A GUIDE THAT I TRUST AND RECOMMEND, AND ENGLAND ALSO...

This is natural result of good work and passionate attitude. This is exactly how my guides, people who I really adore and trust, welcome many great visitors which comes to our city for the first time!!!

Personal assistance and warm welcome always work and people always come because here they can really feel at home!!!

This high season was fantastic!!! I had so many people coming and lots of work!!! My inbox was full of emails of great travellers willing to have a fantastic time in Rio, thanks to my reputation and cool way of guinding I really had problems to answer some of them; and I do apologyze if I could not write back; but I always recommend my tour guides which I work, because I know that everyone who writes to me will have a great time even when I am not able to be with them!!! DIANA, MARCONE, CEDRIC, MANU AND INEZ are always ready to make RIO A REAL HOME FOR EVERY SINGLE TRAVELLER!!!!

Now, I want to make it public, my english travellers Wolsey, Marril, Barney and Phill had a lovely full day tour with Diana...THE "FEMALE VERSION" OF RAFAEL, hahahaha : )))))

And Wolsey and Merril sent a very nice review that I publish below:

Hi Diana this is just to let you know that we now have returned safely to England after our trip around S.America.
One of the highlights was our trip around Rio on the 17th March with you , you are a brilliant guide and got the balance just right for us ,it was a most memorable day that we will treasure always it was a pleasure to meet you and spend the day with you .
Very many thanks
Regards Wolsey and Merril Jameson

Keep on writing and we will always find a way to show you the real feeling of such a vibrant city like Rio de Janeiro and all over Brazil. Our task here is working hard for your happiness and great joy the brazilian lands!!! :)

THANKS AGAIN DIANA FOR SUCH A FANTASTIC WORK!!!! YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST TOUR GUIDES IN THIS COUNTRY!

Rafael Torres Lopes

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

FEIRA DO NORDESTE - THE WHOLE COUNTRY IN ONE STADIUM

When my guests request a tour in the night spots of Rio they really want to see the real Brazil in one night. And I gladly accept any request because I know where the culture of my people can be found, in places where no tourist goes. RIO IS FULL OF TOURIST TRAPS, places where a visitor can have a very plastic show of Samba where some guides are just interested to get comissions or they are taken to places where the entrance admission costs a fortune and they do not give anything in return for our guest really experience the best of our daily life!!!

It is sad because the Tourism Industry are not so concerned about providing the real taste of a simple way to have fun in Rio!!! And that is very simple!!!

Just go to where our people love to go...Brazil is a country of endless diversity and Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest urban centers in the country, so people from other States come to Rio to live and work.

I am a big fan of a region in Brazil called REGIÃO NORDESTE...In the North East of our country, and I know exactly where they go in the weekends to have fun...

FEIRA DO NORDESTE IS ONE OF THE TEMPLE OF REAL JOY IN RIO DE JANEIRO!!!

When you first go there you think it is a Stadium, the parking places are packed with cars and the music you listen from quite a distance.When you get inside you see thousand and thousand of stores selling everything you can imagine, tastes and smells in every corner you go. You can also see clothes and artcrafts to sell and in the Stadium there are two long walkaways with a lot of restaurants. The variety is massive and you can find the best of our Brazilian Food everywhere. But I always go to a restaurant called CHIQUITA where they treat my guests as KINGS and also a place where I know the owners, they are my great friends and I am sure everyone I take there will be very happy with the exquisite quality of the food and perfect service.

In every meal you can be sure that Leonel, one of the owners of the house, come to us and make sure himself if everything is going well. It is like going to a house woith a huge party and the hoster will come direct to you to offer the best of his house!!! LEONEL ALWAYS SALUTES US WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND JOY.

It is a place where you can eat and dance, it is a place where you can see our real people in total happiness!!! Most of my guests had the chance to be there and they really want a second visit!!! :) People from USA, CANADA, ISRAEL and more nationalities had experienced such a great time in Feira do Nordeste!

Once you go to Feira do Nordeste you can be sure that you experienced the best of our culture and the best of our genuine happiness!!!

