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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

SOME BIRTHDAY GIFTS - A NEW GUIDE IN THE TEAM


Her name is Françoise...Well she came to add a lot of quality, enthusiasm, happiness, fun and knowledge to your trip to Rio de Janeiro. And I got such a wonderful friend!!!


She is a brilliant tour guide with fluency in many languages specially in ENGLISH, FRENCH AND SPANISH.


My confidence she already has...my friendship she conquered immediately. She is such a great professional, a wonderful mother and a fantastic person!!!


If you have the honor to get to know properly this city that I deeply love by the hands of Françoise, you will be very lucky. We work a lot together, we exchange a lot of ideas to improve a different way to visit Rio and Brazil.


We had a lovely meeting at home and I was coinvinced that I have such a jewel in my hard work on promoting Rio de Janeiro all over the World!!!


Thanks Françoise for being so pleasant, so efficient and so comitted to provide joy and a lot of wisdom to all my guests.


She is the one that I will easily recommend you in case I am busy with other tours.


Along with Marcone, Diana and Suzana, she is one of my main staff that will take good care of you!
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Friday, September 24, 2010

RAFA - BACK STAGE - FAMILY VERSION - YOUR TOUR GUIDE IN RIO

For those who are visiting this blog for the first time, must be thinking...OH MY GOD!!! Is this weird person the one who will meet me in my very first visit to Rio de Janeiro?????

I am sorry to tell you...but YES!!!! I will be the one who will have the pleasure to introduce you the best of Rio, so I think it is a great deal for you to know more about me and realize that I am not a COMMERCIAL ROBOT TOUR GUIDE - THE ONE WHO JUST SAYS - RIGHT OR LEFT...I will be your friend in Rio and I will take you to genuine and real places that I am sure you will have Rio in your mind, in your heart and also in your best memories!

The real idea of my blog is to create a very informal space where I can express my ideas, my thoughts, my feelings and also my love and understanding about Rio and all over my country!

We were celabrating my little counsin's Miguel 8th Birthday andwe decided that every particpant of the party should where something different!!! In that evening I was very reggae oriented and I decide to make a tribute to Bob Marley!!! YEAH MAN!!! : )))))

I love children, for sure I am not the adult in the house...everyone in my family says that I have a childish spirit, in a way it is true. This gives me total strengh to face so many different challenges that life gives to us...so the character was being brought to life!!!

Gleice is my cousin, we have the same blood and the such a firm partnership...she is my great companior in life and one of my giant inspirations and reference. Indeed a real sister and someone that we can say: BEST FRIEND!!! :))))) She is also Miguel's mother and she was helping me in the production of RASTA RAFA!!!!!!!!!


VOILÁ!!!! RASTA RAFA WAS READY!!!! Would you rely the success of your trip in Rio in the hands of this man????? :)))))))
Well, if you come to Rio at least you will have a great friend!!! (who happened to be a tour guide!!!) well, some reviews in the cyber world says that I am doing a good work!!!
So be sure you can come and I will take care of you!!!!
Sometimes it is hard to recognize myself...it is me...or not...but all I know is that I was very happy and I danced like crazy....
The final result...RASTA RAFA had a glorious night!!!
Join us in this joy of being brazilian...do not be afraid of surprises, there will be many of them when you come and they will be all pleasant ones!!! I assure you!!!
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner
If you have a facebook profile, please add me typing RAFA TORRES

WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS



High season is coming!!! Uffff.....When you work with tourism it is not so easy to survive during low season...but thanks to you..I had some great work during the time when visitors do not come here in big numbers!!!
10 years of hard work makes me up to date all the time and the result of such a good work is my big passion for Brazil and my ceep wish to make Rio and Brazil the best destination ever!!!
When you choose Rio, be sure that here you will have real friends!!!
So be sure that me and my team are working hard and with a lot of happiness to welcome you here with ARMS OPEN!!!!
RIO IS NOT A TRAVEL DESTINATION...RIO IS A TRIP TO YOUR HOME!!!
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner
Ohhhh by the way...when high season strikes...it will take some time for me to reply all messages that I have every day, so please folks, be patient..If I take one, two or three days with no response, it means that I am busy in any corner of the city or of the country, but it will never mean that I will forget about you. IMPOSSIBLE TO HAPPEN!!!! You are ABSOLUTELY VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

WONDERFUL FRIENDS FROM HOUSTON

That is true...Again, Texas in my life!!! It seems that I am getting famous there...and thanks God I have more friends from this giant and diverse State of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

YES....Texas, and it sent one MAGNIFICENT COUPLE, Brooke and Nathan...She came with big expectations about this new land called Rio de Janeiro, she was ready for vacations!!! He came for business and he was very upset because he would never have time to see Rio properly...

