A FRIEND OF THE EARTH - A BRAZILIAN CALLED PASSARINHO

This week I had the previlege to meet a real character in the interior of Rio State. A person that each person from the mountains of Cachoeiro de Macacu, Friburgo, Teresopolis, Macae de Cima and Itaborai...places where many naturalist of the World had incredible material and places where real nature lovers have great time. I got to know PASSARINHO, a man with wisdon and a great example of NATURE PRESERVATION. My tours in the wilderness are way better since I met this extraordinary man!

Passarinho means LITTLE BIRD in portuguese, this nickname is really apropriate because he knows a lot of different species, he is a birder and for all those who love the Nature, he is the right person to talk about. The forests of Cachoeira de Macacu is his environment. Fascinating places in the green mountains of Rio can be found thanks to him.

The Collared Araçari (Pteroglassus torquatus) is part of the toucan family. They are naughty but I love them!!!! It breeds year round in the tropical rainforests of Latin America, in Brazil you can find this lovely Araçari in the Atlantic Forests in the outskirts of Rio, specially in Cachoeiras de Macacu where Passarinho knows the right spots!

It is a near-passerine bird which is brithly marked and its most distinctive physical characteristic is its amazingly large beak. 

My Journeys in Brazil take me to meet simple people like Dona Irene, she never had access to the words but her knowledge is endless, her culture teaches you that you need to be simple and you get the World! Thanks to Passarinho I could know many hidden corners of my own land and I could learn more about Brazil. 

He is a Naturalist, he is a warrior that protects our resources...he is a great promoter of many wonders of our jungle. A Birder with no special knowledge, but his life experience is a real legacy to all of us. He is a WALKING UNIVERSITY!!! Come to learn with this example of wilderness preservation!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

GEELONG FRIENDS IN RIO - THE INTENSE ADVENTURE - PART TWO

G' DAY GREAT FRIENDS FROM "DOWN UNDER"!!!

As I told you yesterday, I feel very happy to welcome the folks from the Lucky Country...My friends from robust and colourful Sydney, from Tassie, from Brizzie, the so called Sunshine State as they say, beautiful one day, perfect the next...hahah and of course my Melbourne friends and my dear folks from all over Australia. Anyway from the Top End to Melbourne, from the City of Churches (Adelaide) to the city of Lights (Perth) I am fortunate to have wonderful friends and your humble guide SCREAMS FOR MORE!!!


Thank you very much Australia!!! 


Day one was fab now day two was soooo complete that we are planning the next adventure in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Thanks also Ken and Loretta for so much fun, so much laughs and so much english learning!!! Yes, being with Aussies and Bushies is a new discovery of English Language and I am simply fascinated!

Vista Chinesa - Tijuca Park

This time we decided to explore unknown spots of Rio so we headed West and we saw a very unusual side of our big forest Tijuca which is also a National Park and of course I wanted to show a fantastic spot called Vista Chinesa. This is where you see a wonderful profile of Rio and you understand that you are in a very interesting city!

Pic Nic at Mesa do Imperador

Improvisation is a rule in my tours!!! And suddenly I decided to do something different specially after I heard some complaints about the poor breakfast in the hotel. So I thought I could provide such a breakfast in a cool place, and the place was simply the biggest urban forest in the World. The Brazilian FLORESTA DA TIJUCA!

We had the delicious fruit juice CAJU...the one with a cashue nut on the top....So fresh and so healphy...then we prepared some home made sandwishes with cream cheese, smoked mortadela and mussarela...We bought the bread in a local bakery (PADARIA) in the neighborhood of JARDIM BOTANICO.
 

Rafa loves AUSTRALIA

My love for Australia is clear...it is stamped in my car. I am a citizen of the World. Brazil is my birth place which I treasure deeply, it is my country, my nation and my territory; but I admire the countries where I have great friends. Australia is one of the countries that I dream about visiting, I am sure I will fall in love with your land, my friends and I am so grateful for so much love, fun and friendship! Australia, I will be there!!!

