TO MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS SIMHA AND ZIPI - THE OTHER TWO MEMBERS OF MY ISRAELI FAMILY

Great moments, we had many!!! Lots of laughs, we had many because my friends Simha, Zipi, Hillel and Rita are the kings of gladness in all over Israel, and they brought their joy to Brazil in order to make our work way better and richer!!!

So thank you!!!!

And now I just got those wonderful words from Simha and Zipi, members of a family of four that we have in Israel.

A country that always have given me great guests and cool people very curious to know what is unique in Brazil. And I humbly confess that me and Marcone give our hearts to provide the best of Rio de Janeiro and every place in Brazil a real home to all our visitors!!!

AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL. Thanks to you I learnt more about life, I got way more experience in provinding happiness to people, which is the great pleasure of our profession!

Everywhere we went we left our mark...

In Lapa, even the Police gave us the best place to park...It is a sign of BIG RESPECT that our israeli family was present in our Carnaval!!!

In Niteroi, the city gave to my Israely family one of the most beautiful sunsets EVER!!!! And that place is called PARQUE DA CIDADE!!!

In a very popular market in the suburbs of Rio, in São Cristovão, where no tourist goes, we had the best of Brazilian Food, in the Feira do Nordeste!!!

I introduced the night in Rio and Marcone took them to see the wonders of Rio during the day!!!

All I can say is that, Simha, Zipi, Hillel and Rita are wonderful people!!! And we had the honor to welcome such magnificent folks!!!

Marcone and I are proud to be tour guides in Rio and show everyone what is real and unique, but much more than prouder, we are honored to make so many special friends!

SHALOM!!!

Rafa and Marcone

SIMHA AND ZIPE -WORDS FROM MY FANTASTIC ISRAEL'S FRIENDS!!!

Dear Rafa and Marcone.

It's over a month that we returned from our wonderful trip to South America and the memories and experiences are still very fresh in our minds. As you know we traveled in Argentina and Chile first and then spent our last 10 days of our trip in Brazil. And what a great finale was it with the adventures in Rio thanks' to you guys. Your spirit, knowledge, professionalism and kindness turned those days with you to unforgettable memories for us. I'm sure that as ordinary tourists we would never had a chance to see and experience places like the North East Market (Feira Nordestina), the Samba Houses (with the highlight of Carioca da Gema) and other places we visited during our night tour with the two of you. This in addition to the great day tour, the Maracana stadium (where Botafogo won the final 3:0) and the final dinner evening we had at your place. Despite the differences of our native languages and cultures, as well as the gap in our ages, we found you guys as real friends that would always be fun to be with.

Thanks you very much for turning our stay in Rio to be so special. We recommended already and will continue to do so to all our friends.

Good luck and be well and safe.

Simha and Zipi – Yuvalim, Israel

THE JOURNEY OF TIMES IN TIRADENTES - RAFAEL AND HIS MOTHER HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :)

A TRIP TO TIRADENTES MADE US TURN BACK TIME AND FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MY GRAND FATHER AND HIS GRAND MOTHER, MY GREAT GRAND MOTHER STELLA THE FIRST AND THE PRINCE OF BRAZILTOUR "RAFAEL THE FIRST"

hhahahahahah :)

We like to research about out past and we can also be part of the past and the history of our land.

The city is an invitation itself for you to know more about the history of each corner of Tiradentes!

And it was a great opportunity that I had to take my Mother in this trip, and we had a blast visiting every little stores of arts (there are many in Tiradentes!!!), and the food is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!

We know that in Brazil, IF MOTHER IS HAPPY WE ARE ALL HAPPY!!! I think I am a good son and always when I can, I give her many reason to smile and reasons for her to know that I am very grateful for everything she gave me!!!

If I had a good education, if I have all the knowledge that made it possible everything that I have today. My Mother was the bigger responsable, and it is her fault that I speak english, hahahaha :)

Well, I am very proud of the Mother I have and I hope she is proud to have her only son which only concerns are being happy and making people happy!!!

THIS VISIT TO TIRADENTES WAS FULLY DEDICATED TO HER!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Tour Planner

TIRADENTES - ONE HISTORICAL TREASURE IN BRAZIL

Rio de Janeiro is part of the SOUTH EAST REGION which includes three more states of Brazil, and they are São Paulo, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais.