But we change his mind, and Nathan joined us in the second day and we had a blast!!!!


When there is love, everything turns to be way better than everything!!! :) So for me it was easy to please my friends...But Rio does it alone and very well...The beauty of Rio is the same of Love's Beauty...So it is easy to understand the positive vibe of the city...it is easy to know that Rio is a delicious place to rest and see new things!!!
RIO IS HAPPINESS and we all know about that!!!!
How can you make a city boy into a Tarzan...I think we made it!!! :))))))) The contact with nature in Rio is obvious and we all get involved!!!
Specially myself...I always say that I am a mix of Jacques Cousteau and Charles Darwin!!!


My tours are also a trip to our past and our traditions...so sitting in the old streets of Centro with great things just to nibble some brazilian SALGADOS and having the most delicious beer in the country (BOHEMIA) is something people do for ages!!!! And this is what my guests will have to experience in every moment they are strolling around the city!
This is part of our walking tour in the soul of Rio, in places where Rio started, in the narrow streets of Arco dos Telles.


The city has to be appreciated from the top...and on the top of Dona Marta Hill we had a blast...This is where great pictures can be taken with the majestic Sugar Loaf in the background! Mirante Dona Marta is the plan B when Christ is covered by the clouds!

The famous angel pictures!!!! :) Ohhhhhhhh this time Brooke had a blast in Rio, she shown the World her true faces!!! hahahahaha :) We were at the old church of Candelaria, great sample of our spanish and portuguese barroc.


Always wonderful to know where Rio de Janeiro started...Our very impressive Monastery São Bento...where the great boom of gold in Brazil, and many incredible churches were built in that time..and I am talking about 1576!!!!
Tradition and religion are still kept and I proudly show my guests some secrets that very few visitors know!!!
My friends, great friends, Brooke and Nathan are always welcome in a city that will be forever their homes outside Texas!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Friday, September 17, 2010

BRILLIANT BRAZILIAN MINDS - SUPER ZIRALDO

I am sure you have never heard about Ziraldo...a great brazilian writer, journalist, cartoonist and humorist...no doubt he belongs to the brazilian intelligencia. One of the greatest brazilian personality in my opinion. And what I mostly like, he is just a simple person like all people from the friendly State of Minas Gerais.

Ziraldo is very popular among our children...he is the creator of a Turma do Pererê, the Super Mãe and the pop star Menino Maluquinho!

Which picture below you can see myself just like our Menino Maluquinho!!!




Well, now you wonder...is this lunatic my tour guide in Rio?????
Oh gee...yes it is me!!! But whether people like it or not...I will always preserve the crazy child in me...I love Ziraldo, that is explain. Ziraldo is 78 years old now and he has been giving happiness for all children in Brazil from many different generation.
I wish the World could get to know more about him....
Well if you know some portuguese, please visit his page - http://www.ziraldo.com.br/
There is a fantastic exihibition at CENTRO CULTURAL BANCO DO BRAZIL, a beautiful 1800s building in Rio's Downtown, about Ziraldo's latest work...It is called ZEROIS, or in english Zeores, that Z means ZIRALDO!!!
I took my guests AND FRIENDS Brooke and Nathan there and we had a blast!
This could be explained by his vision on AMERICAN SUPER HEROES and it is a lot of our Brazilian Humour!
Well, I have always thought about Batman and Robin being more than friends...oh well! :) Ziraldo says everything!
This Captain America one made me die of laughing!!! Very true!!! :)))))))

We always thought they have an "affair"!!!!!

Yes, I am sure no monkey dared to say one single word to Tarzan when he sang in the jungle!


Not only Gulliver!!!! :) What a fantastic imagination...There are more than 40 paintings at Centro Cultural and it is free for everybody!


hahahahahahahhahaa :)))))))) Futuristic, eh???? :)))))))
Well, not only Ziraldo exihibition can be seen there, you will also find a very interesting research about Langsdorff, a russian explorer that helped Brazil to find out a lot of species of our fauna and flora!!!
Remember that visiting Rio is also a way to feed your culture!!!
That is why I love my walking tour so much!!! I am happy to share my childish side with all of you!
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner








Monday, September 13, 2010

I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL BUT I LIKE PROMOTING MY COUNTRY THROUGH MY PHOTOGRAPHY


I am convinced that my photos are the way I have to express my art... and I have to post one photo that I have not taken, but it was a photo taken by Marcone who is learning alot about using his eyes to express beauty in images...and I am opening this posting with his pictures that I personally like. Well, this is me...Your Tour Guide in Rio and above all your FRIEND in Rio, simply someone who loves Brazil dearly with so many passion that he makes his work one of his biggest happiness in life!

So all I can say is that I am so grateful for all my guests and good friends that I have made from all over the World. I am grateful for all people who helped me building such a big reputation and made me be a real informal ambassador of Brasil.

So this is a great opportunity to show you my work and the places you will see from my own photos.



Coming to Rio and not going to see the STAIRS OF SELARON...or simply the ESCADARIA DO SELARON, will never make your trip complete. This chilean, NOW BRAZILIAN, artist managed to change this history of our very old district of Santa Tereza. Great location, it stands right in the limit between two traditional and bohemian neighborhoods, Lapa and Santa Tereza. The stairs is a must see attraction in my tours and my great inspiration for my pictures!

When you come to Rio your spirit will be free to fly...literally...hahahaha :) In one of my millions visit to the Christ I could register the real happiness of being in such a delightful city. From the Christ you will understand the geography of the city and you will come to the conclusion that you are simply visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the World.
GOING TO THE CHRIST IS FOR SURE PART OF MY TOUR!


In one of my trips to the countryside of Rio I could take this sole picture of a tree by the São João River Estuary. Getting to know the outskirts of Rio can be a lovely surprise, if you explore this river it will be your chance to experience the jungles of the Ocean Forest.

When I was hiking in the Forest of Tijuca I nearly had a heart attact....HE IS ALIVE AND WELL in Rio, but it is not a threaten to anyone...he is living with the monkeys and here he has no power at all...
Just kidding...that was my irish friend Ken in his visit to Rio, we had a lovely time getting to know some hard to find spots in our big forest. FLORESTA DA TIJUCA is something magical and you can be sure that a lot of gigling!!! : )))))


Experiening my tours will allow you to see places like Lagoa de Itaipu, and also visiting the gorgeous ocean coast of Niteroi, not so far from Rio, a place that will show you how Brazil looked like in many years of our past. You will see a Rio de Janeiro that a regular tourist will never go!


The name is hard to memorize, so everytime my guests visit it, I always write down the name of this charming fishing village in Niteroi. JURUJUBA, a place where time passes so slow, a place where you will get in touch with very simple picture who will welcome you with a sencere and warm smile.

Very hard to beat one of the most beautiful places in Rio...my COPACABANA. In my opinion this is the best place to stay in Rio, such a democratic space with so many things to do...and the nature framed my inspiration.
I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

Whenever you come to Rio if the sun comes up...you go to the beach...Rio has its great vibe thanks to our beaches where every one is free to be what they want to be. Rio is freedom and such a positive city which I am always very proud to show you all the spots of the city!!!
Come to Rio and simply enjoy one of the most interesting cities in this Planet.
LONG LIFE TO BRAZIL
LONG LIFE TO RIO
LONG LIFE TO ALL MY GUESTS
Thank you very much,
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

SOME ANIMALS WE FIND IN OUR RIO ADVENTURE

I am not a biologist but this small sized lizzard is a GECKO...every where I go in the coast of Rio we find them, and they are very curious, they approach when we walk in the rocks!!!

Here we call it as LARGATINHOS....

In the world there are more than 2000 species of geckos, and the brazilian ones are cute!!!

Yes, I am weird I know, I can find beauty in the reptiles...I LOVE THEM! :)))))




Lizzards are plenty in Rio, all sizes...geckos are just the kind ones...and I love taking photos of them. I am a NATURE LOVER, so my tours are mostly focused in places where NATURE are present, and in Rio places like that are not so difficult to get!!!
I took these photos in one of the most beautiful places in my tours!
JOÁ BEACH, located in a gated community in the west side of Rio. I love sharing my photography work! :)
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

NIMMINDA BAHALA UPAKARA VATIYU - RAFA USED A LITTLE KANNADA TO THANK SUCH A WONDERFUL TOUR




Paravagilla!!! :) (alright), It was just a way to say thank you for such great days we spend together. Nerin and his family Vina, Nimita and Nikita made my tours even more special and absolutely unique!!! I need to thank you so much friendship and confidence and I want you to know that I will always be here for anything you need in Brazil.

Always remember that here you really have a friend!!!

This World needs people like you to continue so magnificent!!!

By the way, Kannada is one of the official languages in India, largely spoken in Bangalore.

India is forever in my travel list and I am very proud of all the indians I welcome in my 10 years of career.

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

MY HEART SAYS HELLO TO INDIA! MY DEAR INDIA GUESTS CAME TO RIO FOR THE FIRST TIME

And I made it special....When Nerin requested a tour telling that he would bring all his family for a wonderful adventure in Brazil. I accepted the challenge with a lot of passion and we planned every detail.

I went to the airport and with a big hug I met Nerin, Vina, Nimita and Nikita...just by seeing their smile I thought that we would have such a great time!!!

Right in the first day, the weather was splendid so we went to the Christ which is something that every visitor does, but when they do something so touristy which I also think it is essential; I always show my guests some secrets that I know in the city.

But going to the Christ (other people say CHRIST, THE REDDEMER - I'd rather say Christ as my relationship with my friend up there is very close) is the best way to understand the city and realize how wonderful and unique Rio de Janeiro is!

One of the secrets, most of my guests know, is a hidden beach in the west of Rio, a teny paradise that people always think about California, but it is a treasure that very few have access...JOA beach. I always say it is a surprise but after so many times mentioning about this incredible corner it will be not a surprise any more. But I am here to make you experience places where the native cariocas love to go.

It is for sure one of the most interesting places in Rio de Janeiro in my humble opinion...Only if you are a real researcher you will hear about this place which is not a touristy attraction. It is just a simple neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. It is a place where people still sleep with door and windows open. It is a countryside life in the urban Rio de Janeiro. This place is called Marapendi, it is my photography playground and one of the places that I adore to observe birdlife.
I just catched a rare spoonbill flying close to the Ilha Primeira in one of the NATURE RESERVES in the area.
Well, I am not a birder, but I always try to study about birds more and more...also check here my pictures of so many TOUCANS. Tucanos in Portuguese.

One of our most amazing stops was at Prainha Beach, one more hidden paradise of the city. I like taking my guests there so they know that Rio is not only Copacabana and Ipanema. No doubt, it is beautiful places but you should see more of Rio when you come here!!!
When I have a guest here I face them as they are good friends of mine and here that all deserve to have a wonderful time.
Nimita was very happy to witness one of the most beautiful places of Rio de Janeiro.

Recreio was another beach that we visited after driving all over Barra da Tijuca, we had a great time to see one of the most unknown beaches in Rio. We had a nice time there with a lot of coconut water. This is the most famous beach in the West Coast.


They liked Rio so much that a visit to the Christ was not enough, they were longing for more...so they decided to take a helicopter and see Rio from above and they went to so many places...I also help my guests to get in a helicopter tour when they want to see Rio in such a privileged way.
The best and easier way to get into a helicopter ride is in Lagoa, they have very efficient staff over there!
When you go to the Christ and also to the Forest of Tijuca...well a compulsory stop will be in Santa Tereza...this old neighborhood, actually, one of the first settlements of Rio, gives you a chance to understand more about the portuguese influence in our society. Walking in the Streets of Santa Tereza is also very pleasant, you see the real people who make Rio such a charming city. And when you have a stroll around the "hood" you can see the famous stair that only one man had changed everything. Selaron 20 years ago placed tyle by tyle and as a result Rio has a real HUMAN MASTER PIECE.


Copacabana is for sure one of the gateways of Rio and we have to walk around and feel the positive vibe of Rio. Well, a must see place is the other end of Copa, the fishing place Leme. That day was wonderful, very clean and blue water and LOTS OF COCONUT WATER, for sure!
The beach promenade is always packed with people walking all around, working out or simply enjoying the beach.



Our last day was very LOCAL...we took the ferry boat to Niteroi...in the weekends, they use the old ferry boat which are more scenic than the new one...Crossing the Bay was special, it reminds the ferry in Staten Island, but here it is not for free! but with very few money you can take the Barcas and spend the day in Niteroi.
Our driver met us in Niteroi and our time was very short I had no doubt, we explore the ocean side of Niteroi.

After visiting the beach of Piratininga where we saw Rio from a very different perspective...we had our grand finale in our Guarani Tribe, a chance that my guests have to visit a real indigenous community. We had a great time there.
Our natives have some problem with the rich people in Camboinhas beach but if we continue visiting them and promote a visit to their community, they will be protected. I always ask my guests to buy their crafts or even stop in a grocery store to buy food and other supplies for them!!!
My Indian Family went there and we left something to help this wonderful people. The official name of the tribe is Tekoa Mboy-Ty which means SEED. which explains why they believe their ancestors are buried in the sand dunes.
Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner