Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 10/22/2008

Question
hi ken from ric of miami, single, not a youngster, in good shape, non smoker.....thinking about moving to brazil, would like to rent for a few months around dec.... was thinking about leblon or buzios or fortaleza or santos, was only once in brazil many years ago in rio...i don't know portuguese so i must learn it...i've been crippled by the economy but i really feel if obama is elected that things will come back sooner than most people feel, therefore i would treat this trip as research...also i love the brazilian female, but i am very very very picky and don't even date here in america, i enjoy a jaylo type of woman, non smoker, any advice, i travel a lot, all over and almost moved to costa rica years ago, made about ten trips there...in case you know a jaylo i am tall in good shape, nice man, after i get your email i'll send you a photo back...i would like to meet a sweet lady who has a very young child, no more than two years old

Answer
If you like a J-lo type of woman, then yo uare going to have to stay in Rio or maybe Santos. Fortaleza is pretty, but depressing. A hooker haven. ANd as a single man going there, you will be looked upon immediately as a potential pedophile looking for underage girls. (Or at least underage compared to you.  Say 22 or 17.) Fortaleza would probably be the cheapest. Santos is reallya port city. There are nice beaches nearby tho.
However, seeing how you dont speak the language, I would recommend Rio, which has foreigners and is used to foreigners in a good way -- unlike Fortaleza, where the single male foreigner is stereotyped as I said.

You can probably survive their without Portuguese for a while.  Leblon is a good neighborhood. Ipanema is more of a gay neighborhood. Leme is ok.  Buzios is very very expensive. Copa is a tourist trap.  Flamengo and Guanabara are good spots and if you can find a place to rent -- Urca is awesome.

I cant be a matchmaker, cuz I dont know anyone that fits the bill for you.  Im sure you can find some in Rio. Dunno if they'll be worth your time after a month or two with them, but ya never know.

Next step for you is to find summer rentals in Rio.  I'd target there.

Will be a bit difficult for you as you dont read Portuguese. . Youll get hit with higher, gringo pricing.



Where do you intend to search for summer short term rentals?