Stories from the Playground of Fortaleza Brazil

Greetings from Fortaleza.

I made it here on my two stops (Cincy and ATL) without a hitch; the ice storm arrived in Chicago later that afternoon. We were 1 h late, so a flight from Italy arrived at the same time. Total chaos at immigration with hundreds of horny Italians trying to get in. They completely cannot handle it here - with more than one international flight.

My first hotel was very nice. Lots of wealthy Brazilian tourists, which means lots of hott women (but not available, although I did not try). I did nothing the first night, Christmas Eve, thinking that everyone was in Church, which is probably not the case.

Christmas Day, I decided to walk to Praia do Futuro, which looked close to my hotel on the map. I walk by the port area and a big Petrobras palnt, and then past some residences where some teenage boys are hanging around. I go past them with no notice. Presently, I hear rapid steps behind me and my backpak is ripped off of my shoulders. I ran across the street (a big one) and this car stopped right away. A coupled took me into their car. The woman worked at another hotel and they gave me a ride back to mine. The thieves got one ripped backback, which was a souvenir from a conference in Rio in 2007, so it had sentimental value, one ratty towel, one nasty old bottle of sunblock, and the plastic case to a cheap pair of sunglasses I got for free from a local pizza place. I hope they are happy with their big haul from the rich gringo. I had a no wallet on me, and only a few reais and photocopied ID.

It coud have been much worse (I was robbed at knifepoint in Rio in the daytime in 2004), but it still sucks and is psychologically bad. Ironically, both this incident and the Rio one were when I was walking in the middle of the day (Saturday in Rio, Xmas here) from one beach to the other (Copa to Ipanema, and Mucuripe to Futuro here).

I have not seen any women of note on the beach here - lots of families and kids Thursday through Sunday.

By Friday night I was thinking that this was a total bust.

Friday night (Xmas) I walked down to Praia da Iracema. I went to Zipi Bar; the first one you hit. Empty at 10 pm, but then pretty crowded by 11, and packed at midnight. Lots of GPs, many very hott (some not).

There is a motelnearby, Village Motel, on Rua Ararius. R$51 for 2 h; very nice rooms, fully equipped. I went with one on Xmas night, R$150, bu tthen I paused and she did not want to continue, except for R$100, we then agreed on R$50. She also asked for (and got) R$20 for a taxi, which she kept and we took the taxi back and I went on to my hotel, all paid by me. So I got ripped off the first night. She was hott though, from Piaui state originally.

Saturday night I went back to Zipi and was with another one. The sex was actually better with the ripoff artist, although this time R$150 straight, and totally legit with the taxis. This one was into biting, which I am not.

Sunday night, nothing. watched some TV in the room and learned about that idiot on the NWA flight. Now it will be an even bigger pain in the ass getting home. I checked out at 9, and waited for the guy I know at the U here (Universidade Federal do Ceara). Lots more hott Brazilian women checking in and milling about.

We went to UFC. The barrio it is in is called Pici. It turns out it is actually PC (Post Command). The site was a US base in WWII. There is a street called "Mister Hull", Cordell Hull was FDR's Secretary of State, so that is probably the origin. I was there for a while and then we went to lunch at "North Shopping" (actual name). They have an ice rink. That would have been funny to see. I used to skate a lot from grade school through college; I could not do much worse than these Brazilians.

Now I am at another, cheaper hotel. The first one jacked up the rates starting Monday. This one is better located. Yesterday afternoon, I went to "Prive Belissima" recommended on GP Guia. About a R$ 15 - 20 taxi ride and I could not have found it myself. Not a very good selection, but they are open 24 h. I was with a very cute one from Manaus. It was somewhat rushed, but OK. R$90 + 2 (condom); I had two soft drinks (each R$3); no extra charges.

last night again to Zipi Bar. The garotas there do not come one to you (at least not to me). Except for the hottness factor (compounded by little need for clothing here), it could be a club in Chicago. I was with one, this time a pure European origin. The best experience so far. I got ripped off about R$10 by the taxi driver, but so it goes. So the standard Zipi experience is about R$220 - 240.The first, ripoff one got a pack of cigs at the Motel and a Smirnoff Ice, so that was the upper end, and the second one just a water.

After the motel, the one last night wanted to be dropped off in Praia da Iracema. So I finally - on my fifth night here - saw what the hell Lou was talking about. It is exactly as described, right past the police station, and then right (Rua Tremembes) and there is a sort of Bourbon Street scene. Except for the hottness factor, of course. Forro Mambo is the biggest place and there are maybe half a dozen other boites within a couple of blocks.

I do not regret Zipi Bar, it is a lot less chaotic and easier to get in and out. There is gridlock in the real Praia Iracema area. There are probably a lot of normal people there (none at Zipi Bar), and even the chance of meeting a regular brasileira there as a tourist - but most are probably with guys.