Calling out Happy in Brazil...

[Yalg]

and other guys who live there to come out of the woodwork and post some useful insights into Brazil for the men here to read.  Lately all wer are getting is ridiculous stereotypes and personal opinions based upon nothing but "something they heard or read."  I have been to Brazil and know alot, but I could use some help from the others who have been there so guys interested will not listen to the rank BS being posted.  Brazil is a once in a lifetime trip for most, and I agree Colombia is closer and cheaper to get to.  However, I think it has its strengths in comparison and the women are every bit as sweet and sincere as Colombianas without the security hassles.  I dont have a problem if a guy wants to go to Colombia, I went and had a good time in Cali and Bogota.  I had a better time In Brazil, mostly because I was laying on a sun soaked beach with little security worries, and plenty of women willing to talk and get to know me.  Anyway, I know most guys go to Colombia, but you should at least consider alternatives because there are some good ones.....not just Colombia and Brazil...

[Kit]

... in response to Calling out Happy in Brazil..., posted by Yalg on Mar 18, 2003

Ok is there an infrustructure of the agencies in Brazil? Can you recommend any?

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Calling out Happy in Brazil..., posted by Kit on Mar 18, 2003

This has been an active topic on LWL for a few weeks now... One poster was kind enough to provide a list of agency sites that are not returned in search results since many are German sites...

I'm sure you know about latineuro.com, but here are some others...

My personal favorite...

www.romance2000.com/index.html

And the rest...

www.brasiliendream.de/

www.brazilguide.de/recife/hauptframe.htm

www.amorbrazil.com

www.brasilkontakt.com.br/

www.marlu.de/

www.brasilpartner.de/

www.agenciadenamoro.com/carametade_ing.htm

www.brazilianromance.com/

Hope this helps...

wizard

[bogota vet]

... in response to Calling out Happy in Brazil..., posted by Yalg on Mar 18, 2003

Can you give us a brief itemzed cost of trip?
thanks

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Brasilophile How much did the trip cost ..., posted by bogota vet on Mar 18, 2003

BV, Here is my approximate expense report in US dollars.

Plane tickets on TAM Miami/Salvador    $  620
(I live in Miami so I didn't need to
fly there first.)

Taxis to and from airports             $   50
(Brazil and USA)

Hotel for 14 days                      $  300

Trip to Aracaju                        $   65

Food/Drink                             $   60
I didn't eat that much after breakfast
and lost 5 lbs.

Ground transportation during trip      $   20

Souvenirs                              $    0
I usually buy some artwork from local
artisans but didn't on this trip.

Total                                  $ 1,115

So my trip cost somewhere between $1,100 and $1,200.  

Someone (I think Yalg) recently posted that a trip to Brazil is a once in a lifetime thing.  That may have been true when the real was close to par with the dollar 4 or 5 years ago.  Now the exchange rate is 3.50 reais to the dollar.  That is well within any employed single man's budget to make a trip every 2 years.  A middle income single man can make 2 or 3 trips a year provided he lives in a modest house and drives a modest car.  

[Yalg]

... in response to Re: Brasilophile How much did the trip c..., posted by Brazilophile on Mar 18, 2003

Can you give info on the hotel you stayed in such as name, website, or phone?  Sounds like a great deal.  I stayed at a place on Barra that was a bit more expensive.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: Re: Brasilophile How much did the tr..., posted by Yalg on Mar 19, 2003

Yalg,

I stayed at the Oceanica Hotel.  Its address is 3033 Avenida Oceanica, in the Ondina neighborhood.  Its telephone number is (71) 245-8158.  The country code for Brazil is 55.  

Its regular price is R$90 per night for a single.  However, I made a reservation from the tourist office in the airport.  The clerk there got me a discounted rate of R$70 per night.  That is about US$20.  

Note that the hotel recently changed its name from the Ondina Plaza Hotel.  Many people, ie taxi drivers, still know it only by its old name.

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: Brasilophile How much did the trip c..., posted by Brazilophile on Mar 18, 2003

I was in Brazil last august. I had to ask people if there were supermarkets. I could not understand why there were. You could eat incredibly well, for incredibly little.

I took one client out to a Churrascaria for lunch. Basically an all you can eat buffet. Not some low quality, stuff your self on cold meatballs buffet, but a constant parade of delicious meat brought to your table and carved into your plate. Over 15 different types of meat. Many cuts of beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork, sausages etc etc etc. Thay also had shrimp, lobster sushi, salad, veggies etc etc etc.

I had 2 bottles of beer and my client had a glass of wine with lunch. The cost? In a very nice restaurant that was in my top 3 of churrascarias in the world? $15 for both!

On another night, I took two clients to a much simpler restaurant that they recommended. This was in Rio. In this place the food is not as delicious, nor the variety as wide.

This was a basic, fill your stomache type of place. You grab a plate and fill it with meat, sushi, seafood, rice, veggies etc etc etc. They then weigh it and you pay by the kilo!

I found this strange as a plate filled with rice would cost more than a plate with lobster and sushi?

Any who. . . .we each had a generous portion, plates filled. Good food, not great. We also each had 2 beers, and the tow clients also had desert. The cost for all 3 of us? $10!!!!

6 beers, 3 large meals, and 2 deserts. . . . . .10 bucks!

I am pleased to hear that Brazilophile found Hotel rooms that were inexpensive as well. I have only been to sao Paulo and Rio and was scheduled to head up north to Maceobut my meeting was cancelled. Maybe next time.