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE OPTIONS FOR A NIGHT TOUR. We take anyone there, it is a must go place in the night of Rio.

FEIRA DO NORDESTE OPENS EVERY FRIDAY TO SUNDAYS, 24 HOURS!!!

Be sure that I will always recommend to you one evening in this TEMPLE OF REAL BRAZILIAN CULTURE!!!! Your fun will be absolutely guaranteed!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Tour Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

VANESSA - THE MUSIC OF MONTREAL WAS HERE WITH US!!!

There's been around 5 years I do not go to Montreal, one of my fave cities in that side of Canada, a country that really lives in my heart!!! So I decided to post a picture taken in Rosemont in one of the afternoons that I used to go to the grocery store to buy my EVERYDAY COCA COLA!!!

I spent many days in my internet working and to get dressed in that winter, it took me almost half a hour, so the lazyness really convinced me to get all my guts and go to the DEPANNEUR which was right in the other corner of the Street, so short distance and that - 25 COLD WEATHER WOULDN'T KILL ME!!!!

So to my big big big big friend Vanessa, this picture is dedicated to you!!!!

But I also want to register the visit of such a delicious person, our friend Vanessa who came to Rio to learn more about our music and use everything she learnt to create a combination of rhythms based on Brazilian Percussion.

SHE CAME IN A PERFECT TIME...OUR CARNAVAL

My busy life and all the tours that I had stopped me to show her the best of Rio, but she came to visit me and Marcone one afternoon here in Copacabana, and we saw a little CARNAVAL STREET BAND and we danced alot in the street!!!!

This posting is to tell Vanessa that she is always welcome and dear in our house and in our city. Also to tell that wonderful human being how much I deeply admire such a strong and happy personality that Venessa has. Her big heart has a BIG CASTLE for me and also for Marcone!!!

Next time...we will go with Vanessa to see all over Niteroi, it is part of our promisses!!!

KISSES SWEETIE....DO GIVE TO ALL CANADIANS THE REAL AND FRENETIC TASTE OF BRAZIL!!!!

You are one of my most important representatives in Canada... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

VERY FRESH NEW WORDS FROM MY SUPER ULTRA FRIEND HILLEL IN ISRAEL :)))))

I always suggest my guests to write a review about their experiences in Rio and also to report their opinion about this adventure which is experience my tours. I always focus on off the beaten path places and also I provide that personal touch from our people to anyone I welcome here!!! I did the same with MY FAMILY from Israel, and these reviews are starting to come!!! And of course I publish here with a lot of happiness and honor!!!

HERE YOU CAN READ HILLEL'S WORDS:

Rafael Shalom,

Recently you have asked me to write some words about our experience in Rio. We had stayed there for 5 days between February 27 and March 4, 2009. It so happened that besides the day we devoted to the winners parade and the last day, all other days we spent with you and your team.

So, I will start with the bottom line, actually two bottom lines. The first is that we fell that we have now friends in Rio; The second is that when being with you, Marcone and Diana we felt like a Carioca. I think this summarizes it all. But I am sure you want more details. However, it is impossible to mention all great moments we had in only 3 days in Rio, so I will try only to put on paper some of the highlights, some of these moments that really made it all worth it:

The first was the FEIRA DO NORDESTE market and the restaurant where we sang, danced and walked where the everyday people of Rio spending their free time. We could feel and experience the tempo of local people, the things they like and love.

The 2nd moment, or actually more than an hour of joy was at CARIOCA DA GEMA (starting with the polite policeman that allowed you to park the car…). We got into a completely crowded place and did not know what to expect. But seeing all the people singing and dancing there, watching the pregnant singer shaking hands, kisses and hugs with just anyone that came to her, and especially seeing her singing with tears due to her expected leave to give birth to her baby, was so special that it is impossible to describe.
Then was the game in Maracana.

Actually, not the game itself (our wives are not too much into any sports, including football), but the getting there, getting back and the crowd behavior during the game (especially the 3 times when BOTAFOGO scored..), made us to understand what football is for the Carioca. Of course, my FOGAO bandana made me very respectful among locals for few days after the game..

