IN ITALY I HAVE WONDERFUL FRIENDS

Daniel and Laura came to Rio a while ago and they are from a country that I deeply admire! They are part of my so dear italian guests. I hardly welcome people from Italy, so I think my italian friends will have to work hard to increase the number of italian visitors!

I wish I could speak italian so I would be able to provide even a better service to our guests from Michelangelo's land!!!

We did a lot here, we see all over Rio and we also had the chance to go to Niteroi, our second most important city which one day was the capital of our State.

Niteroi is a lovely surprise in every tour, when you cross the bridge you will visit places like Parque da Cidade, the fishing village of Jurujuba and the breathtaking beauty of their ocean beaches like Itacoatiara or Camboinhas!

Daniel and Laura are pretty sure that in Rio they have a friend and I am sure they will come back.

Grazie Mille for so much friendship and so much fun.

Rafa

MARANHAO IN BLACK AND WHITE - RAFA'S PHOTOGRAPHY

A tour guide, I mean, a good one, is also a traveller...And you need an eye of a traveller when you really love photography just like I do. Today I woke up with Maranhão in my mind which is for sure a very unknown State of Brazil and my work is travelling around Brazil and tell to my guests about very special places that I can take them!!!

And Maranhão is an endless source of inspiration for my photography work!!!

I am not a professional so what I do is registering what I see, translating my travel curiosity into images...

This glorious morning....it was exactly 5:57 am I was walking in Tutóia (thanks to my crazy routine doing those walks in crazy time is absolutely normal). We have a big Delta there, the largest delta in the 3 Americas, and Tutóia stands in the right edge, the left side belongs to a State called Piauí.

I would say that our Amazon Trip starts there! Maranhão among many other meanings also means "entrances"...and if you follow the coast of this magic State you will see a lot of the amazon vegetation where the Ocean meets the rivers!

People has a natural happiness, the native of Maranhão are called here as MARANHENSE, and the natives of São Luis are called "ludovicenses"...difficult to pronounce I know...but they have something very unique...their smile...they welcome you with a big smile in the face...well the most famous MARANHENSE in my blog is my great friend Marcone and his smile is famous among every single person I know in this World. But when you stroll around the historical center of São Luis (fascinating thing to do) you will find a lot of parties in the street with lots of music...the drums will make you crazy and you will never be willing to leave this place!

São Luis has a huge bay called São Marcos....the sea is absolutely rough and you will need to discover your adventurous spirit when you decide to explore the area, and in the other side of the Bay there is a very wild place called Alcantara...many french and portuguese explorers met the paradise and the hell at the same time, the wilderness is still there and in the middle of the forest you come across with mystic ruins left there by so many european dreamers...And the dreams continues in the beauties of Maranhão!!!

Alcantara was a very important portuguese settlement, and I am talking about 500 years ago, and it was the starting point where they planned all the strategy to defeat the french and take São Luis back to their control...the whole village is full of story and it feed our mind with a lot of inspiration for very nice shots!

Really, to cross the Bay you feel all the thrilling this navegators felt...you have to be brave to face the enormous waves before reaching the shore.

Get your spirit prepared and have a nice and frank conversation with your stomach...

Maranhão was very generous to me, the State gave me wonderful friends and Carla is one of my best friends there. She has the charming beauty of such an exotic place. She is a History Teacher and talking with her is a lesson of life and a real trip to Maranhao. Just like São Luis, Carla is also a big reason that I have to be in Maranhão over and over again.

This photo I made was in a long beach called Calhau, it is actually a wonderful spot for sunset in the city!

Here is Carla again showing that Maranhão is total happiness. The land is happy, the people are happy, the music is happy...visiting the State is a close meeting to your happiness.

In my photography I try to catch images with feelings!!!

Another photo taken in Calhau beach...

This weird figure is not the Monster of Neptuno...no...it is me playing in the waters of São Luis...this picture was taken by a very dear paparazzi called Marcone Lima, one of your tour guides in Brazil.

This is one of my first photos when I first went to a fantastic desert filled with blue lagoons called LENÇOIS MARANHENSES....Every time I visit Maranhão I have to visit one of the several villages in these paradise... So many images that shows you that life is resistant just like you should be. This photo is hanging in the home of very dear people in Malta.

BIG KISSES TO JOHN PAUL, MARIE AND ELAINE...my wonderful maltese family.

Well, I am doing my best to translate Maranhão in images and make Brazil so close to your hearts!

There will be more very soon!!!

LOTS OF LOVE,

Rafa

WHERE I AM???? AFRICA OR BRAZIL???? YOU GUESS!!!

I have been to many places that I could say to myself: THIS IS AFRICA!!! and we have the best of Africa, its music, its culture, its religion, its FOOD...ummmmm eating BOBÓ DE CAMARÃO sometimes is better than sex (ooooops...here I am with my COLORFUL LANGUAGE AGAIN...sorry I know, it is not part of the "protocol" - direct message to my BRASILIA'S PEOPLE).

Our African heritage is deep and it is alive in all over Brazil, and this is made the country, the second largest black nation in the World...Only Nigeria beats us... but the african presence in Brazil gaves us SAMBA, MARACATU, RODA DE CRIOULA and so many magic rhythms that only Brazil has...This african presence gave us the dangerous and the fascinating movements of Capoeira that we never know whether it is a dance or a martial fight, but we all know that it is very important part of our culture!

But you know, Africa is in Brazil too and one of the places where I experience the real taste of this wonderful mixture is in São Luis...every friday night they make a real party, the TAMBOR DA CRIOULA...

São Luis is the Capital of Maranhão State and this is the homeland of Marcone, my very important "right arm" and one of my very best tour guide.

In Maranhão we organize many tours, one of them is our Amazon Tour.




Life is delicious and you can tell it by Marcone's generous laugh and he was extremely at home in his city. São Luis, place where we was born and raised. He introduced me this absolutely rich and fascinating culture and this melting pot that Maranhão represents to our country!!!

I would say that we have three states that you can really experience the african presence in Brazil, one of them is Maranhão for sure, another one is Bahia and of course, Rio de Janeiro. The slave heritage is massive.

Marcone and also myself, we are very proud to be Brazilians and we love very much to give you this natural and genuine taste.

After hours and hours of hard work our slaves got together in their villages called Zenzala and performed endless parties with their drums..and the sound of the drums were heard at the distance..that was the only way they could scare all the sorrows and sufferings of a tough life they had...TAMBOR DE CRIOULA gives the women their big importance, they are the queen of the party and only women can dance it, the men took care of the drums. Women are the ones who sing incredible and funny songs.

From that tough times and after their freedom..this rhythm is still part of their daily lives and they can express all the happiness to show others their exciting music.

Photographing people in pure joy is my great inspiration and learn their movements are absolutely incredible, and I could find lots of good photo opportunities in just one night at VALE REVIVER - this amazing historical center of Maranhão.

I am always with my work to make you be really in love with this country called Brazil, either in São Luis or in Rio de Janeiro...From North to South, from West to East...I will always be ready to be your best friend in Brazil.

We are a real team...we are both fanatic brazilians and great citizens of this World; we are great friends and we share this love to show you what's real in Brazil. Your informal embassadors that will give to you lots of happy reasons for you to make Brazil your home in Latin America.

We are waiting for you!!!

Rafa and Marcone

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

RAFA - YOUR GUIDE

Rio is friendly and our proposal is being more than a tour guide, me and my guides are here to be your real friends in Rio.

The famous negative image that Rio has in the World is not really fit with our reality...I know that all your friends when you say that you are visiting Rio, tell you to watch your things, they tell you that Rio is very dangerous that you can hardly go out of the hotel...

Folks...THIS IS RIO 20 YEARS AGO... Now Rio is packed with happy people who are really proud about their homeland!!! The feeling of being a Carioca we carry in our hearts in our souls. The city is more modern and the city gives you a safer sensation when you see more police in the Streets.

Now...do not expect to find any SWITZERLAND when you get here!!! This is a big city just like any big city in the World...you have to be careful but with no panic. Here if you go with the flow you will be always safe, the streets are packed with people practicing sports in the oceanside, busy and fast people in the finantial center...anyway a city with full of life

IT IS A BIG URBE ALL SURROUNDED BY ENDLESS BEAUTY....

And you will always find me and my friends to give you such a wonderful time!!!

We will have some difficulties like HEAVY TRAFFIC, some delays (very latin, but think it is a charming side of our culture), sometimes a lot of heat...but the happiness of Rio will make you happier and will give you a carioca's portion in your life!

You know that when you think about coming to Rio I will be here to show a different Rio...I am not formal so you will not have a robot guide, you will have a casual guide who will do the best to make you feel really at home.

So many people many people are requesting tours in Rio and outside Rio so now I am counting with a great team who has the soul of Rio just like me. I work basically with Marcone, Diana and Olivia and some other guides that I know I can trust, so no matter when I will always find someone who will give you a fantastic experience in Brazil.

So write to me and I will find a way to accomodate you in our tours, most of the time I will be there myself to show you everything. My email is donrafainrio@yahoo.es

But PLEASE do understand that I do many things at the same time, I am always outside touring during the day, I have also my domestic side of life and then I will do some writing work or internet work, so I will not reply you after 5 minutes, it will take a while, short while, but you will not be forgotten.

I am always ready to welcome you in Rio de Janeiro, with new tours, new ideas, same creative tours finding the secrets of Rio!!! I wish I could be 3 people at the same time just like you see this picture on the top of Babilonia Hill...

ONE RAFA TO WELCOME YOU AND TAKE YOU TO AMAZING PLACES.

ANOTHER RAFA TO ANSWER THE ENDLESS EMAILS

AND A THIRD RAFA TO ENJOY THIS DELICIOUS CITY CALLED RIO DE JANEIRO

I certainly enjoy the city when I am touring with you...It is total luck to work in a cool place like Rio with its positive vibe, great people and bewildering landscapes.

We have all kind of people, people with their funny stories, people with so many different ideas, people with different ages and beliefs. We welcome you all!!!

This nine years of hard work provided me incredible moments and I AM READY FOR MORE!!!

I am very grateful with such a gift that God gave me, I am blessed to have so many friends all over the World.

Rafa

INFORMAL TOUR IN A VERY INFORMAL PLACE - BAR DO MINEIRO

One of the greatest pleasures in life is just sitting with friends and talk about life...even better when you have amazing snacks and a cool and old beer....This is what I did with my friends from California, Maureen and Alan. We went to a very local and very traditional old bar in Santa Tereza, our most bohemian and charming old district of Rio. LOTS OF PORTUGUESE INFLUENCE THERE!!!



Bar do Mineiro is as informal and casual as my tours...My guests are treated like old friends, and they really become wonderful friends!

This bar has a specialty...PASTEL DE FEIJÃO...this little pastry provides more than satisfaction to our stomach..it is an "eating orgasm"!!! This feeds our conversation and we all get to know each other better!!!

A TRIP TO RIO IS NOT THE SAME IF YOU DO NOT GO TO SANTA TEREZA...going to local places you really experience the soul of a place!!!

And I must thank my two friends, Maureen and Alan for such a wonderful tour, they really came and made Rio way better!!! My city really needs spectacular people like you!!!

Thank you very much,

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

OHHHHH BY THE WAY, THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY MY FRIENDS CAMERA...WONDERFUL JOB!!!! :) You can really feel the vibe of such a magnificent bar!

BRAZILIAN ART IN COPACABANA - A HUMAN PROFILE

It is absolutely fantastic and amazing the african influence in our culture. Thanks for that our food ios very rich, it is a mix of various cultures that turns the brazilian food one of the most interesting gastronomy in the World. But I am not here to talk about food today!!!



But the afro presence can also be expressed in our paintings...Some of the paintings shows aspects of native tribes in Africa and some others simply show what they call "black beauty".



Brazil, no doubt, is very proud about our african heritage. Our history with Africa comes from the very early years of our portuguese Colonization and Africa took a great part of what we are know...are free and united country!

It is art that I want to give you some ideas...many guests that I have always ask where they can buy good local art. I am also interested in unknown artists and one of the places where you can see and buy incredible work from our brazilian art is in the Fort of Copacabana. There are always some temporary exibihitions (is that the right spelling???) with incredible paintings.

We had famous painters like Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, Tarsila do Amaral, very popular people with spectacular work, but we also have endless beautiful work of art made by people that we have never hear.

I am always interested by local art, specially from every region of Brazil, our amazon is simply incredible; and also haitian art and asian art. I am not a collector, but humbly speaking I am a good observer and I am happy to share with you what I found in my short brazilian travels!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

A VERY CASUAL AND FAST MEETING AT PRAINHA

Prainha is one of the most beautiful beach in Rio de Janeiro, no, it is not Copacabana or Ipanema, which we like alot. Later I will tell you more about it...

I was there today with my adorable Hong Kong Family (and canadian too) w hen we decide to relax for some minutes after an intense tour to Santa Tereza, the Christ, the great shower of Paineiras, the Castinha, amazing waterfall; then we had lunch at Tourão; after such a glorious meal with full of juicy stakes we drove all over the Coast from Barra to Grumari.

So I met these wonderful couple...two cute seagulls!

Picture number one...the seagull (in portuguese we say GAIVOTA) alone

Picture number two...the seagull finds a couple...

Picture number three... nothing happens she got bored and ran away...

Seagulls and Frigate Birds are very common in our coast!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour guide and Travel Planner

NOW YOU KNOW WHEN I MEET YOU AT THE AIRPORT

Waiting for our guest at Villa Laurinda!!

Carrying a sign with your name in it, I will have it, if you read my blog you will see a lot of photos of me and when I write to you my emails, I certainly will send you photos of my tours because I like to show you how I work. It is important for you to know what I do in my daily life and how I live this wonderful life and meet so many cool people!!

I doubt if there is a guide which such a concern...but it is to show you that I am a genuine tour guide and I want also to be your friend in Brazil!!!

In this video I am heading to the airport following the BaySide...we have a beautiful highway called Aterro do Flamengo, you see the Sugar Loaf and the park gardens designed by our famous landscaper Burle Marx.

I am sure that you will have a great time when you arrive in Rio!!!! MEET ME THERE!!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

SHE IS VERY CHARMING

I was touring in the Fort of Copacabana with my friends from Washington DC, Julie and David, when she joined us...Very curious and gracious bird, that's another common bird in Copa, we can hear their sound everywhere...

In this case, it is a female kiskadee, and as usual, she is very discreet and shy...the male has bigger size and a masked face but also keeps the yellow chest and brown wing...

They take care of each other, every time any predator comes, a group of kiskadee come to rescue the other bird in danger!

In Portuguese, we call it BEM TE VI, it is also very common all over South America. It can be found also in the south of US, specially in Florida and Texas.

One of the most emotional moments in my life was when I saw a kiskadee in the Amazon!!! YES YOU CAN FIND A KISKADEE IN THE JUNGLE!!!

But this precious lady was in Copacabana!!! :)))))

Rafa - your tour guide and travel planner!

SOME BIRDS OF COPACABANA :)

Copacabana has a gorgeous beach, this cannot be denied...you see all the main mountains of Rio, the majestic presence of the Sugar Loaf, from the distance you see the hill of Corcovado and its two mountains of Babilonia, Chacrinha and Pavaozinho...beautiful setting...the waterfront is simply marvelous.

Copacabana still keeps its glamour, it is the site of Copacabana Palace, it is the place of big shows and huge New Year's Eve Party...

But simply strolling around Copacabana you also find some interesting fellows...Quite commonly we come across with a very territorial bird...if you get closer to their nest...ummm you will be in trouble, they will attack you like KING KONG WAS ATTACKED IN THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING!!!!

They are plenty in the grassland of Copacabana Fort and also in the beach sand late at night...

Their sound is very intense, simular to a woman scream...they are the brazilian lapwing, in portuguse we call it, QUERO QUERO.

Actually, the lapwings are found everywhere in South America. Personally I have seen these birds in my travels in Uruguay, all over Brazil and also in Venezuela.