Historically speaking, these region was have been the more developed and important region of the country since our discovery!!!

Between the 1600s and 1700s, the portuguese had found great sources of Gold and other precious metal, including DIAMONDS.

Quickly these regions became big urban centers and the great source of metals to Europe since 1500s, 1600s, 1700s and late 1800s...

Nowadays we, Brazilians, are very proud of this heritage and these places were sites of great moments in our History.

Tiradentes is one of the most famous and most important historical cities in Brazil after Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João del Rey and Sabará. In the coast we also have very important historical towns of Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Olinda and São Luis, lots to discover in these destinations!

But this weekend I took the chance to take my guests Linda and Les from Steam Boat Springs in Colorado to visit Ouro Preto and in my way back to Rio, as I met my Mother and Marcone also in Ouro Preto; I made a quick stop in Tiradentes with my mother Stella.

We spent the afternoon in my very favorite historical town in Minas...

TIRADENTES HAS INCREDIBLE BARROC CHURCHES, ENDLESS COBBLED STONES STREETS AND MANY PLACES WHERE YOU CAN FIND VERY RARE PIECES OF ART, SPECIALLY PAINTINGS AND SOAP STONES SCULPTURES. NOT ONLY THIS...IN TIRADENTES YOU CAN NOTICE THE IMPRESSIVE PRESENCE OF INCONFIDENTES RANGE OF MOUNTAINS WITH FANTASTIC PLACES TO HIKE AND MANY WATERFALLS.

GREAT TO GO THERE IN THE SUMMER!!!!

Tiradentes was found in 1702 with a different name, São José do Rio das Mortes. the little town got another name since one person who firstly tried to make Brazil independent from Portugal in 1787, it did not work, and the portuguese killed him and showed pieces of his body all the way from Rio to Ouro Preto. This person was called Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, and his nickname was Tiradentes, that literally means TEETH TAKER..He was a sort of dentist in these villages and together with great people in that time, he tried to make a Revolution.

To get there is not so hard...It is just 5 hours drive from Rio de Janeiro, the little village has very good cottage with very friendly prices!!! The road is very scenic and you will have a chance to see our rural areas which is something apart from everything you planned in just one trip to Rio!

Of course I strongly recommend a visit to Tiradentes if you have more time in your trip to Rio!

Rafael Torres Lopes

A NEW FRIEND FROM ENGLAND - SAPNA - THE SPIDER HUNTER!!!

रियो डी जेनेरो हमारी भूमि में ऐसी एक शानदार इंसान हैं करने के लिए खुश है!

Thanks to Saint Google, I may have written some nice words in hindi, but I can do it in English...

We are happy to have such a bright person visiting our city!

After such a long time exchange emails, she got here with all her family, my so great new friends Khrisna, Usha and Samir. And in our first day I was prepared to give such a big introduction of the city and we had just half of the day for that!!!

They came here last Sunday, April 19th. The city was free of traffic so we could reach the city center quite fast and they visited our very tratidional monastery Sao Bento, and we got to see the 10:00 am Mass which the Monks sing many different Gregorian Chants, they could spot our barroc art and our deepest tradition! Then we explored a little bit more of Downtown area visiting the Cultural Center of our State bank, BANCO DO BRASIL and we visited another very important and impressive church of Candelaria!

This was just the Cultural part of our tour...we left the contact with the Nature in the end of our tour!!!

We had just 4 hours and I wished to have 456789765434567564332 hours!!!! They were such good people and so pleasant to show the best of Rio for them, they I really needed more time for this family see everything!

Anyway...we come across with a huge line in the Sugar Loaf Cable Car Station, but they were brave and we decided to wait, and the sacrifice was well paid...We had such a lovely time and from the top of the Hill they could understand the geography of our city and I left a taste of asking for more!!!

And they are coming for more days and the adventure will continue!!!

At the bamboo forest of our Pão de Açucar we were talking about SPIDERS....

Yes, we do have many in Brazil, and I told her not to be afraid of the big ones, but do worry about the small ones!!! They are normally the most dangerous!