Out of the very exciting day with Marcone I cannot forget two special events. The firsts was in the Tijuca forest when we observed the monkeys coming close to pick up a piece of Banana.

The other was really unforgettable – the sunset in Niteroi at the viewpoint Parque da Cidade. This was really the Grand Finale of an exciting day in Rio and put everything we did there in right, beautiful perspective.

I would like to finish with what I had started – friendship. The dinner we had at your and Marcone's apartment really represents that it happened and both you and ourselves have new homes over the ocean.

I thank you and your team for making it happened.
Hillel Arkin

THE ISRAEL'S INVASION OF HAPPINESS IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Our work is so special that we always earn families all around the World, and just to continue reporting the great work together with Marcone, here I am again to introduce such fantastic people that we had the great joy to meet and find out how wonderful they are. This time we have to say that in ISRAEL WE HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE FAMILY!!!

I have had lots of pleasant experiences with Israeli people and I am really proud to provide the best of Rio for a people who always strived for Peace and Understanding. Once again, in many places in the World there is a big difference between PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT, and by having such great friends from Israel, I learnt that people just want Peace, people just want to live their lives with love and happiness.

THESE HAPPINESS WE SAW IN FOUR FACES…In the face of Hillel, Rita, Zipi and Simha.

At the first moment we met, we knew that a new family would come up in our lives!!!! Positive minds, lots of curiosity about a new place and open spirits!!! No doubt, we went straight to the hottest night spots of Rio.

We had dinner in the most amazing and interesting popular place in Rio de Janeiro which is mixture of POPULAR MARKET and a big big house of shows and performances. I usually say it is a STADIUM OF HAPPINESS!!!! Thousand of people together just to live a very old tradition, the northern style…lots of stuffs to sell, tons of food, tons of interesting stores that sells clothes, typical food and souvenirs, two large stages where the best of our regional music is performed with hundred of people dancing, a place where all kind of people get together and the unique opportunity to see only local faces. We will be the very very fewest people to speak English there!!! This place is called FEIRA DO NORDESTE. Only by just going there just make a night tour very worth going!!!!

And to end our night with gold we went to the best SAMBA HOUSE in Rio, this little temple of Samba is called CARIOCA DA GEMA. This is where the best local musicians go to provide simple joy to the people. And I am lucky to be a friend of many famous singers that really represents the best of our culture. Carioca da Gema is getting famous, you can read about it in every report about Rio, so each time our visitors are always going there, but the house keeps that same local and informal environment. It is a simple house where people go to listen to Samba, you can see the great samba singers as ANA COSTA, TEREZA CRISTINA, ANA LUISA and the big voice of our Brazilian PAVAROTTI, hahahaha, the big presence of Richá. So I brought my Israeli family to this warm house (warm I say because of the big welcome people give to you) where they can really understand how SAMBA is a sacred part of our society!!!

During the day, another challenge, and thanks to the big help of Marcone and Diana, two brilliant guides that I totally trust, we provide a week of joy in just two days!!! And they saw everything. They can really say that they know Rio.

Marcone brought them to the most famous attraction which the visit to the Christ was a fantastic day, and I met all of them there when I was guiding two very nice American guests; and Marcone also had the great chance to take them to the big surprise of every tour in Rio, they went to NITEROI (where I also met them).

Diana, just like every single dweller, took them to see a football match in our famous stadium of MARACANA..and I am sure they had a blast!!!

And to end our day…we made a ISRAELI MEETING in our house…we had a dinner which I cooked pasta and they made such a very tasty salad…we drank lots of Caipirinhas, and we had a surprising and delicious wine from ISRAEL…it was a night where the two countries were closely together, we learnt a lot about our own culture and we had a night with great laughs, great conversations and lots of fun!!!!

Actually, I think that our house is the INFORMAL HEAD OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS!!!! But we do like to have incredible people that feed our life with love, knowledge and fun!!! And of course not only Rio de Janeiro with all the marvelous places that they still have to see, but our house is always opened for such a dearest family like HILLEL, RITA, ZIPI AND SIMHA!!!!