I had a very painful experience when I was walking close to a football field iMontevideo, I did not notice that I passed very close to a well hidden nest on the ground...THEY CAME WITH NO MERCY...

So don't worry if you walk close to any nest...they will make sure you are in the wrong place!!!

Rafa - the tour guide and travel planner

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

A NEW GUIDE IN TOWN - HIS NAME IS RAFATAR

Now in your trip to Rio you can take a tour to RIODORA...it is a new country in the World of Pandora that our Rafa's famous tour guide, RAFATAR offers...


He speaks Good England, also with a certain british accent, he gets so happy to welcome you that he becomes BLUE!!! Same smile which is also common in all tours in Rio organized by Rafa.


Rafatar also has one RAFATARMOBILE with air conditioned and lots of space to accomodate 4 people. His knowledge about his planet is endless and for sure this guide will make you feel at home!!!


He will fly with you at Parque da Cidade not using a paraglyder...


Come to Rio and you will find his Earth's Profile in the form of RAFA...your friend in Rio, this one you see above:

He will always be ready either in the Amazon or in Rio de Janeiro to make Brazil easier for you.

To get to know more about this different tour guide, please write to donrafainrio@yahoo.es. THANK YOU!!!

BEAUTIFUL COPACABANA IN BLACK AND WHITE

Tell me truth, when you hire a guide you never imagine that you are also hiring a photographer, right???

Well, I am very into photography and I took the opportunity to give to my guests interesting images and great memories of their trip to Rio de Janeiro.

Paul, Maria, Gerry and Gary had so much fun there!

Copacabana is also part of my tour where I like to introduce Rio.

It is one of the most famous districts of our city. Copacabana is a place where all "carioca tribes" meet.

Very traditional middle class neighborhood but at the same time it is a democratic space where you can find all kind of people.

The scenery is gorgeous...no where in the city you can see such a perfect view to the Sugar Loaf.

COPACABANA IS THE SITE OF COPACABANA PALACE

CAPACABANA HAS ITS FORT AND ITS SMALL FISHING VILLAGE AMONG SO MANY LUXURIOUS APARTMENT BUILDINGS....

Well, no trip to Rio is a trip to Rio if you don't go to Copacabana...

And by the way, I live here.

Rafael Torres Lopes

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

RIO IS GREEN - RIO IS BLUE - RIO IS WILD

When you come to Rio I will be always thinking about different and unique places I will take you. Forget about obvious touristic places, but think about a Rio where you will experience local life most of the time you will be exploring the city.

DON'T WORRY, you will see the Christ, our number one symbol, and you will see the Sugar Loaf...probably we will be laughing together in the beach of Copacabana but get ready to see the soul of Rio and to open your heart for a country called BRAZIL.

I AM SO PROUD TO BE BRAZILIAN!!!

And I am honored to show you my land, the place where I was born and raised....

Rio has secrets and Rio has places that no tourists go, as you can see in the photos, these are not places where tourists are supposed to go by themselves.

THAT IS WHY I AM HERE!!! :)

Rio is green and has a lot of jungles, Rio has some very cooling and pristine water places where you can get rid of the tropical heat. Rio has untouchable beaches where you will imagine exactly what the first settlers did when they came here 500 years ago!!!

RIO IS TOTAL HAPPINESS WITH MY FRIENDS, FAMILY OR JUST WHEN I DECIDE TO ENJOY THE CITY WITH MY STYLE...ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURES!!!

RIO IS TOTAL JOY WHEN I SEE THE SMILE OF MY GUESTS, AND I AM ALWAYS HAPPY THAT EVERY GUESTS I HAVE BECOME SPECIAL AND FANTASTIC FRIENDS!!!

If you really want to see a different Rio, if you really want to experience a tour where you will not be treated like a GRINGO TOURIST, please do contact me....

RAFAEL TORRES LOPES

donrafainrio@yahoo.es

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

P.S.: Heheheheheh for those traditional readers...Rio is a tropical place, so it is normal to swim and get lost in the water, hahahah : ))))) I am a little bit daring to show my awful belly...ooops...but when you finally come here you will see that DRESS CODES are something absolutely out of fashion...

I am just a simple worker who has lots of fun with his work!!! :)