Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 10/20/2004

Question
HI again Ken!

Thank you so much for the advice. I'll start planning it all this weekend. I'm currently 25 years old. I'm not looking for sexual tourism...I didn't even really know that existed :) But if I end up meeting up with a woman at a club/bar and we both end up clicking, I am not against her coming back with me. But I will definitely stay away from any young looking girls - that can be done. I am not interested in paying for sex or romantic interaction but I hear it's a pretty sexual/open place. Thank you for the open advice.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful trip! When you say never carry more than 50 dollars in my pocket, does this mean traveller's checks? or just cash? I guess the best camera to take is a disposable one as opposed to borrowing a digital camera to take?

Is the socks with sandals thing a fashion no-no? Does it just basically point a finger saying you are a tourist? Or is there something else about it that is bad? Just wondering (though I've always hated that look so I would never wear socks with sandals :)

Thanks again!
If more questions come up in the next month, I might email you again!

Eric


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Followup To
Question -
Hi Ken,

I'm a graduate student in the US and have actually never been out of the country. I have a little vacation from Dec. 4th to the 12th this year, and I am pretty set on heading to Rio. I am starting to look into where to stay and what to do and am kind of overwhelmed already.

Basically, I'd love to stay in a place on the beach (or right near it) though still find ways to see more of the rural side of Brazil. I'll be going alone unfortunately - are there any places you would recommend to meet English speaking locals/tourists who wouldn't mind having another person along in their group?

Any sites that are a must to see? and how do I go about getting to them? IS there good hiking nearby? If so, is it just a bus ride out of the city? Would I make these plans before leaving?

I basically see my time as 40-50% site seeing and hopefully travelling around the city and rural areas around the city...
30% on the beach, and 20% at the clubs/bars.
Copa? Ipanema? I think these are the two main places most sites talk about. Any good sites that set up vacation packages (no flight needed) that would include some english speaking tours, parties, etc? The more active I am and the more beautiful women I meet the better :)

Also, as far as fashion goes, when people go out to bars at night, are they wearing jeans? Or is it pretty much shorts all the time? Any good lounges/bars that you recommend?

Thanks in advance!
Answer -
Hello Eric.  I would have liked to know your age and if you are into sexual tourism, which it sort of sounds like you are (Pardon me for suggesting).  You can do sexual tourism, of course, just with adults.  I would not recommend you even try finding paid prostitutes who dont at least look 21 years old.  You will get arrested. There is a huge crackdown against that in Rio and they dont like it one bit. If you are interested in finding women for sex, then make sure none of them buy you drinks or slip anything into your drink. There is a club in Copa called HELP, on Avenida Atlantica, near Alcazar's Restaurant...full of hookers.

Did you see this website:
http://www.brazil4fun.com/

Usually when I go to Rio I stay in Copacabana.  If youve never been to Rio, you must stay in Copa at least a couple of nights. I dont recommend the California Othon, stay away from that.

I have never stayed in Ipanema, believe it or not, so the only thing I can say is do NOT stay at the Hotel Arpoador in Ipanema. Terrible.  You should be paying about R$200 a night for your hotel.  That's about $75.  Look for one in that range. Copa has a lot of nice places.  You probably want to stay in someplace on Avenida Atlantica where the view of Copa is beautiful.  All of the hotels will have tours and English speaking guides so you can go on a tour with others.

Of course, the main places to see in Rio are Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue, Pao de Acucar. Id recommend a favela tour...those are wild. Dont take those stupid city jeep tours.  Thats totally a gringo rip off. Rio has a large natural rain forest cutting right through it so there are plenty of options for hiking and nature travel. At the end of this email, Im going to recommend two websites and two guys for you to get in touch with.

If you want to leave the city area, definitely see if you can go on a Rio islands tour...Id visit the islands of Angra das Reis.  All of these places, of course, outside of Rio city, are accessible by tours you can buy at your hotel.

Fashion:
It is going to be very hot when you get there so the people will be in loose fitting clothes or bathing suits. For a male, youd want very light jeans, not heavy levi's. You will sweat in heavy Levi's. A good pair of thin cargo pants is fine, or linen drawstring pants with dress sandals (not just flip flops). For a shirt, at the clubs, you can wear cabana wear (think Cuba, or Kramer from Seinfeld), or T shirts.  Lots of Brazilians where oxfords and roll up their sleeves over their elbows.  I woulndt wear tank tops to night clubs.

If you want to find out more about Rio and where to go, contact my friend Bill Hinchberger.  Bill can help you with nature type travel, or rural Rio, I believe. Bill can be reached at hinchberg@amcham.com.br and his site is www.brazilmax.com.

If you want to get invited to parties, or have a tour of the Rio night life with a seasoned professional, you should call my friend Carlos Roquette.  Carlos speaks English fluently.  He will charge you about $10 an hour, I believe, at least, to do tours with him. You can find all you need to know about him at his website:
http://www.culturalrio.com.br/

Enjoy Rio.  Play it safe.  Never carry more than $50 in your pocket. Do not wear socks with sandals. Do not ever give out money of any quantity to poor people unless you do it very secretively and undercover. You do not want to  look like Robin Hood. Rio is poor, but like a beautiful woman, it can break your heart and leave you hanging. Never buy food for poor children and hand it to them directly. If you want to buy food for some kids bugging you at a outside pastel shop or something, give them a bag of chips and make them take it off the counter, or buy them a sandwich and have the guy at the cuonter hand it to them.  

Let me know how it goes.

Enjoy.

Ken Rapoza

Answer
I am not interested in paying for sex or romantic interaction but I hear it's a pretty sexual/open place. Thank you for the open advice.

>>>>This sounds like it will be a wonderful trip! When you say never carry more than 50 dollars in my pocket, does this mean traveller's checks? or just cash? I guess the best camera to take is a disposable one as opposed to borrowing a digital camera to take? <<<<

Travelers checks are fine, cash is what you should be worried about. If you are held up, you can part with $50, but not $100 or $300.  You can take along a digital camera on tour guided trips.  But do not walk around Avenida Atlantica with one unless you have someone watching your back.  Im a professional journalist and have taken pix with $400 cameras strapped to my back on Copa, but have ALWAYS had soeone watching my back.  Caution is important.  You can take your digi camera to the beach, take some shots, then go back to your hotel, put it away, and go back to the beach. Dont leave it beside you in a bag on the sand.  I think it is best to pay the R$10 to a cabana boy to watch your stuff.  They are everyone on the beaches...you pay for the chair. Its secure.

>>>Is the socks with sandals thing a fashion no-no? Does it just basically point a finger saying you are a tourist? Or is there something else about it that is bad? Just wondering (though I've always hated that look so I would never wear socks with sandals :) <<<

Big fashion no no, but makes you look like atourist, or atleast an old man.

Enjoy Rio. You should contact Carlos, absolutely, and you should do tours with groups so you are not alone so much. When of the best things about Brazil is teh Brazilians and you want to get acquainted with them and enjoy their company, rather than just have chance encounters.

Boa viagem.

Ken