Today was one of my best traveling days…EVER!

The old Cidade Alta of Salvador was even more than promised-expected. It’s really a pleasure to walk around, enjoying the atmosphere even more than the churches and the colorful building facades. There’s music heard from drum schools, some small bands playing and dancing in the streets, colorful artisan works displayed on pavements, fat (excuse my P-inC) ladies in colorful carolinas, and gorgeous deep brown guys.

In order to get better acquainted with some of them, I headed for Sauna Planetario 11. Someone had posted that the sauna is within “walking distance from the Pelourinho” (the historical center); as always it’s a matter of definition, this time of the phrase “walking distance”. My taxi driver told me it was “cinco kilometers, mais ou menos”, and it took him 12 minutes to get there.

There are apparently two or three other saunas con garotos in Salvador: Paradise, Fox and Persona. It’s unclear to me whether or not Fox and Persona are one and the same. In any case, I chose Planetario because it was recommended by two sources as the best, and because it’s the closest to the city’s center.

The place is quite big, at least the public space; actually there’s quite a lot of wasted space on the lower floor. Its clean and well mantained, with two TV spaces, bar with music, separate room for shows, video room with gay porn (at long last, I’m sick and tired of straight porn in ALL previous saunas; simply sacrilege!), and even two internet stations. Enterance is 15 $R; cabines – 10; rooms – 15 (ventilators instead of AC, discomforting for someone who prespires quickly like me); suites – 20. A really nice setup.
Sauna Planetario XI - Salvador - Bahia - Brasil

However, I found the main feature lacking. I arrived at about 6. Till I left at 7:30, there were 8 non-participating clients and twice the number of garotos. It has been posted and also told me by a local, that Planetario has the highest number of garotos in Salvadorian saunas. I can’t tell if 16 is the regular number or whether it was just a slow night.

As mentioned above, I was hoping to meet the deep brown hunk of my dreams. Alas, it was not to be. Most of the garotos were indeed of my favorite color, but they were a bit pudgy (I wasn’t aware young brown Brazilians could be pudgy!), too muscular, or with unattractive faces. One of them had a bookish look with glasses, something that really turns me off. Very few were wanking or flashing, and those that were – didn’t have the size we’re used to seeing in 117.

BTW, for my first time ever, I saw an effeminate garoto; actually I don’t know whether garoto is the correct term in this case. It wasn’t a nice sight, especially since he was more than pudgy, including in the breasts zone. Reminded me of the “bro / manssiere” episode on Sienfeld.

While I was taking my time, five garotos approached me, only two initiating physical contact. I ended up in a programa with one of them, not of my favorite color. He - like some of the others - asked for 50 $R, and to my no – immediately offered 40, which is what I paid for a good programa. In order to get them down to 30, you need to bid 20, which to me sounds between insulting and ridiculous in a sauna. Am I wrong?

I left just in time to get to the famous show of Balle Folclorico. It’s worth coming to Salvador only for this, I kid you not! The dances are amazing (especially the fire, gymnastics and finale), and the drummers – awsome in the true sense of the word. HOWEVER, for those of you not interested in the above, I urge you to come and see what you love most: gorgeous men! The ten deep brown male dancers shamlessly flaunt their exquisite and powerful at least half-naked bodies for an hour. If you sit at one of the front rows, this is better than a strip show. Believe me, their bodies are so great, you won’t miss the usual erotic-sensual-porn moves.

Gentlemen, come to Salvador.

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