You all came to our lives to make it everything more special, thank you so very much for everything, for your total confidence in our services, for your so generous friendship and for such big smiles that we shared together!!

WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE WAITING FOR A SECOND, THIRD, FORTH, THOUSAND OF VISIT TO BRAZIL. BECAUSE FROM NOW ON, THE FOUR OF YOU HAVE A FAMILY IN BRAZIL!!!

LOTS OF LOVE,
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

WHEN YOU HAVE A HAPPY FAMILY YOU ARE HAPPY

We measure "happyness" when you have a happy family background...When you born and you realize that you were raised in an environment of love and happiness. True love, true friendship and genuine joy! I am so privileged to be surrounded by so many wonderful people in my own home atmosphere! I have a wonderful family full of interesting people, they are the great fuel of my happiness and enthusiasm.

I learn about life through the wisdon of elder people, I learnt my love of life and words that come from my heart through the children of my family. I learn that happiness is unique in every sunday lunch I have with my own relatives!!!

The greatest values in life you learn from your own background!!! And these people taught me how to be a person that I am today...

My cousins Glauci, Gleice and Luciana, my "grandma Maria", Marcone, my god daughter Luli and so many people that make my life a real PARADISE!!!

I am so grateful to have so much love, trust, friendship and joy of life given by such special people!!! MY FOLKS!!!! :)))))

Happiness comes from my family, happiness comes from my work and the unique people I am so lucky to welcome in my very soul and heart land called Brazil!!!!

I am passionate for life because of all these reasons and here I am to tell to anyone here in my blog that I am a very happy and fortunate person!!!!

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE MESSAGES, FOR ALL THE WORDS, AND FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE TO GIVE ME YOUR DREAMS SO I CAN WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE IT COME TRUE!!!!

Trully,

Rafael Torres Lopes

WORDS FROM A GREAT FRIEND IN CALIFORNIA!

More than a wine expert he is one of the most detailed photographers that I know, he knows all the techniques but above all he uses his soul on everything he shots! That is why he came to Rio and ask me to take him to the most unusual places in Rio de Janeiro for the best shots!

You can see many of his pictures in his webpage... http://www.mackeyinc.com/Rio%202_09.htm

In this page you can also learn about his family history which is really interesting!!!

We had a blast in Rio and for sure we left a "taste" of asking for more!!! so I know there will be a second visit!!!

Thanks Wayne for everything...my words are very poor to describe how important and essential was your visit here...But something I can say, you helped hus to write our NEW HISTORY and you helped to tell the word that RIO IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE NEXT VISITOR!!!!

HIS WORDS NOW ARE REALLY SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD READ, HE SAYS EVERYTHING!!!!

Rio is an astounding place visually, in its music and in its 12 million people - a way of life embodied in a city. Love of living life seems painted all over it. Being there, it feels nowhere near as dangerous as what is written about it. Having an excellent driver makes all the difference in the world when visiting Rio. Rafael was my driver and guide and I now consider him a friend. With his help and planning advice, I saw many things few tourists see and I covered a staggering amount of ground in a short period of time. I recommend Rafael highly - he's reliable, professional, well versed in everything "Rio", and his English is excellent. He is also one of those increasingly rare, genuinely nice guys. The kind of person you feel glad that you met in your travels.

On this, my first trip to South America, I spent three days in and around Rio and then two days 700 miles west at Iguaçu Falls. The summer weather was hot - around 90°F, but clear with no rain throughout the trip.

Day 1: I cleared immigration and customs in just minutes and met Rafael in the arrivals hall. After a quick turnaround at my hotel (JW Marriott Copacabana) we were enroute to Corcovado by 1pm. We stopped at a lookout point called Mirante Dona Marta while winding our way up through the urban Tijuca rainforest. The iconic 1931 art deco styled statue, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) is an imposing 100 ft tall and can be seen from all around the city. Descending through the Tijuca rainforest on the road of Paineiras, we passed by natural showers and the Cascatinha waterfall before crossing to the west side of the city to take a unique lagoon boat trip through the Marapendi Wetlands. This is a large, scenic "off the beaten track" series of islands and peninsulas where many Cariocas (locals) live. We saw lots of wildlife and upscale residences there before returning to Copacabana. My first day in Rio was a photographer's dream come true.

Day 2: Rafael picked me up mid-morning and we headed east to Sugarloaf, known locally as Pão de Açucar. There are two cable tram trips that took us up to the summit. The views at the top were great and Rafael was able to show me some less crowded spots down a short pathway for panoramic pictures. From Sugarloaf we headed toward Centro - the business district downtown, with a stop en route at São Bento Church, built in 1576. It has a very plain exterior, but a magnificent interior. It was then a short drive downtown to visit the Cultural Center of Banco do Brasil and the Candelaria Church, dating from 1727. We then drove north and east to Niteroi, across Guanabara Bay from Rio. We stopped at the Contemporary Art Museum, designed by Oscar Niemeyer and the colorful fishing village of Jurujuba before climbing up the steep grade to Parque da Cidade with its sweeping views across Guanabara Bay towards Rio. Before returning to Copacabana for the evening, I had my first Caipirinha along with a traditional Brazilian meal at Restaurante A Mineira in Niteroi across from the beach. My second day in Rio was a great mix of worthwhile tourist spots with places that only the locals know.

Day 3: Rafael picked me up around 10am and we headed to the Fort of Copacabana where mostly locals go. I had my first of several delicious Mate Cocidos (an infused tea drink) there. The fort is next to the rocks of Arpoador that mark the transition from Copacabana Beach to Ipanema Beach. We walked quite a ways down Ipanema before turning inland for a cold Brahma beer at the cafe/bar Garota de Ipanema, where Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes wrote "The Girl from Ipanema" based on a 15 year old girl (now 64) who walked by each day, Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto. We then drove west on Niemeyer Road to the scenic gated community of Joa, then on through Barra da Tijuca and a series of beaches that few tourists ever see: crowded Recreio, surfers' Prainha and finally Abrico, where we enjoyed a leisurely late seafood lunch with a local crowd at a picnic table on the beach at Cabana Grumari. My last day in Rio was both a fitting end and a teaser to want to return and see more.

Wayne Mackey

ISLE OF MAN LOVES US!!! A VERY SUCCESSFULL TOUR!!! :) LES AND ROS - WE ADORE YOU!!!

We are working together and I am so happy because when I really need someone to welcome my guests when I am busy, Marcone is always there to help me!!! What a fantastic guide!!!

This little GIANT TOUR GUIDE took care of very cool british group!!! :) 8 PEOPLE!!!!!

All organized by our absolutely incredible Isle of Man friends Ros and Les...

We did a lot, Marcone was responsable for the whole group and while I was touring with another group I had the pleasure to meet Marcone once in Ipanema and then in Niteroi, on the top of our famous hill Parque da Cidade.

We organized a full day tour just for Ros and Les and we had a blast at Rio's Wetland, the lagoons of Marapendi, and we finally had a night tour in Lapa some days before Carnaval!!!

Everything worked fine and thanks to that, for all life long we got lovely friends in this so incredible island called ISLE OF MAN!!!!

You know...the bridge that you have to ask permission to cross, Port Douglas, the cats with no tale...the land of Nigel Mansell.

Les and Ros are now living in our heart and they will always know that Rio will be their home. We adore you and you made our Rio de Janeiro more beautiful than it is!!!

And we are ready for more and we are always prepared to welcome more BRITISH FRIENDS!!!! :)

Rafael and Marcone

A RIO DE JANEIRO THAT FEW PEOPLE KNOW

When I welcome someone in Rio I do not want to make it just a visit, this person has to get to know Rio, its secret, its daily life!!! I want my guests to see Rio BODY AND SOUL, if you know what I mean...

COPACABANA IS SIMPLY A GORGEOUS AND COSMOPOLITAN PLACE, INDEED IT IS ONE OF THE MOST GLAMOROUS PLACE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY, EVERYONW WHO COMES TO RIO HAVE HEARD ABOUT COPACABANA.

Rio also reminds the Christ with his open arms and set on the top of a beautiful mountain and from the top you can see all over the city!!! And okay, one more place in your travel list that you just visited!!!

IPANEMA - When you think about beach in Rio, IPANEMA invades your dreams and wishes...well built bodies all around, sunny and summer spirits enjoying the water and the fantastic vibe of one of the most interesting districts in the World...

SUGAR LOAF....Oh yes...beautiful landmark that tells you from everywhere in the Ocean that you are approaching the city...Right in the entrance of a Bay called Guanabara, there it is...majestic and gorgeous inviting you to understand more about the city!!!
These are incredible famous touristic places....

Generally this is what people do....they come to Rio, they stay in Copacabana, they go to the beach in Ipanema, they visit the Christ and they go to the Sugar Loaf, then they take a plane back home and tell to friends: I HAVE BEEN TO RIO

Not really...you are in Rio when you get mixed with people and when you experience how CARIOCAS live!!!

For this reason I really explore the unknown side of Rio, I am always researching about places where I can take you…

AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THE WEST REGION OF RIO SHOULD BE EXPLORED!!!!

THIS PLACE THAT WE CALL ZONA OESTE HAS AMAZING PLACES WHERE JUST THE CARIOCAS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ENJOY AND NOW I AM TAKING MY GUEST TO EXPERIENCE ONE SIDE OF RIO THAT FEW PEOPLE KNOW…

This place is MARAPENDI, our wetlands!!! :)

A fantastic complex of lagoons with many islands where people live and commute with the main land in Barra da Tijuca. A place where we can see migrating birds and real wildlife. A place where we can witness daily life in a very unique neighborhood of Rio, full of green, full of mangrove vegetation and full of wildlife.

THE MARAPENDI CHANNELS IS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SEE REAL RIO DE JANEIRO WITH ITS TRADITION, HABITS AND NATURE.

You can see the change of tides…the ocean tide that makes all the water into sparkling blue color and renew life in this incredible region, and the lagoon tide that makes the water green just like a swamp.

You will meet Laerte, the boat man that takes us to the most exclusive corners of the Lagoons in his BOATBUS. A chance for you to experience our yummy local food in a restaurant in front of the Cannal, the BAR DO CICERO with a great and down to earth atmosphere!

Marapendi is part of my tours, I mostly do the Christ, the Forest and we spend hours exploring the wildlife of Marapendi and then we visit the rest of the city!

Write to me and get more informed about this tour, I will gladly give you all the information!

I am sure that you will be an expert in Rio when you experience my tours!

HAPPY TRAVELS,
Rafael Torres Lopes
donrafainrio@yahoo.es

P.S: Marapendi is part of my tours and also one of the places where I usually go to relax and enjoy the nature with my family. In one of the pictures you can see the QUEEN MOTHER STELLA, Marcone, my immediate tour guide and fabulous friend…which I fully thank both for making my life so intense and interesting!

HOLY COW!!!! RAFA GOES WILD!!! CARNAVAL IN THE SUBWAY

I know that Carnaval is over, but I have to confess that I had the best Carnaval of my life!!! OH YESSS!!!!! I was over, hyper, super, ultra busy but I found some time to spend one night playing in the streets of Rio, at Rio Branco Avenue, main street in Rio's downtown, with my relatives and also my dearest and beloved people!!! MY WHOLE FAMILY!!!!

What we understand about "family" in Brazil is what "relatives" is for English speakers!!!

WE HAD PARTY IN OUR UNDERGROUND!!!!

TOTAL HAPPINESS AND WE JUST HAD ONE REASON TO BE THAT CRAZY: BE HAPPY!!!!

And we are happy because we enjoy life at most.

All my counsins, Marcone, my aunts, we were all together, dancing and singing at the Street Blocos...

WE HAD TONS OF FUN and I am also very fortunate that I could share this happiness with my guests!

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO RIO ANYTIME!!!!

But something I have to say: CARNAVAL IN RIO ROOOOOOOCKS!!!!!

And for those who always wanted to know about Rio...YES, WE DO HAVE SUBWAY!!!

Very useful transportation system, two lines that serve all over the city!!!

And we were at the old station of Cinelandia.

Our underground was started in 1980!!!!

By the way, the subway starts at 6:00 am and ends at 12:00 am...

WORDS FROM MY DEAR AND OLD ENGLAND WRITTEN BY MY WONDERFUL QUEEN MARION THE FIRST

Queen of England is too little for what she means to me!!!! And to us....Me and Marcone as tour guides who work a lot to provide the best of Rio to anyone who comes to visit our lovely city and also as friends of such a spectacular couple, we worship her!!!!

And of course...the glorious of all glories...GLEN...He is a very experienced fireman but not good enough to extinguish his own fire that he carries in his body and soul!!!!

WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND MARVELOUS PEOPLE!!!!

And they come from a country that I adore!!!! THEY ARE FROM ENGLAND!!!

I am sure that just one time in Brazil is never suficient for you to say: I HAVE BEEN TO BRAZIL...so I am sure they will always come back...firsgt because BRAZIL IS REALLY FAB, second because they to have a family here right now!!!

Marion and Glen, thank you sooooooo very much!!!!

SO WITH GREAT HONOR I SHOW TO ALL FRIENDS MARION'S WORDS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN RIO WITH US!!!!

MARION WROTE: Glen and I always had this burning desire to go to Brazil and more particularly Rio for Carnival so with a big birthday for me coming up this year, the seeds were sown for us both to save hard and make this a trip of a lifetime.

Little did we know back then in early February 2008 that would find a hidden gem by the name of Rafael Torres. Glen found him through months and months of extensive research over the Internet, more particularly on the Virtual Tourist website. Glen had seen his name crop up on more than one occasion and the reviews he received were all excellent.

We knew that we would also need a certain someone to show us around Rio and so over the space of a year Glen, cultivated a friendship with Rafa that I now think will last for many, many years.

Rafa is an extremely popular tour guide so we had to make our mind up that far in advance that we would need to have him when we finally arrived on Valentine’s Day 2009. What a perfect romantic start to our vacation.

Glen and I are back home now in London and the dust has finally settled so I felt it was time for me to fully put down in words our appreciation for this man and his wonderful friend Marcone who also played a very big part in our trip.

Through the wonder of Skype we had been in touch with Rafa on several occasions before we flew to Rio so seeing him and Marcone at the airport when we arrived was just amazing and I felt like I’d already known them for a long time. That was a wonderful feeling. He then took us to our hotel in Ipanema which had the most amazing view over the ocean and to wake up with the sound of the waves crashing on the beach is something that even now I’ve been back home for a week, I still miss very much along with the glorious weather!

I have to say that the time we spent with him and Marcone seeing all these fabulous places of interest, Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Niteroi, Viradouro (for the samba school rehearsal), the Tijuca forest, the Maracana (Glen’s Holy Grail for soccer fans) and Glória to name but a few. They made every trip so interesting and funny and we would laugh at the same things. We ate the most amazing Brazilian food in equally amazing restaurants with views to match. Not to mention the Caiparinhas that will never taste as they did in Rio – I shall always remember them and how lethal some of them were as my legs will testify when I tried to stand up.

Rafa and Marcone made everything so possible for Glen and I – and they were really protective over me which I found very touching. I was so pleased we got to meet Rafa’s family too – his Mum and Dad should be very proud of this guy who has really captured the essence of Rio and takes you to places that no tourists would probably venture and that makes you feel very special.

I can’t thank Rafa enough for being such an amazing tour guide and friend whilst we were staying in Rio. We sorely miss him now we’re back home – I miss that “Rafamobile” of his – what a Godsend that car was when it was so hot outside and I was a horrible, melting, sweaty mess, desperate for the chill of “Rafamobile” air conditioning!

Anyone who is considering a trip to Brazil should really think twice before using anyone else to steer them through the crazy language of Portuguese or who has his knowledge of that beautiful city.

We’ll be back for more I know it! I just hope Rafa and Marcone will be still doing what they do best when we’ve saved up enough to head back there?

All our love to you and Marcone

Marion & Glen (London, England)
8 March 2009