So it’s 2 p.m. and you’re horny as hell. What are you going to do about it? You have a few options. First, as noted above, some of the termas are already open, although the action tends to be pretty slow before 4:00. Termas 65 and Quatro X Quatro are your best mid-day bets. But what if it’s noon? Or what if you don’t want to make the trek downtown to the “fast-foda” brothels that open at 10 a.m.?

If you want to hang a bit closer to home there are three main options. Late in the afternoon (meaning 4 p.m. in Brasil’s summer and 2 p.m. in the winter) some garotas gather at three cafes looking for customers–Meia Pataca (next to the Othon Palace hotel), the Balcony (Av. Atlântica, 1424, in Copa) and Mabs (in Leme, at the other end of Copa). There are occasionally some beauties to be found at these places, but I’ve only once taken a girl from Meia Pataca back to my hotel. If you see something of potential interest, just grab a table and make eye contact. These girls are pros and are quite assertive … you won’t have to wave them over. More likely you’ll have to chase them off. Note, however, that the girls that hang out at Meia Pataca and Mabs, in particular, tend to be pretty hard core. The Balcony Bar stays pretty busy well into the evening while the other two place s are only afternoon venues.

e second option, earlier in the day, is on the beach directly in front of the Othon Palace hotel. On nice days about 20 or so pros work this beach, known to some of us as “Praia das Putas.” You can rent a beach chair from the guys there (negotiate in advance what all costs are; these guys will cheat you if given a chance) and, again, just make eye contact. The guys renting the chairs fashion themselves as big time pimps, but don’t let them serve as intermediaries or the price will go up. I’ve never taken a girl from the beach, although there are occasionally some really beauties there, and some enjoy prancing around topless. Let me reiterate one point: the guys working the beach here are thieves. Have as little to do with them as possible. If you don’t pay as you go, you’ll receive an unpleasant surprise when you leave.

Pros also work the beaches in a few other spots: in front of the Le Meridian hotel in Leme, in front of the Marriott hotel in Copacabana, and in front of the Cesar Park Hotel in Ipanema, but in much smaller numbers than the Othon Palace location.

A mid-day short-time experience should cost you no more than $75-150 reais depending upon the amount of time you’re looking for.

Escorts are the third, and in my mind best, option. Many independent escorts advertise their services in the local papers (see O Dia and O Globo classified sections, for example) and they are very reasonable. Take note, however, of that fact that quite a number of transsexuals advertise in the papers. If that’s not your style, avoid the ones who use the term “quase mulher.” Better yet, use one of the many escort agencies.