The Australian Royalties at Joá Beach

Joá is one of the places that I love stopping, it is a lovely spot where few tourists go and my biggest prize in life is seeing huge smiles in the faces!

Fun at Marapendi Wetlands

Good Surprises...it always happens when we visit the wetlands of Marapendi. You will not find anything about this place in the travel books or brochures. Wild Life, Islands, Nature and different life style...It is a place to find out, it is a place to have fun and figure out that Rio de Janeiro is indeed a wonderful place!

Utropicos - quiet secret spot for your life in Rio

Once we visited the Wetlands in Marapendi, we visited a friendly couple who owns a spectacular Guest House right in the bush...a wonderful and quiet cottage in front of the canal...with huge woods in the front, lovely pool and deck and two houses with endless great touch for decoration. We stopped at Utropicos managed by the owners Francisco and Silvia. Their good taste is absolutely impressive!!

Recreio Beach

The day was not over yet...I still had some beautiful spots of this side of Rio that very few people know. We saw the beaches of Recreio, Macumba, Prainha and my super favorite beach Grumari!!! :)

Grumari Beach - the wildest one!

Grumari is Rio's wildest beach...forget about Copacabana (which I live and love it), there will be no Ipanema...It will be simply a visit to Brazil by the eyes of the first portuguese settlers when they landed here for the first time and the whole history began. The beach is also the place where I often go in my rare days off, this is where I find my privacy and this is where I enjoy the nature. I am happy to share mmy secrets when I have two days tour.

King's Lunch at Grumari Beach - RIO

We finished our day with a local's fishermen lunch...shark snacks and our popular brazilian pastries PASTEIS with tasty shrimps inside! And very cold orange juice. YES FOLKS,  slowly I am quitting Coca Cola.

What a lovely way to see Rio and of course you can do the same, Dear Reader, all you have to do is sending me an email.

Toodle-oo My Friends....Please always send me people from OZ!!! :)))))

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Your reference in Brazil

GEELONG PEOPLE IN RIO - PART ONE

G'Day Reader!!! Alright Mates...I am a little bit Aussie today and I have to tell you that my heart is full of Australia's energy. THANK YOU AUSTRALIA!!!

Okay...this country once again gave me wonderful people, this time from Geelong...HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT GEELONG??? Well, I love Geelong already...the local football team has a cat as their symbol...So Geelong, I AM ALL YOURS!!!!!!!

I am a CAT PERSON....(JUST FOR YOU TO KNOW!)

Australia brought this time Ken and Loretta to my endless list of wonderful aussie friends!

For those who are exploding themselves with curiosity...Geelong is part of greater Melbourne...one of the most interesting places in Australia, with a beautiful coastline, Geelong is waiting for you to relax in the beach and to meet very cool and warm people.  So here is a little message to all people over there! Geelong Folks...come to Rio and discover a paradise down here in South America!!!

Ken wrote to me asking for a experience of a life time in their first trip in South America...we immediately had the same ideas and I told him...JUST COME AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY SECRET SPOTS...And he also took Loretta with him, his lovely life's companior, the Queen of his heart...So my task here was to welcome TWO ROYALTIES. Nothing is better than starting the Brazilian Adventure in Niteroi.

Alright, Niteroi is the Geelong of Rio de Janeiro!!! :))))) hahahahahaha :) Part of greater Rio, this city holds a lot of incredible surprises, from the other side of the Bay you see Rio way more beautiful...you see the mountains, you see the coast, you see the Ocean and the Bay and you find out a lot of places that you will never dream about visiting..So places like Parque da Cidade, Icarai, Jurujuba or Camboinhas will be very familiar to you.

I am sure that Niteroi are kept deep inside in their best memories and you will know that if you come to Rio and if I will be your guide. Niteroi will be a place that you are going to know very well!!!

Niteroi is the place where you will see LA VIE EN ROSE! :)

Thank you my friends for so much love, dedication and friendship!

Australia, I love you!!! :)

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner