IN IGUAZU FALLS I WORK WITH A KING !!! EL REY MICHAEL

Brazil proudly shares this wonder of Nature with our neighbor country Argentina, but I have to admit that Argentina has the best attractions and amazing options to make your trip to Iguazu Falls something more than special. Every traveller when thinking about coming to Brazil, they think about Rio de Janeiro (my lovely headquarter) and they think about visiting the Falls.

It happens the same when my guests arrive in Buenos Aires, for sure, their next stop will be in the falls, and they introduced to a very charming town called Puerto Iguazu which belongs to the very wild and absolutely fantastic province of Misiones.

When my guests start their journey in Rio de Janeiro where they have a real HEAD OF STATE reception, that mostly go to Iguazu Falls but they stop in our bordering city called Foz do Iguaçu...but I am so sorry Brazil....In the brazilian side you must see only the National Park where the Falls are...the rest and the best of your trip in this REGION has to be in the argentinean side crossing the Tancredo Neves Bridge, in the other side of the River....

AND WHEN I AM NOT AVAILABLE IN ARGENTINA, I JUST CAN RECOMMEND YOU ONE SINGLE PERSON...THE KING OF THE WATERFALLS - MICHAEL!!!!

The area where the Falls are located is a huge area of a lot of wilderness activities such as hiking in the jungle, lots of river activities like canoeing, sailing, rafting or simply relaxing in the beach (in dams, sand banks, lakes), you can visit indiginous tribes and follow their daily life, you can see real garden villages, you can see the stones in real mines, you can understand the wilderness of such a wonderful tropical forest. Once you asre in the Falls, remember that you need at least two nights, I would suggest 3 or 4 nights!

The Falls are simply magnificent and within the National Park you have a lot of things to do, actually a visit to the Falls takes the WHOLE DAY, it is a full day itself but it is always great to have someone expertise in the region and it will make your day rich!

In the photo, that huge falls is between San Martin Island and the main land in the Argentina's Territory; actually you can visit this island as well, and the views from there is absolutely terrific, and closeby DO NEVER FORGET TO TAKE THE SPEED BOAT TOUR... The best ones are always in the argentinean side.

Once you are in the Falls Area you have to know that you are simply visiting one of the most beautiful Provinces of Argentina, the place is full of wildlife preservation centers dedicated to mammals, birds, fish and plants..it is a land where you will see wild orchids and there is a place dedicated to it...So explore places like the surroundings of Puerto Iguazu and specially a very unknown place called MONTECARLO.

There you will find a vast area called REGION DE LAS FLORES, many different little villages with so many natural features that you will realize that 3 nights are not enough...actually you will need the whole year to see everything.

Go to this website: http://www.regiondelasflores.com.ar/index.html

And I know just one person who can show you everything in very few time and this person will make your journey to the Falls complete.

MICHAEL IS THE MAN!!!!

Michael speaks excellent english, he has been dealing with different number of groups and individuals providing such a great and genuine experience in his homeland. He is also part of the staff of a very famous and interesting acuarium in Montecarlo (see the page http://www.aquariummontecarlo.com.ar/)

He is a very experienced tour guide and the only person I trust to take care of your trip and make the Falls Region your home. His car is comfortable and rough enough to take you to the most unknown corners of the Forests and he will welcome you at the airport, your hotel, or everywhere you want him to meet you!!!

His big charisma and his pleasant presence will give you a lot of information and lots of fun!

Michael and his associates are indeed the best group of tour guides in the Iguazu Falls Area.

Michael works exactly like I work here in Rio, informal environment, always taking you to very unusual places, he is very well informed about wild life and the geography of his country. I would say he is a very interesting mix of Steve Irwin (the great aussie ranger - see his video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4twVM1fq_nk) with Charles Darwin.

The days in this part of Argentina with Michael will be a lesson of life and I strongly recommend him, we work a lot together. If you really want to have his assistance, please let me know and I will put you right in contact with him.

Michael is trully a person in love with his occupation and more than a tour guide he will be your friend in Misiones!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

IGUAZU FALLS - STEP BY STEP BY RAFA - YOUR GUIDE - AN EXPLOSION OF WATERS AND LOTS OF JUNGLE ADVENTURES

Most of my guests who come to Rio, they are also travelling to many other parts of Brazil, and the big majority go to Iguazu Falls, well I am also a tour guide there and you are all very free to hire my tours in this area, but I also wrote how you can get there and the places you should see, so you know exactly what to do, what do eat and also where to stay, so here it is a sort of a STEP BY STEP GUIDE that I want to write especially for you!

This is not only Rafa the tour guide writing, this is also Rafa, a friend, writing to you. If you want to go to the Iguazu Falls, do it as soon as possible, because you can get good deals way before the trip and internal flights in Brazil are not so cheap, so we always buy those tickets in advance.

For your information…it takes two hours to get to the Falls from here..two companies fly to Foz do Iguaçu (that is the name of the city where the Falls are located), these companies are TAM and GOL.

Between the two companies, GOL has more deals…You should ask your travel agent to research the price and if they get a good one, buy it…

Or we can try to go to a local travel agency here and see if we get better prices…but don’t worry, Brazil will turn an addiction for you. You two will love so much Rio that you will be willing to come here over and over again.

FOR THE RECORD, I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE FALLS AREA…AND I AM TELLING YOU..THE ARGENTINEAN SIDE IS WAY BETTER THAN IN THE BRAZILIAN SIDE…IT HURTS BE BECAUSE I AM VERY BRAZILIAN, BUT MY TASK HERE IS TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

SO THINGS TO DO THERE:

WALKING IN THE TRAILS

FIND THE BOAT TOUR TO GO TO THE FALLS

THERE WILL BE ALSO A BOAT THAT CROSS TO SAN MARTIN ISLAND (ISLA SAN MARTIN), take this boat, the trails in the island are amazing and it provides an unique views of the falls, and right close to the pier there is a small beach that if the water level is not that huge, you can swim!!!

Actually you really need to get informed with anyone in the park about how you can book this ride…I would say this is one of the best attraction in the nature reserve! They have a wonderful structure!

First things that you have to do while you are in the park, once you are in the Argentinean Park

WALKING IN THE TRAILS, it is very easy and it leads you to the best views of the Falls.

There is one specifically that you have to take a train and then you go to the Garganta del Diablo…DO TAKE THIS TRAIN…something you cannot miss!!!!

There you will walk in pedestrians bridge that we will take you to the cliffs, WOW!!!! There will be also many other possibilities for you to explore the area, one of them that I do like is another boat you can take to see the jungle, the river where you will see lovely birds and lots of different animals, and if you are lucky you can see the alligators.

Not so far from where the train stops, there will be a counter where you can take the boat that goes through the Forest in the river…It is a unique chance to see lots of birds with great possibilities to see the toucans, it is a rubber boat, I think this is also an incredible thing to do, and it goes very close to the falls as well, in the upper part of the falls!!!

FIND THE SPEED BOAT TOUR TO GO TO THE FALLS, you will be soaked even in your underwears, but I can tell you…IT DOES REALLY WORTH THE SACRIFICE, so it is better for you to take a waterproof camera and take the most amazing pictures of your life!!!! THE BOAT TOUR IN THE ARGENTINEAN SIDE IS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY BETTER THAN THE BRAZILIAN SIDE!!!!!

THERE WILL BE ALSO A BOAT THAT CROSS TO SAN MARTIN ISLAND (ISLA SAN MARTIN), take this boat, the trails in the island are amazing and it provides an unique views of the falls, and right close to the pier there is a small beach that if the water level is not that huge, you can swim!!!

IN THE CITY AT PUERTO IGUAZU

The main street is called Avenida Aguirre, there are some nice souvenir shops there, cool grocery stores and a casino where I liked to drink QUILMES BEER. I recommend a short walk in this avenue for you to feel the vibe of the small town!!!

Either for lunch or dinner ( I prefer DINNER) you simply CANNOT MISS a barbecue place called EL QUINCHO DEL TIO QUERIDO, Bompland 110 (str.)

Telephone number: 420151 (if you need the entrance codes are 3757)

http://www.eltioquerido.com/

I had a blast there...their live music is absolutely spectacular and the food is a real orgasm!!!

Ask any one in the hotel to take you there or simply take a taxi because all taxi drivers know how to get there!!! Or it does not hurt if you phone them and ask if they can arrange transportation to take you there, but something is for sure, do not miss this REAL ARGENTINEAN FOOD PARADISE!!!

TO EXPLORE THE LITTLE VILLAGE WITH AN EYE OF A TRAVELLER:

But there are more to do in the surroundings YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE PUERTO IGUAZU

Visit the indigenous tribe BORORÉ, so you can follow all the activities of a native guarani indian tribe, the scenery is simply magical. My friend Michael always know where the Indians are, and spending some time with a genuine guarani tribe will be remarkable in your trip!!!

You can also visit La Aripuca - It is a very interesting art craft souvenir places in a nature reserve..the construction is made with huge pieces of very old woods!!!

I would also suggest you to visit the Bird Park in Argentinean Side - Guira Oga, wonderful preservation center that shows the rich variety of Birds in the surrounding jungles in the Falls Area…it is a fantastic place WAY BETTER THAN THE BRAZILIAN SIDE!!!!

Have a look at their website - http://guiraoga.fundacionazara.org.ar/

A visit there will make you understand a lot about South American Wilderness!!!!

It is also very interesting an aquarium called Montecarlo (I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CASINO, EH?) - The ideal place to discover the fauna ichthyic of the many rivers and streams in the province, is a theme park attraction that is a replica of the Paraná River basin, for a chance to witness the inter-animal and plants relationship. You can see from the smallest fish to the "Colossus of Paraná" the famous Dorado. NEVER MISS IT!!!!

Their website is http://www.aquariummontecarlo.com.ar/ They are distant from Puerto Iguazu in about 1 hour and a half, to be precise 117km away from the Falls.

It really worth a visit, I strongly recommend you to visit this area, it is another interesting green area on the botton of Paraná River.

There my friend Michael which is also a popular tour guide will do the honors…he is very knowledgeable about the eco system of the place and will make your visit to Montecarlo a fantastic time.

You can only do this if you have more than 2 days in the Falls Region, because you really have to see the Brazilian Side!!!

NOW FOR THE BRAZILIAN SIDE!!!

Go to the National Park, the buses to the Falls are right in the main entrance of the park. The views from there are breathtaking and from the brazilian side you see all over the Falls in Iguazu. Just follow the trails and you will find some wonderful spots for pictures, take the lift and reach the bridges that goes to the lovely and dramatic abyss in the Falls!

Actually Hotel das Cataratas is IN THE PARK!!!! If you have time it deserves a visit.

Do not miss the lunch at PORTO DAS CANOAS!!!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, not only because the food is AN ORGASM but the vistas are simply marvelous and you eat with the company of fantastic colorful birds, the GRALHAS!!!!! This place offers such an exquisite buffet with the best of our brazilian food...their fruit juices are simply marvelous!!!

IMPORTANT – Once you visited the BIRD PARK in Argentina, there is no use to visit the Brazilian Bird Park, I do not recommend anyone to go there!

And to save your time, Foz do Iguaçu is not an interesting city to see, so forget about seeing the city, people will also offer you to see the huge dam that we call it as HIDRELETRICA DE ITAIPU, only if you like these enormous engineers projects, but a tour there is really boring!

We can do much more in Iguazu Area if you want, I can join you in this trip and make everything easier for you. I can meet you either in Buenos Aires, Rio or in the Falls Area itself and we will make a real trip in the wilderness of Iguazu and many places in the Province of Missiones! Or I can get you in touch with my contacts there.

All I want you to do is to have a fun and fantastic trip in South America and when you think about Iguazu, Misiones and Jungle Activities you will always remember me.

Thank you very much, happy travels....

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

All the people you saw in the pictures are my wonderful british guests Clair and Ian who gave me the honor to plan their honeymoon trip and my friend Marcia who is one of my associates in the Falls area. Thank you Folks

REACHING ONE OF THE BRAZILIAN (AND ARGENTINEAN) WONDERS - IGUAZU FALLS - ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Brazilian and Argentinean roads are very good in the way to the Falls, from Rio it takes about 18 hours, in this day I was driving to Foz do Iguaçu to meet my guests there, when they agree to hire my tours, I can also meet them with my car. That brings me good memories of one of my old Fiat Tempra...Driving makes me really happy..it is one of my major happiness in life.
The old music says...ON THE ROAD AGAIN...Well, this means that I am not only a Local Tour Guide for Rio de Janeiro. I am a National Tour Guide, specialized in BRAZIL and currently living in Rio, my city that I was born and raised and a city that I am proud to show you the best secrets, the known sides, the great local places that only Cariocas go...but my work also allows me to wondering around my country and other lands!

For nine years I have been working with tourism, long enough to go out of Rio's State limits and show to my visitors the rest of my country.

I am an expert in Rio de Janeiro and in the rest of the country from South to North I organize tours having Rio as my gateway. From here I take people to São Paulo following the coast or heading the farmlands crossing green valleys; I take my people to the mountains of Minas Gerais to find lots of historical towns where the history of Brazil began and here we have the golden cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas do Campo,Tiradentes, São João del Rey and Diamantina; from Rio also go to the gorgeous coasts of Bahia, Alagoas, Paraiba and Pernambuco; I go north to meet the ocean and the Amazon jungle in the State of Maranhão...then we have all over the Amazon forest starting in the limits of Maranhão and Para and go through the jungle from Amapa, Amazonas and Roraima; and when I had south I go to the beaches of Santa Catarina, to Paraná State when I go to Iguazu Falls in our limits with Argentina; and when I go to Rio Grande do Sul to finally reach Uruguay.

No matter how, by car, by bus, by boat or by plane...if my guests want to see BRAZIL they can count on me. I can meet them in person, I can get all my contacts to provide fun, knowledge, happiness and lots of action!

Good to post this picture because it brings me good memories of my old Fiat, RAFAMOBILE ONE

The US Presidency has AIR FORCE ONE....Rafael had RAFAMOBILE ONE...

Now I have my RAFAMOBILE TWO which is still running with strength and courage!!!

Driving is not only work, it is one of my biggest passion in life...

I am an amateur photographer and of course I could not resist and I stopped to take pictures of the endless sugarcane farms...this is where our etanol comes from...In Brazil etanol is a very popular fuel.

Driving within the country can take you to interesting places, and for a photography freak like me, it can be my personal playground. Most of time with no apparently reason I stop the car and I walk always looking for the best shot, and in my way to Argentina I always have loads of fun. I drove more than 18 hours from Rio to meet my guests in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina to start touring in the Falls Area. I help my guests in their adventure and I gladly take part in their adventure just to make their trip VERY UNIQUE.

My old habit of making any trouble a positive experience...when I get bored of so much driving, I usually stops in amazing places like this empty sugar cane fields. When you travel all long distances you realize how big Brazil is...A little stop is great for you to make decisions or simply to rest...and thanks to the Camera's Timer I could get those shots!

A long drive really demands some relaxation and when you do not have so much time and so much money, the tent can be your best friend. And it felt really fantastic to simply stop the car, getting a dirt road and in the middle of nowhere you set your tent and provide you a great suite...the southern nights are freezing and in the countryside my adventurous spirit speaks louder...so that was my very intimate moment...ME, MYSELF AND I....

Resting in the middle of the night, hearing the night birds and watching the starts just to think about the success of a tour.

All the way to Iguazu Falls can be very funny!!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

A VERY DEMOCRATIC TOUR GUIDE - CAMPING IN BUZIOS - RIO DE JANEIRO

This blog is great because it allows me to write about many things. It is a way that you have to know more about me. I am sure if you read my blog, you will know that you are going to meet a friend, not only a Tour Guide who is in love with his work and really passionate about Rio.

I do enjoy to show you that coming to Rio you can have different options. Rio is a place that you really need at least four days to see everything. A week in Rio then would be more than perfect!!!

Outside Rio you have a lot to do and with my guests I am prepared to do everything…like going to Buzios and go camping. My guesta have to experience everything and I am READY FOR ALL CHALLENGES!!!

I LOVE IT BECAUSE ALL THE TIME YOU SEE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF MYSELF.

Hehehe this is our camping ground, great experience to camp in Buzios and it is very cheap, so you can have more money to have fun in the city;) The nights in Buzios are not so hot, actually it is very cool!;) It was really a nice time camping in Buzios, something that you also should try!;) You save lots of money if you go camping in Buzios! The campings are mostly concentrated in Geriba and also close to Ferradurinha!

This one is located in the hill close to a small forest, so the weather was very pleasant and cool at night.

My guest Pierre came here and he loves doing different things and that I thought about something special.

Well it was my first test of our french tent, we had a nice time in there, and then we still used the tent in Iguazu Falls, and it was also very successful. Pierre is a great adventurous companion and we know how to explore a new place! I am grateful to see my brother loving so much my land, and turning Brazil his home land too! I have lots of guests coming from Canada and Canada is really one of the countries who hold my heart! A great quality was the location, very close to the small city centre!

Second step, choosing a nice and welcome shade, generally the campground has some trees to provide you fresh shade. You cannot make wild camping in Buzios, it is extremely forbidden, but there are some campgrounds in the city and this is the nearest to the city centre which was absolutely useful for me!

As I said, if you are well equipped it is alright, you will not have any difficulty, but there is no hot shower, the bathrooms are clean and the shower, just cold water!;) After surviving the canadian winter, who cares about cold water in TROPICAL BUZIOS????

The campground is near the Ferradura Beach, and it is a lovely place with a little grossery and with basic needs for you to have a great time camping! It was my first camping experience since I was a scout boy CENTURIES AGO. My friend Pierre was with me, we spend some days in Buzios because I wanted to show him one of our most beautiful beach resort! And it was the funny start of our BUZIOS IGLOO! :)

Getting to Buzios is necessary, it is simply one of the most beautiful weekends destination in the State of Rio de Janeiro. It is perfect if you stay in a ultimate fashionable and comfortable Pousada, it is great with you stay in one of our so various boutik hotels or if you just stay in a tent!!!

JUST COME TO RIO AND HAVE SOME EXTRA DAYS FOR US TO EXPLORE SOME FANTASTIC SECRETS OF A TRIP TO BRAZIL!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour guide and Trip Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

A TRIP TO WONDERLAND - LENÇOIS MARANHENSES

I have been to 18 States in the country and I can humbly say, this is with no shade of doubt that one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been is the LENÇOIS, as people name it, are simply SOMETHING OUT OF DESCRIPTION. Dunes, walking under a severe heat can be awarded by a great and fresh swimming in many of sparkling blue lagoons...Rain water only...fresh water...lagoons which simply arise and die according to the wish of Nature...There are enormous lagoons that never dry…it is an endless desert with magical pristine blue water oasis.

Words are useless to make you understand how unique and fabulous this region is...I can write a book here and I will never get close to describe such a beauty....I am very fortunate to witness one of the most fascinating landscapes of this Planet, maybe one of the most interesting places in this Universe...AND I AM NOT EXAGERATTING.... hahaha people always think I do

It is for sure one of the MUST SEE places in Brazil, few travellers have the opportunity to be there!!! Thanks to my great friend Marcone who helped me a lot to understand Maranhao and love this land as it is my own homeland, I could also take guests from overseas to see such a Paradise on Earth.

A trip to Maranhão is a trip to the “unknown”, and this trip can be very magical because for sure the Maranhenses Beauties will bewitch you and you will realize that Brazil will conquer your soul!

I thank god everyday for being Brazilian and I thank Brazil so deep inside to give me this incredible passion to carry on my work!!!

Of course that in the way we stopped to eat very fresh cashues...great when you are crying for water and a wonderful source of C vitamin. In the way you cross lots of CAJUEIROS trees, it also provides generous shades under extreme heat but do not worry, when you reach the refreshing lagoons, all the heat and all the sweat will desappear! :)))))

There are many entrances to get to LENÇOIS MARANHENSES, but the most adventurous and most impressive is from Santo Amaro, the access is very rough, you have to face many dirt and sandy roads and cross wetlands to get there using 4x4 vehicles. From a village called SANGUE you can take Toyotas. It is not a place that you can spend just one day, get prepared to spend at least two days in this gorgeous PARADISE. It will worth your sacrifice and all your concerns because once you reach the sand you will notice that you are closer to God.

Rafael Torres Lopes and Marcone Lima

Always finding ways for you to discover Brazil as a real traveller...

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

COLORFUL PARTY - LOTS OF PEOPLE - INCREDIBLE CULTURE - LOADS OF FUN - A BRAZIL THAT YOU SIMPLY DON'T KNOW!! WOW

Actually Bumba Meu boi is part of the National Folckore, the whole country celebrate the tribute of a men and the cattle, and also we praise St. John in this big party full of colors called BUMBA MEU BOI. It happens every june and july, and it became more famous in Maranhão, every group in the biggest and smallest city in the State get together in São Luis to celebrate this party where all the people in many different communities start to play.

IT IS TOTAL FUN! BUMBA MEU BOI is also known as Boi Maranhense which makes it different from all parties in Brazil, the party started in the Cattle Period during the colonization of the country. BOI means "bull" and BUMBA are the sound of the drums that makes the bull and the people involved to dance! And the dance has to do with the Slaves, the cowboy Pai Francisco and his great love afffair Mae Catirina.

Pai Francisco did everything to satisfy his woman, and when she was pregnant she wished to eat the tongue of a bull. Pai Francisco did not think twice and killed his boss favourite bull, and gave to his promessed wife the tongue she wanted so much.

The boss very angry did everything to find WHO KILLED HIS BULL. Pai Francisco was found and blamed guilty of the Bull Murder, and his boss ordered him to bring life back to the bull, he had the help of many witches and they finally succeed to bring the bull back to life!!! :) The boss did forgive Pai Francisco and the people started to dance in order to celebrate the SECOND MLIFE OF THE BULL. As they considered Fracisco's Act a miracle. This is more or less how the legend is introduced to the people every year, this tradition has more than 300 years and it is still very alive in people's soul!

I know it is hard to understand the story, just going there for you to be able to figure out how wonderful and rich is their tradition and folkclore. All I know is that you will see different groups performing with shaking rhythms, the whole city of São Luis stops and you will find everybody there. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT BE OUT OF THIS PARTY!!!

Maranhão is an explosion of MUSIC and total happyness.

DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AND JULY SÃO LUIS IS HUGE PARTY!!!

And we are here to make this incredible dream come true, we can plan your trip to Maranhão

Rafael Torres Lopes

Senior Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

Marcone Lima

Tour Guide and Brazil Promoter

marconelima@yahoo.co.uk

A FAMOUS ARGENTINEAN PERSON IN BUZIOS AND HE HAS A CINEMA IN THE VILLAGE

The Fame of Buzios started when Brigitte Bardot found a tiny, simple and absolutely gorgeous fishing village to rest and spend some days, that was back in the sixties...

Now...as our TELENOVELAS (soap operas) is a real NATIONAL INSTITUTION another person is turnig Buzios way more famous than it is already!!!

Buzios has just one cinema theatre but it organizes one of the main Movie Festivals in the country.And today the owner is more famous than his CINEMA which is also a Pousada and a Bookshop. It is indeed one of the references in Buzios!

The Grancine Bardot is a must in the evening of Buzios, the best and latest films can be seen in these cozy and charming hall! The owner is a famous actor who is performing in our most watched soap opera, VIVER A VIDA, his name is Mario José Paz, he was born in Argentina but he lives in Buzios for more than 30 years.

HE IS SAYS HE IS MORE BRAZILIAN THAN ARGENTINEAN, he really addopted Brazil as his homeland! He can be found on youtube, and this is a part of VIVER A VIDA that you can see him!!! HE IS A POP STAR in Brazil, excellent actor and great character! Mario is an attraction in Buzios. Talking about his cinema, it is the only option in Buzios and the ambience is very cozy!!!

Open this video, it is the trailler of the most successful soap opera that literally stops the country, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wI3Eat5GPs

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

WONDERING AROUND - BUZIOS

When I am not working, I like going to Buzios for some rest, I usually go to Buzios with friends but many times I just go there on my own. Buzios is one of the places that gives me inspirarion for life and it is one place that I like finding a quiet shelter for simple meditation, even though I have to be connected with my busy life in Rio.

So I thought about writing about cell phone reception in Buzios and everywhere in Rio too...Nowadays we can travel with our cell phones, and the village has an excellent reception. Also, in the Pousadas (kind of accomodation, great by the way) and also hotels they offer free wifi, so you can use your skype.

Cell phones are widely used in Brazil and Buzios has en excellent cover! Best cell companies in Brazil are Vivo, Claro, OI and TIM.

BY THE WAY, VERY IMPORTANT...MY CELL PHONE NUMBER CHANGED, MY NEW NUMBER IS 5521 8585 2691

Buzios is not so far from Rio, it takes two hours to get there heading north of the State. It is one of our most famous weekend destinations.

Oh by the way, I organize tours there too!!! :)

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

FEIRA DO NORDESTE - MY FRIENDS FROM MALTA IN RIO!!!

Exotic??? Yes I know...but the intention is to show you what is most genuine in Brazil, that is why the market FEIRA DO NORDESTE is a must see in my tours! Best time to go there is in the evening, and the place starts every friday and ends on sunday, 24 hours, non stop, all year round!!!

Most of the people who go there are migrants from the North East and also North of the Country. Rio de Janeiro is a reference for all states in Brazil so many people come to live in Rio searching for better opportunities, and we can see different cultures from so many States, it is a national diversity that you learn everything about Brazil in just one night!!!

Well...a visit to Feira do Nordeste you will see different faces of Brazil, you will taste the best of our regional food, you wil see the best of our people's art and you will listen to the second national music of Brazil, the so called FORRÓ!

FEIRA DO NORDESTE is part of our night tour, yes, when you come to Rio you have to be prepared to explore our night, yes, at least once in your life be prepared to be awaken late at night and you see a totally different universe!

And writing about this market brought me back so sweet memories!!! In one of these various evening that I visited this place, I brought my super fantastic friend Marie Stell, my sweet sister, wife of my great brother and great maltese traveler called John Paul, who is coming to Rio very soon with one more group from my beloved and dreamt MALTA ISLAND!!!

Let it be register that these two little birds brought a little bird to this World....ELIANA!!!!

The future BRAZILIAN GATA will be more than welcome...We are all waiting for you!!!!

Okay, for those who do not understand what I mean, Eliana is the first daughter of such a royal maltese couple, my wonderful friends JP and Marie!!!

Well, as you know, FEIRA DO NORDESTE just to us PURE HAPPINESS, and if you come to Rio and you want to be way happier than you are, allow me to plan an evening at São Cristovão, that is the neighborhood where Feira do Nordeste belongs.

HAPPY TRAVELS,

Rafael Torres Lopes

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

Tour Guide and Tour Planner