Just returned from a 3-day weekend trip to Rio. Very short and initially had my place rented out for five days, but the intermittent heavy rainfall became annoying. So when my airbnb host said I could apply the unused days for a later trip if I leave early, I decided to do just that. I had the flexibility to fly back early.
It was all good because I've already been to Rio on two separate occasions. Even though it feels more recent, my last visit in February 2010 was about 2 1/2 weeks long. My first visit in November 2008 was for 8 days.
That said, I just want to emphatically state that Rio is still fucking paradise. I saw some of the most mindblowing talent in that short weekend. I know two players who live there full-time and they aren't leaving anytime soon. Actually these are guys who also know other top tier forum members like IntlSwagger and Quest.
As for me, I took a tip from one knowledgeable player and did some pipelining on CS (for both locals and travelers). I came up on a Scandinavian flag that way on my very first night. This chick set it out, paid for drinks, the subway to her place, and we fucked. My message was very straightforward. Just said that I was coming to Rio that weekend and to leave me their number so I can call them to hang out. That's it. Nothing elaborate or nuanced. I got a good number of responses and got a local sim card (TIM) as soon as I got there. That's a great company to roll with btw. For just over $10 I had data/text/phone calls covered for the weekend. I called the Scandi chick first because she was leaving soonest and was willing to hang out. We met in Ipanema and drank at those beach bars between Posto 7 and 9. After a few Caipirinhas she was ready to be swooped. The great thing is I have a contact for Oslo when I go this summer should I need it.
Later that same night I went to a party in the favela Alto Vidigal at like 4am. It was incredible. If you like reggae music I highly recommend it. It's in a spot that has a sweeping view of the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema and built right next to a huge mountain. It was very surreal seeing authentic Brazilian reggae artists and DJ doing their thing with the whole crowd being into it. Had a very raw energy. At like 7am I bounced and rode on the back of some stranger's motorcycle so he could take me out of the favela. Spent like 20 mins riding through the hills of that shit. It was real.
The next day I linked up with a girl I already knew down there from a previous visit. We met up for drinks at Belmonte and then smashed at her crib in Botafogo.
One thing I want to warn you guys about is make sure, whether you get an apartment on airbnb or a hotel, that you are allowed to bring outside visitors. Most hotels in Rio do not allow this and many apartments, especially those in secured buildings do not also. I stayed in a typical secured building in Ipanema with a glass entrance and a security guard at the desk. Though the airbnb ad didn't say anything about it, I learned after arriving that guests weren't allowed. Luckily, it didn't affect me in this case but make sure you confirm before getting a spot that you are allowed to bring chicks.
The guys I know there have good things to say about Brazilcupid.com which is more ideal for when you're staying there relatively long term. Otherwise, I'd say get on that Portuguese. You're going to need it and it will go a long way with local chicks because some of them have a stigma of hooking up with a complete gringo because they don't want to be seen locally as some slut as Rio has a huge reputation for sex tourism (same complex some chicks in Colombia have). Without that Port knowledge you're going to rely more on pipelining and playing the numbers game at venues you go out to which leads to my next point.
The venues are hit or miss. Lapa on Saturday absolutely sucked, but I heard it was good on Friday. Typically, places like Club de Flamengo where you pay an entrance fee will have better talent. Also, neighborhoods like Leblon tend to have more upscale venues and play more European type of music, but more snobby chicks as well. You're going to need to hang out in the Zona Sul and get a feel for what's going on.
I will be returning to Rio with my boys next time in the next couple months. I think all this talk about Brazil eroding is bullshit. Rio has incredible talent and the vibe is still the same. There are so many chicks. It really felt like I was just there yesterday the moment I arrived.
I know this isn't much intel but feel free to hit me with questions if you need me to elaborate on anything. I still have jet lag.
It was all good because I've already been to Rio on two separate occasions. Even though it feels more recent, my last visit in February 2010 was about 2 1/2 weeks long. My first visit in November 2008 was for 8 days.
That said, I just want to emphatically state that Rio is still fucking paradise. I saw some of the most mindblowing talent in that short weekend. I know two players who live there full-time and they aren't leaving anytime soon. Actually these are guys who also know other top tier forum members like IntlSwagger and Quest.
As for me, I took a tip from one knowledgeable player and did some pipelining on CS (for both locals and travelers). I came up on a Scandinavian flag that way on my very first night. This chick set it out, paid for drinks, the subway to her place, and we fucked. My message was very straightforward. Just said that I was coming to Rio that weekend and to leave me their number so I can call them to hang out. That's it. Nothing elaborate or nuanced. I got a good number of responses and got a local sim card (TIM) as soon as I got there. That's a great company to roll with btw. For just over $10 I had data/text/phone calls covered for the weekend. I called the Scandi chick first because she was leaving soonest and was willing to hang out. We met in Ipanema and drank at those beach bars between Posto 7 and 9. After a few Caipirinhas she was ready to be swooped. The great thing is I have a contact for Oslo when I go this summer should I need it.
Later that same night I went to a party in the favela Alto Vidigal at like 4am. It was incredible. If you like reggae music I highly recommend it. It's in a spot that has a sweeping view of the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema and built right next to a huge mountain. It was very surreal seeing authentic Brazilian reggae artists and DJ doing their thing with the whole crowd being into it. Had a very raw energy. At like 7am I bounced and rode on the back of some stranger's motorcycle so he could take me out of the favela. Spent like 20 mins riding through the hills of that shit. It was real.
The next day I linked up with a girl I already knew down there from a previous visit. We met up for drinks at Belmonte and then smashed at her crib in Botafogo.
One thing I want to warn you guys about is make sure, whether you get an apartment on airbnb or a hotel, that you are allowed to bring outside visitors. Most hotels in Rio do not allow this and many apartments, especially those in secured buildings do not also. I stayed in a typical secured building in Ipanema with a glass entrance and a security guard at the desk. Though the airbnb ad didn't say anything about it, I learned after arriving that guests weren't allowed. Luckily, it didn't affect me in this case but make sure you confirm before getting a spot that you are allowed to bring chicks.
The guys I know there have good things to say about Brazilcupid.com which is more ideal for when you're staying there relatively long term. Otherwise, I'd say get on that Portuguese. You're going to need it and it will go a long way with local chicks because some of them have a stigma of hooking up with a complete gringo because they don't want to be seen locally as some slut as Rio has a huge reputation for sex tourism (same complex some chicks in Colombia have). Without that Port knowledge you're going to rely more on pipelining and playing the numbers game at venues you go out to which leads to my next point.
The venues are hit or miss. Lapa on Saturday absolutely sucked, but I heard it was good on Friday. Typically, places like Club de Flamengo where you pay an entrance fee will have better talent. Also, neighborhoods like Leblon tend to have more upscale venues and play more European type of music, but more snobby chicks as well. You're going to need to hang out in the Zona Sul and get a feel for what's going on.
I will be returning to Rio with my boys next time in the next couple months. I think all this talk about Brazil eroding is bullshit. Rio has incredible talent and the vibe is still the same. There are so many chicks. It really felt like I was just there yesterday the moment I arrived.
I know this isn't much intel but feel free to hit me with questions if you need me to elaborate on anything. I still have jet lag.