OUR FAUNA IS PLENTY AND WONDERFUL and I know the places where we will visit we will be even closer to the Nature!!!

For the moment many thanks for coming!!!! And believe me, Brazil will be your home after England and India!!!

OHHHHH WOW, I just forgot to say...INDIA LIVES IN THEIR HEART and by the fact they have all this indian heritage, makes me admire these family even more!!!

I am a big fan of India and one of my dreams is going there one day!!! INDIA IS IN MY TRAVEL LIST FOREVER!!!

And I am sure they will recommend me in both countries! :)

WELCOME TO RIO, SAPNA!!! And thank you for your confidence!

FRAN AND GORDON - WORDS FROM VANCOUVER

It is so delicious to work with people who have a positive attitude towards life.I am always so grateful to my work that allows me to meet so many wonderful people. People I always learn with, people who add many good things to your life and my work has this gift, the gift of giving me marvelous friend!!!

And Vancouver sent to Rio an incredible couple. Gordon and Fran came to Rio and before getting to the ship to visit the rest of our coast, they spent some days in Rio and one of these days I took good care of them!!!

The tour was made with LOADS OF LAUGHINGS AND FULL OF GREAT MOMENTS!!!!
Well, you can see from their smiles how happy they were...and just to make my TOURS special, they also sent me incredible words which I rewrite below:

"Hi Rafa,Thank you so much for granting my request about the summary of our amazing 'Rio' adventure - not only was the adventure amazing -- but your are even more amazing --- WHAT an wonderful blog! We printed it off to share with our family and friends-- everyone is definitely impressed and envious or wonderful time in Rio-- and that you are our friend!!!

So thanks again, Rafa, for being the best guide ever -- but for going to so much trouble in recoring our time together. We are very appreciative."

These words were writen by Fran, my very new great friend from Vancouver, Canada, and Gordon, her husband and the MASTER OF COLORS; thank you for so much care and you are indeed part of my fondest memories of my Work. Believe me, you have made it so special!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

MY RECENT TRIP TO THE HISTORY OF BRAZIL

This is the reason that I could not be so present in my emails writing to you and plan one of the most interesting trips of your life!!! THE TRIP TO BRAZIL!!!

But you always have to remember that a good tour guide has to research alot about his/her own land and always being able to provide new destinations and give new ideas for each guest who looks for you!!! So I have to travel, I have to write about places that I think it will be an unique experience when you travel to Brazil, and I do not really work just in Rio de Janeiro, but I work all over Brazil and this last weekend I travelled to our most important historical towns of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes:

And now you can read below my full report about these days:

I took this weekend to travel around my country and find out new locations for my tours, places that people like you will visit and they will add one more unique location for any trip that you can plan in Brazil.

I went not so far, around 6 hours away from Rio de Janeiro , that was a mix of work and leisure. I had to take one American couple from Colorado to Ouro Preto, one of the most fascinating historical cities in Latin America, I would say.The old city belongs to the State of Minas Gerais. One of the States of our Region with lots of traditions, lots of farm lands and lots of very beautiful villages in our countryside. The result is lots of wild nature, lots of history because every small city is an open air museum such as the very famous towns of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Tiradentes, Sabará and Congonhas do Campo.

So I got to Ouro Preto, Thursday, April 16th, after a long drive I got to Ouro Pretoo and left my guests in the beautiful cottage of Solar do Rosario (check website, http://www.hotelsolardorosario.com.br/english/), very charming place and prices quite high, and I stayed in a cheaper one, also well located but prices really generous, the place is called POUSADA DOS BANDEIRANTES (see website, http://www.hotelpousadabandeirantes.com.br/welcome.htm) which I paid 70 reais (about 35 american dollars) and I booked the next day for my mother and Marcone, so the second day I paid 100 reais which is about 50 american dollars.

So the next day very early in the morning Marcone and my Mother came and we spend the all Friday, april 17th, strolling around Ouro Preto which I know quite well, we visited the steep and narrow streets, the city is very hilly and it has loads of barroc churches that shows you the magnificent of Barroc Art and the surroundings of green mountains are simply breathtaking.

The churches of São Francisco, the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição which has a very interesting museum telling the history of an artist who made all the art and wooden work of these churches about 300 years ago, this man was called ALEIJADINHO, and in my personal opinion he is the BRAZILIAN VERSION OF MICHELANGELO and in the church there is a old man called AMILTON, he works in the maintenance of the museum, and with no charge he tells you very funny and interesting facts happened in the church and he also tells you very exclusive gossips about the city and its people. One hour of conversation with him is one hour of good laughing and you can feel his true love about his land!!!! More churches that you can see are the churches of Carmo next door to the busy and confusing Tiradentes Square and also the downhill church of Pilar , another impressive sample of our Portuguese Art.

Way before the Independence, Brazil was a very important colony of Portugal and Minas Gerais a real source of minerals, specially Gold, so big cities where settled during this time and they transferred all the facilities of a big town exactly like the urban cities of Lisbon and other cities of Portugal and Spain. So Ouro Preto was always a very rich city where all the most important characters of that time had their business.

Ouro Preto is also famous for its art in soap stones (some of the churches were covered by soap stones also) and close to São Francisco Church there is a wonderful SCULPTURES MARKET that you simply can’t miss!!!

We had a very busy day, going up and down, walking a lot, just like the old cities of Europe, the best way to see everything in Ouro Preto is simply walking, but sometimes the distances are so huge that the car helped a lot.

The evening came so fast and we had to meet my guests which became naturally my friends, for dinner. We were thinking about having dinner at CASA DOS CONTOS, one of the most traditional local food restaurant in Ouro Preto, but it was closed so we got to a very busy snack bar and we had dinner there, lots of time talking and having fun, my guests and my family, so incredible.

Late in the evening, Marcone had to take a bus back to Rio because of his work. He has to teach English in a private school in Copacabana, so he had to return and he went to Rio, seven hours drive, and he was back to Rio about 4 in the morning.

My mother and I stayed and we spent the night in Ouro Preto, I took this opportunity to rest in our very comfortable room (and very cheap) because our Saturday would be very busy as we planned to leave early to Tiradentes and then our way back home!
But the idea was spending some hours in Tiradentes, another jewel of our past heritage, one of the main historical towns in Brazil . Tiradentes is way more special because it is not so busy as Ouro Preto, the little village which in the early 1700’s where called São José do Rio das Mortes, it became TIRADENTES, because of a “national hero” who thought about making Brazil independent from Portugal for the first time but he did not succeed, he worked on that with a group called THE INCONFIDENTES, and they were defeated by the Portuguese, but this group became important because they belong to this region and they were known as real patriots, there is also a national holiday to celebrate and remember the death of this guy!

And we travel around the region and after 4 hours we get to Tiradentes!!! Wonderful small city with very rich art craft industry nand more very old cobbled stones streets and very old churchers and colonial houses!!! Tiradentes is easy to walk and every corner provides you an incredible surprise. And in the city we can easily notice the impressive presence of the INCONFIDENTES RANGE OF MOUNTAINS which is also a fantastic nature reserve!!!
So days can be spent in this region and you will never get bored, it will be your chance to be in touch with very nice people and get to know wonderful places in a Brazil that almost no foreigners have the chance to see!!!

And after lunch, and while in MINAS GERAIS, everywhere you go you can have delicious food. The State is famous for the incredible FARM FOOD…Wonderful meals with meat (beef, pork, chicken), endless variety of salads and the small of YOUR GRANDMA FOOD!!! I am serious, everyone remembers GRANDMA FOOD when they eat in Minas Gerais, and all over the country, MINEIRA FOOD or simply COMIDA MINEIRA, can be found and it is really appreciated among the Brazilians and I have taken all my guests to some restaurants when they visit Rio, and all I can say is that every visit to a restaurant with Comida Mineira is a real orgasm!!!

About 4:00 pm, my mother and I took the car and I drove all the way to Rio and I got to the city a little bit before 11:00 pm!!!

In my future postings I will write more and show you the pictures taken in these two incredible cities and you will know exactly what to do there!

You can find out more about Ouro Preto and Tiradentes, MR. GOOGLE will be glad to help you, but never with my personal insights.

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

IMPORTANT WORDS FROM VANCOUVER

It was a wonderful tour with marvelous people!!! That day I got more 4 canadian friends!!! This time people from British Columbia, from the beautiful and modern city of Vancouver...The beach land of Canada,and they came to Brazil to see OTHER BEACHES!!!

This tour I had a special mission... it was FRAN'S BIRTHDAY...so I had to make it special anf again...People always think tat my tours takes about 8 hours, I made it about 11 hours and I never charge extra!!!

I had someone's birthday and you know, when you really like a person and it is her birthday you really have to give a big present and I decided to give to Fran the best of Rio!!!so not only her but the whole team had a present AND I WAS IN THE MOOD!!!

Fran came with her husband, the painter and the real character...GORDON, a very nice and talkative bloke, I thought he was a "WALKING LIBRARY"...And she came with two other friends...the canadian couple Alex and Mavis...And right in the first minute we became a family!!!

They came to me thanks to the generous help of Marta, a fantastic friend, the owner of a spectacular PENTHOUSE in the beach of Copacabana which you can stay, it is a guesthouse, maybe th most interesting GuestHouse in the beach, her website is http://www.rioguesthouse.com/ and one of my best resources where people meet me and we always have a good time in and out of Rio de Janeiro.

Without Marta I would never have the ORGASM to meet such a fantastic team like Fran, Gordon, Alex and Mavis!!!

I had another opportunity to write about them to report their adventure up north of Brazil when they ported in Recife!

But here they could see the Christ... They went there in a different way, we reached the Christ by car so we could see a big part of the Forest, the Tijuca...It is the best option for several reasons, you save money because reaching the statue by their minibuses you pay way less, it is 13 reais that you pay, and by trainyou pay 46 and the ride is not as interesting as driving in the forest which you can stop whenever you want!

Then we went through the heart of the Forest, we stopped in the natural showers of Paineiras which is always a chance for us to renew our energies! And we went to the main prt of the Forest where the King of Portugal created our first national park more than 200 years ago!

Not only that....as I always do, I took them to the wetland region of Marapendi. This is where people really can experience local's daily life in a region with 7 islands, lots of mangroove vegetation with rich bird life and where people can understand the movement of the Lagoon tide and the ocean tide, meeting all kind of people in a wonderful scenery. it is like seeing the BRAZILIAN VERSION OF THE EVERGLADES!!!!

We also had a quick tour in our downtown, we could see our old churches such as Candelaria where we find out more about "canadian angels" (they have the pictures!!!) and we visited a very interesting exihibition about "brazilian painting", all brazilian painters from ALL TIMES where there showing the beauty and the custons of our country which provided my canadian friends a Wonderful Experience. Walking at the Centro is a fabulous chance for you to understand more of Rio!!! That place is a cultural center sponsored by our State Bank, Banco do Brasil, and the name of the place is CENTRO CULTURAL BANCO DO BRASIL.

Not only this, I took them to NITEROI....

Well, you know what I think about NITEROI... Niteroi gives you always the best surprises of any trip to Rio de Janeiro. it is a city located right in the other side of our Bay, the Guanabara Bay. We first stopped in the ocean promenade where locals like to fish in Boa Viagem, then we saw the MODEN ART MUSEUM, MAC which provides an important view of all the Bay area, and we visited a fishing village, the very charming Jurujuba with its very special pace of life, we saw the boats, we met the fishermen and we finally see the society working in gtheir normal rhythm!!! And to close our adventure with pages of gold..we climbed up a hill...and this hill is special, very special. A special moment for my guests and always a special moment for me!!!!

We went to PARQUE DA CIDADE...You can notice in the pictures of our mountains that we were really touched by so many beauties and that was the time where my friends really realize that Rio is way much more than Copacanana and the Sugar Loaf. You really realize that Rio is one of the most fantastic destination in the World!!!

Well I did this tour with ALL MY LOVE for this wonderful people!!!! PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS TALK TO YOU WITH A SMILE IN THEIR FACES, PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING TO SAY THAT MAKES YOU LEARN ALOT ABOUTTHE WORLD IN GENERAL. I made this tour like I was touring with my own family and I gues they stayed with that delicious TASTE OF ASKING FOR MORE!!!!

And to make this day special...FRAN YESTERDAY WROTE ME AN EMAIL and she explained with very few words (yes I know, I write a lot!!!) the joy they had when they experience my tour!!!!

THIS WORDS I AM REWRITING BELOW WITH LOTS OF HONOR AND LOVE:

Hi Raphael--(Haffa)We just returned home from our wonderful adventure -- of course it all started in Rio and what a terrific way to start our trip. You especially made Rio come alive and our fondest memories are the day we spent with you -- on my birthday - which I will never forget, was absolutely perfect, and YOU were the 'icing' on the cake. Thank you for that great day. We also loved our tour in Recife which you organized with Karen -- it worked out amazingly well and we loved Recife --- especially when we were in the air conditioned bus. It was certainly HOT that day.

SO FRAN...NO WORDS TO THANK YOU SO MUCH LOVE COMING FROM YOU...Your smile was indeed they real payment telling that I am in the right way. And the other 3 members of the BRAZILIAN ADVENTURE also gave me their hearts and we became FIVE HEARTS exploring the best of Rio. They met a guide and they got a friend in their lives and I met 4 guests and I won four wonderful friends!!!!

THANK YOU SOOOOOO VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND BE SURE THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO KEEP ON SHOWING THE BEST OF MY COUNTRY!!!!

LOTS OF LOVE,

Rafael Torres Lopes

A DREAM IN THE MOUNTAINS VERY CLOSE TO RIO DE JANEIRO

When you think about JUNGLE, your thoughts will take you to the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest, and you are right!!! But when you go to Rio, most of the times you are just planning to stay in Rio, and when you have some days free, then you should explore the State of Rio, and there are many other paradises around the city!!! PARADISES IN THE OCEAN and PARADISE IN THE MOUNTAINS!!!

The State of Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful States of Brazil. We have many mountain ranges, among many other gorgeous places, one of the most famous are the Orgãos Mountain Range which helds very charming cities such as Petropolis, Magé, Guapimirim, Friburgo and Teresopolis!!!

I decided to get to know these places together with Marcone, we usually travel together just to find out more places near to Rio for you to visit, so we took this long Easter Holidays to see more of our mountains, and we come across to this very hidden PARADISE ON EARTH.

These wonderful falls is called FRADES, in portuguese we say, CACHOEIRA DOS FRADES. This green crazyness is located close to the road that links Teresopolis to another pleasant mountain city of Friburgo. Dramatic landscapes all around, very local oriented place away from the massive wave of tourists.

The area has incredible cottages, perfect for a romantic weekend for two and also perfect for those travellers with an adventurous spirit!!!

GOING TO TERESOPOLIS WILL INCREASE YOUR LIST OF SPECIAL AND UNIQUE PLACES WHERE VERY FEW VISITORS GO!!! The road is something else, you can see Rio from a very high point of view, and the group of mountains of Soberbo Point is SIMPLY BREATHTAKING!!!

And it is not distant from Rio, the road is very scenic and the place is also easy to spend just one day with a lunch in such a wonderful farm in swiss style!

The mountains of Rio were settled by germans and swiss people more than 200 years ago!!

We love travelling in our own land just to show to the World how beautiful our States are...I was born in the State of Rio de Janeiro and Marcone was born in the State of Maranhão, we work alot in these places to take people like you and make any trip to Brazil exclusive just for you!!!

For more information, feel free to write to my email donrafainrio@yahoo.es

I will happily give you more details about one of the most beautiful mountain places in the country!

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE OF RAFA

When I say let's give my friends something to eat in the heart of Tijuca Forest, I mean it. I always find a way to link my personal life with my professional life, and FEEDING SOME FRIENDS is something that I do in the Forest since I was 8 or 10 years old when I used to have picnic with my Mother, Uncles, and Cousins at the Açude Lake, one of the most interesting places in this enormous urban forest called FLORESTA DA TIJUCA!!!

Very important point of my tours, Floresta da Tijuca is the GREEN HEART of Rio de Janeiro, and I do what tourists never do, first of all because MY GUESTS ARE NOT TOURISTS, MY GUESTS ARE TRAVELLERS!

When I work I always stop there and by giving some cake to the fish I can tell every single specie of the lake, and almost always I have the company of some nice and cute turtles among millions of trouts and carps that come for my "private lunch"; and the spot is a good chance to see some other birds. I have seen toucans in different occasions when I stop there!

In the picture I took my mother and Marcone for a whole afternoon where we forget everything about stressing life.

When you go to places where just locals go, you make your trip to Rio even more special!!!

COME TO RIO AND LIVE OUR LIFE!!! It is easy, you just need the perfect company!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

GOOD PEOPLE FROM MINNESSOTA AND GOOD PEOPLE FROM ONTARIO

Very common to join great people from USA and great people from Canada in the same tour. And I am always very fortunated with them because I always have a great time!!! And I had to couples that I showed the best of Rio and the secrets of Rio.

Connie and Dave contacted me in January 30th and they came here on the 16th of March. The cruise ship Star Princess docked and I met them, during the trip they invited another couple, my new canadian friends Shannon and Herman, and they decided to have a tour with me. Four very interesting people and they all belong to the Travel Business in both Countries.

So more than GUESTS they were real RESEARCHERS, but since the very beggining I was welcoming fantastic friends, and we did a lot!!!

We visit the Forest and many surprises in the West Side of Rio, and we walked in the famous beaches of Ipanema and Arpoador, but we had a fantastic time in the city which is a big surprise in any tour to Rio. We spend the afternoon seeing the off the beaten path places such as the fishing village of Jurujuba and the view point of Parque da Cidade. We also went to the last edge of Guanabara Bay, in Niteroi's side. We were in the fort of Santa Cruz where we could see the ocean and the Bay with so incredible views!!!

They could experience real life in Rio and they were away from the tourist crowds.

Again, I decided to make this one day in Rio something very intense and very special!!! And I am sure they are back in their homes with a different and better thought about Rio and Brazil, and for sure Dave and Herman with new clothes!!!!

We did explore the Christ, the Forest of Tijuca, we went to Niteroi and we pass through the MODERN ART MUSEUM, THE MAC; WE WENT TO THE FISHING VILLAGE IN JURUJUBA, WE WENT TO SANTA CRUZ FORT, THEN WE VISITED THE VIEWPOINT OF PARQUE DA CIDADE!!!!

I just want to repeat the experience and show to all of you much more than destination can offer!!!

Now they are back home, but they left a friend who will always be here to welcome. Rio needs you!!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

MORE SECRETS OF NITEROI

When I go to Niteroi with my guests because of the short time I have I always stay in the Bayside of the city. But the OCEAN SIDE of Niteroi deserves another full day tour. Yes, these are the beaches we see from the hill of Parque da Cidade.

The real jewels of a trip to Rio are the off the beaten path places that just few local people know...and a day exploring the ocean beaches of Niteroi you will see fantastic places like Sossego, Camboinhas, Piratininga and Itacoatiara.

If you want to see very unique places, just write to me and I will tell you exactly what to do!

If you ever come to Rio with more time, this is your chance to see what most of people not even thinking about seeing!

NITEROI IS REALLY A GREAT SURPRISE IN ANY TRIP TO RIO!!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Tour Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

MY BRAVE "RAFAMOBILE"

I just bought my little baby in October 2007, thanks my Mother's help and Marcone support, both convinced me that I could pay this car with my work. With a mix with work and pleasure and also thanks to all your confidence in me, I am paying this car which my guests call RAFAMOBILE.

This car simply completed 48000 km. I have no idea how much it is in miles, but I can say that RAFAMOBILE could reach USA and EUROPE back and forth.

My little baby is good for every terrain and it will be always here to welcome all of you who are always coming!!!

And keep on coming and be sure that you will explore Rio with safety and comfort.

RAFAMOBILE is a new DOBLO FIAT MODEL, very useful car for everything I need here, you can easily explore Rio despite of the famous heat...my air conditioning will provide you a great relief before you start to see the greatest secrets of my land!!!

WELCOME TO RIO!!! ME AND RAFA MOBILE WILL BE ALWAYS HONORED TO BE WITH YOU IN EVERY LITTLE CORNER OF OUR TROPICAL RIO!!!!

BOTH CAROLINAS LOVE ME AND I LOVE YOU ALL

Well, right at the moment that here in Rio, my NORTH CAROLINA friends are having a great time in Rio, my other friends from the South...YES, SOUTH CAROLINA, sent me these pictures bringing me back to another fabulous time that I spent with Suzie and Peter.

They had a great tour around Brazil and in their stop in Rio I had the opportunity to show them around in the ground and in the air. We took an helicopter ride and they could see all over Rio de Janeiro for 30 minutes!!!

That was my first work in a helicopter. They are serious travellers but I am sure that in Rio they found a home and left real good friends, me and Marta, the BIG RIO'S HOSTER, who made my work with them possible!!!

I just have to thank again, Marta to give me the great opportunity to meet so many fantastic people and we are more than sure that we make Rio de Janeiro, a fabulous destination to be visited!!!

I took that lovely pictures at Marta's House in Copacabana Beach, and they stayed in Marta's place, a magnificent penthouse in the best location of Copa, and you can see more about this unique accomodation option at http://www.rioguesthouse.com/

Thanks alot Suzie and thank you so much Peter to enrich my work and we want you back!!!

ALL THE BEST FOR YOU,

Rafa

FRIENDS IN NORTH CAROLINA INVADE RIO DE JANEIRO

It is an invasion of fun!!!! It is more than an invasion of absolutely huge enthusiasm and I am here honored to welcome such a fantastic couple. One soooooooo greedy that he decided to swallow our poor SUGAR LOAF, and one with such a generous smiles that the Christ will always have his opened arms for her, and my opened arms always ready to squeeze her..because she is the cuttiest human being of Chapel Hill!!!!

YES YES YES…JIM AND LISBETH are in Rio right now and I decided to make both real experts in everything about Rio de Janeiro and surroundings!!! And we did a lot since the very first day…OUR FIRST DAY WE EXPLORED THE UNKNOWN REGIONS OF THE WEST SIDE OF RIO….

So we went to a gated community that in North Carolina they call it “prison”, but here we call it “upper class condo” which is located in a sheltered ocean beach called JOA. Then I took such a ROYAL COUPLE to a place that seems a CAR CEMITERY but indeed it is a little deck where we wait for the boat bus to explore the curious and interesting wetland of Marapendi Channels; then we decided to follow the coast and we saw the wild beaches of Barra da Tijuca, Recreio, Prainha and Marapendi!!!

After that we decided to “play” TARZAN AND JANE in the woodlands of Tijuca, a huge forest in the middle of the busy city of Rio de Janeiro and that was the end of such a wonderful adventure in one entire day in Rio!!!

But they are demanding people they wanted more…so we had such a lovely half day in Niteroi, my so darling city where I was raised…I was not born there, I am a delicious tropical fruit from Rio de Janeiro…

Anyway, we drove to Niteroi, a city that I know as the palm of my hand…and I could show them the little secrets of a place that very few people have heard about. We saw the famous CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, a project of our famous architect Oscar Niemeyer, the one who made our capital Brasilia, then we left this beautiful part of our Bay to explore the coast in São Francisco until reaching a very charming and absolutely local fishing village called Jurujuba, we had a great time there seeing all the boats and all the hungry birds after some fish left overs; they thought it was over…but noooo…I had to show the city mile by mile…so we went to our very old military fort SANTA CRUZ, right on the mouth of our Guanabara Bay, from there you can have incredible views of the Rio’s mountains, specially the Sugar Loaf which in Portuguese we call it as PÃO DE AÇUCAR. In our way back I decided to take my friends Jim and Elizabeth to my paragliding training school which is located on the top of a very well known hill called Viração in a city park simply called PARQUE DA CIDADE…

THIS IS MY POINT, THE PLACE WHERE YOU FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE FASCINATION OF RIO, a place where no tourists go, and you feel that you are visiting a very unique spot, rarely written in any travel book!!!

Talking about book…now LITTLE JIM AND MY QUEEN ELIZABETH can write real stories about our adventures here, and they have even more reasons to convince anyone that Rio is indeed one of the most interesting places in this planet!!!

Me, on the other hand, have to register that the time I welcomed LISBETH and JIM was such a great honor and it will be forever recorded in one of my best memory in this passionate work that I have!!!

Thank you, my fabulous friends for such a lovely time that I spent with you in my own land!!!!

AND OUR STORIES ARE NOT OVER YET….