put my luggage in the car. It took about 10 seconds from the time I walked through the automatic doors to the time I had a taxi.

I appreciate that tip and I'll keep that in mind in the future. I've never had a problem using the yellow cabs at the normal area either, it's just a pain in the ass to run the gauntlet.

Again ... bus ... bad idea. There is no YMMV about it. Bad idea, especially from the airport.

I take the metro and buses all the time in Rio and never had a problem or felt unsafe. I usually take the metro downtown and the bus back. Metro is usually faster than a taxi especially on a rainy day.

Come on dude!?! You go to Rio once, go to Help, 4x4, Luomo, get ripped off renting a chair on hooker beach, drink a few beers, ride the bus around then come on the site and write a guide listing the "National Beer"? You then tell Catocony he does not know what he's talking about meanwhile he's on a first name basis with every gdp's mother who gave you the ultimate YMMV RTF newbie job?

Back to the discussion: The Metro and the bus are different. You are on CC TV on the Metro. I ride the Metro and prefer it to a taxi.

The only bus I might ever ride is the bus to Rio Sul. That being said, buses from the airport get held up multiple times per year.

For a guy to come on this site after his first trip to Rio and write a "guide" that claims bus travel in Rio is safe is a bunch of crap. It might be safe if you are Carioca with no $$ riding to work but its not safe if you are a gringo with 500 reals and 2000 real camera in your pocket.

Mexidan - this is what you are missing. Most of the people on this site are not showing up in Rio like Huck Fin with a change of clothes tied to a stick slung over their shoulder. Mongers have cash, credit cards, computers, ipods, cell phones, cameras amoungst other expensive swag. In case you didn't notice, electronics are at least twice as expensive in Brazil due to their import tarriffs. This is why entire busloads of people coming from the airport get held up right on the expressway - Jessie James style. We are not talking about a guy with a knife stepping out of the rear exit with a purse. There is a reason the Policia Militar has such a huge presence near Ihla Governador. Talk to Cariocas - there are frequent gang shootouts that stop traffic on that road. Now those incidents only happen so often but they do happen and the reality is a meter to Zona Sul is only US$20 mid morning. Why fly half way around the world for several hours only to skimp $17 and ride the bus which takes twice as long and is twice as dangerous? After you've been to Rio a few times, post again and tell us something we don't already know.

Copa,

He's relying on the pan-Hispanic rainbow to get him through any tight spots, where he doesn't blend in with the locals enough. Remember, latinos never rob other latinos, he knows the secret handshake. Plus he's hypervigilent or whatever.

He read articles on Rio so he knows what the real deal is. Never mind guys like GCL who lived there for three years, or guys like me who have spent about six months out of the last few years down there, or any other vet who's been more than once and knows first-hand someone who's been robbed at gunpoint or worse. We know nothing.

Mexidan,

I really enjoyed your report, but find these message threads absolutely fasinating. BTW, anyone who will go toe-to-toe with Catacony, whether he's right or wrong, is a stand-up guy in my opinion. Unfortunately, my opinion ain't worth shit on this board.

In an effort to help difuse things, and if your schedule permits, I'd like to ask you to join The Happy Monger and Catacony on a tour of Vila Mimosa. Won't that be fun?

Jag

What you all are trying to make it sound like is that Taxis are blessed with some protective force field, that the Jesus Statue sends some kind of signal telling criminals to stay away from the taxis and instead hit the buses. Now do you think that a robbery on a bus of people once in a great while will get more media attention then one taxi robbing one person fairly regularly? Sure, no one cares about one shmuck, but several shmucks, then sure everyone talks about it. You all make it sound like Bus = Robbery, and that if you all take the bus, there is no way in hell that you are going to make it out alive and with your stuff, and that is clearly wrong! I've recently come back from serving in Iraq, so maybe my fear threshold is a lil higher than the average bear, and if so then so be it.

National Beer? That was semantics, just word choice, which I explained already. The popular local beer which was served at every bar in Rio for a cheap price was....does that help? Cmon, if that is a big deal for you, then wow you really need to find some real problems in life and stop worrying about something so little and insignificant. OMG, if someone thinks that is the only local beer, then the rest of the beer industry is sure to go to hell! Cmon, get over it.

Cat, wow, you must be a Brazil legend, and if people dont follow your way then they are doomed to failure! Wow, I wish I had known that before my trip. Or wait, is a 30-year old latin guy as much a target as a 65 year old gringo? Rio is not a haven of crime. Yes, crime I am sure happens, but stop making it sound like a damn guaranteed event. Yes, I knew it was a possibility, yes I took some measured risks, and for me they worked. For many others they worked. If you are so worried, stay in Podunk, North Dakota on your heavily armed combine where you never leave those pearly gates.

Mongers, for those that dont know this already....there is crime out there on those streets, in Pattaya, in Rio, in San Jose, in Tijuana, in Juarez, in Bangkok, etc. Be careful, but dont let people scare the crap out of you so much that you become paranoid.

JAG...LOL, Im definately up for it. I wrote about my experience as others do. Some people like some of it, some people dont. Its nice that people will, in the end, choose how they do things there and will still make it home alive! Im up for VM anytime and I dont hold grudges.

(Message edited by mexidan on October 02, 2007)

Mexidan,

Keep posting and having fun sparring with Catacony. As soon as I can arrange it, the VM tour is ON!

Jag

Mexidan, some people seem to be picking on you but I think most of their points are valid. People that have never been to Rio shouldn't read this and come away with the idea that riding a bus in Rio is equivalent to riding one in NYC or Boston. That is all people are trying to convey, even Catocony in his usual aggressive know-it-all way. He's a "vet" you know. He served in the "War of Whores". Unfortunately, what he doesn't realize is that we've all served in that one, but most of us don't wear our medals on our sleeves.

Actually, the yellow taxis do have a forcefield of some sort - it's called cab company owners making mafia-style payoffs to the traficante gangs that run most of the crime in Rio. It's very, very rare for a bandido to hit a yellow taxi. The route out to the airport is one of the very few areas that this rule seems to not be followed but then again that highway runs between two favelas that have been fighting each other for who knows how long. So yes, yellow taxis are infinitely safer than a large bus.

The favela vans - the small ones that run around with a guy hanging out the door yelling the route - are safe as well.

Mexidan, I liked your report and am not coming down on you at all. I think you wrote well, and delved much deeper into Rio than most newbies. I simply chimed in with my opinion, based on years of living there, not necessarily to critique you, but to advise other newbies reading this what I think. I hope you keep riding buses, I have done my share of it and have seen a lot of interesting things.

There is some truth to Cat's less than tactful point about Taxis. The taxi syndicates are mini mafias and they do have some influence in Rio. Additionally, Taxi drivers are plentiful and they all look out for one another.

Regardless, there is some risk in Rio no matter what mode of transportation you take. The absolute safest ride from the airport is to be driven by a heavily armed federal police officer to your apartment/hotel in his personal vehicle.

When Sweet was over my apartment in March, Lucy casually mentioned to him that she was going to take me to Lapa on my first bus ride. Sweet went absolutety ballistic as he ranted a raved about how gringos get held up on buses.

Lucy looked at him with a know-it-all smile on her face as she said, "What bandito is stupid enough to rob a gringo on a bus? If the gringo had money, he wouldn't be riding a bus in the first place. Her Brazilian logic made sense to me, so the next day I got on the bus without a care in the world. Didn't get robbed, either.

Jag

Mexidan-

Let me start by saying thank you for your service in Iraq.

One last time - for any monger, newbie or otherwise - the most dangerous part of your trip where you have the most exposure to being seriously affected by a crime involving a gun in Rio is enroute to or from GIG. The route is routinely the site of rival gang shootouts and large scale heists...this a known fact. Riding the bus around zona sul with termas $ is one thing but the banditos know that foreigners on that road have enough money and valuables to make it worth their while. Read back in the archives and monitor globo from time to time and you'll see what we are all talking about.

Enough said.

CB

I agree that the trip in from GIG is a flashpoint for problems, but it's not necessarily the place a tourist is most likely to come face-to-face with a gun. I had the pleasure of having a gun pointed at me in Copa. Several friends of mine have also experienced the same pleasure in Copa. And I have been close by several shootings in Copa that didn't involve me. Copa is the center of crime against tourists, including violent crime.

That said, I would never take a bus in from the airport. The thieves know that these buses are loaded with locals bringing back tons of goodies from their travels and the occasional gringo who may have a boatload of cash and electronic goodies. I take the buses around town, but only during daylight hours, when the buses tend to be crowded. My friends who have been robbed on buses have been robbed after dark. And those robberies happen daily.

Mexidan, I apologize for getting this started with the bus thing. That just stuck out to me when I read it.

However, if you are who you say you are, and returning from a war zone, riding on a bus in Rio probably does seem safe to you, so it's all about perspective.

I must admit though, I re-read your report and other comments, and there is something oddly familiar about your writing style. Exactly how long did you stay in Rio this first trip? It must have been quite a while to come up with such definitive positions.

I will say that if you are sessioning 2 to 3 times at each terma, you are a very wealthy super soldier.

BD-

You are right about parts of Copacabana and guns. For me, I know that my most vulnerable point during my trip is when I've got all my gear in tow on the road to/from GIG. If I get held up on the street and lose what is in my pocket, tough loss. If my laptop and passport are taken off my hands, problema.

CB

CB-

When I am in a vehicle with money, credit cards, passport, cameras, computers, etc., I'm definitely a bit anxious. And I don't relax until I get everything out of the cab and into my apartment. That's one reason why I like taking a cab with a driver I know. My driver always helps me get all my shit up to the apartment safely. The bus driver opens the door and as soon as you're off the bus he's hauling ass.

BD

Mexidan,

I too rode the bus system extensively while in Rio with NO problemash.
I took the bus to Chrishto, Maracana and Sugar Loaf and at all three locations I was taken hostage by friendly Brasilians who enriched my experiences and I have the pictures to prove it.

I would recommend the Metro to 4x4 though. It's faster and there's tons of eye candy.
I spent 3 weeks in Rio and had no problems. In fact, quite often, I was approached by locals asking for directions or bus information and had to respond
"Nao falo PortugeiSH." accent on the "eiSH". Sweet.

I have to admit that I dressed like a slimeball.
Jag will confirm this. But the one thing that I did that probably sold my disguise was that I did not wear any socks. Did I mention I look like Ron Howard? JK.

How many countless backpackers have hiked across SA with everything they own on their back and never have a problem.

LOL... Mexidude, good report... and the thread that followed it was infinitely amusing... take it easy and i'll see you out in the sandlot some time...

I owe you my friend...getting ready to go to RIO next month and this report has me READY ...
thx...