PIRRAÇA - SHARING ALL THE FEELINGS - THE LITTLE NATIVE BRAZILIAN PHOTO

Dear Reader, YES...these are your tour guides in Rio!!! :))))) No no no no...we are not crazy (maybe a little...), we are not sad we just want "something so badly", you know when you are a child and you want something so badly and your mother refuses to give you and then you start a petty quarrel or you simply get OUT OF SPITE!!!???

This is a hidden, secret and funny corner of our oldest neighborhood in Rio, taking this picture is a sort tradition that a real carioca like me just found out...All my guests, or at least most of them go to Santa Tereza and symphatize with the little native boy's PIRRAÇA...

So funny, so genuine and we are all part of this great joke and we have the best memories of our trip!!! :))))

This is also a wonderful chance for you to EXPRESS YOURSELF!!! A chance for you to kill YOUR SHYNESS, a chance for you to protest for everything you do not agree, for everything that you do not think right.

And I had the fantastic prestige to welcome the members of the great World Voyage organized by SEMESTER AT SEA, this people are travelling for a long time on board of MV EXPLORER - their webpage is http://www.semesteratsea.org/ - we had 30 new friends and my wonderful guides and magical references in my life, Marcone and Sonia, and we made this complete and funny day possible!!!

THE WHOLE IDEA IS NOT CRYING BECAUSE OF SADNESS...the idea is putting out of you all the bad feelings and all the bad energy that we might have or simply GO WITH THE FLOW!!! You know, you can expect everything when you are touring with RAFA and his friends!!!

Patricia just joined the sweet crazyness of Rio!!! :))))

What a wonderful group we just had...a tour full of laughs, a tour full of information and a tour full of friendship!!! It was so incredible to see our folks playing like children and this is what makes life so special, thank you very much for everything!!!

Here we see Sergio also protesting and crying like a MUMMY BABY, hahahahaha...this character from our smiley State of Ceará joined us and helped me with all his energy together with Patricia to organize one of the most interesting groups in my whole career!!! :) THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOLKS FOR ALL THE FRIENDSHIP AND CONFIDENCE!

Crying and also most of the time laughing!!!! Marcone and I will always be here to welcome you!!! We are just waiting more people to have fun in Rio with us!!! :)

Rafael Torres Lopes
Marcone Lima

Tour Guides and Tour Planners
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

JUST FOR THE RECORD...I AM IN RIO!!!! :)

I am not in Dominican Republic!!! :))))) I am in Rio...I just wrote alot about this wonderful country because I have very dear people in this wonderful place. And I had the great pleasure to show my Rio and my Niteroi for these GOOD LIFE DIVAS!!!! :)

Being at Parque da Cidade, one of the most fascinating surprises in the surroundings of Rio and we had more fun exploring the wonderful secrets that Rafa only knows!

We were in charge to show our dominican girls the REAL BRAZILIAN LIFE...and Marcone and I really know where to take our people to experience the real local flavour, they learn about our daily life, our stories, our music and our art! Our african and indigenous heritage have a lot in common with Dominican Republic. Sure we all had heaps of fun together!!!!

When  you travel, you want to be in touch with the local culture, you want to know more about the heart of the place. You want to observe closerly what people do and live their lives. Coming to Rio is not only visiting the beaches and dance Carnaval, it is time for you to experience the soul of Rio, and Santa Tereza, our oldest neighborhood has a lot to show us! And we love street art!!! :)))))

Our tour is based on true friendship, laughs, good fun and high energy. I think that travelling is a privilege and we have to take the best of everything we do...Sometimes just visiting a regular neighborhood can make your whole trip. We stop to talk with normal people, we hear their stories and wisdom  The tours is based on friendship, when you come to Rio you will know that you have real friends. The tour is based on people. We are very informal, I have to tell you!!! So be prepared to meet your brazilian relatives!

Thanks my girls for making my tours absolutely happy and fantastic!!!!

They left Rio with a taste for a second time, third time...they left Rio knowing that they do have real friends and a real family in Brazil. We laughed, we played, we cried (it was hard to say GOOD BYE) and we will make Brazil simple for Dominicans and all people in the World, and they will make DOMINICANA simple for all of us!!!

They came to Rio de Janeiro and gave us their beauty, charming presence and high humour....GIRLS WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Marcone Lima

Tour Guides and Travel Planners

MY CARIBBEAN SIDE IS TAINO - VIVA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

I feel so "cheposo" (lucky) to be so involved with Latin American Culture since I was born because in my whole life I come across with marvelous people, I usually learn new cultures, new way of life, new places and I realize that we are all the same. Recently I welcome a very warm hearted group of four dominican girls that changed our lives, literally. They asked me to give them a real idea about Rio, a place out of the tourism industry, something that I could give like a very local experiences, places where just our people go...A CARIOCA TOUR, and I turned up very DOMINICANO. I immediately thought that it would be a super great opportunity to Marcone, he needed a caribbean flavour in his life, now we are all CONTAGIOUS CARIBBEAN FELLOWS!!! :)

They came into our lives and they stayed...

Franchy, Melissa and Ariana, the Female Version of the 3 Mosqueteers and our Female Dartagnan is my wonderful friend Dulce which is not in the picture because she was the photographer all the time. But the four of them were the result of so much love, curiosity, knowledge, admiration that I was had for Republica Dominicana.

They are naturally my MAMAJUANA - a Dominican Drink that gives you energy in all ways that you can think about!!! HAHAHAHAHA  :)))))

Well, Just think about it...Christoph Colombus settled this land that later was called America...Can you imagine how absolutely shocked he got after seeing so many incredible wilderness, so much beauty that can scare any one who are not used to see beautiful things...AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC keep on impressing people!!!

This land gave to our 3 Americans the first city...Santo Domingo....packed with history, lots of incredible historical monuments giving to this caribbean journey a little taste of Spain of more than 500 years ago. A city full of smiley and welcoming people, so friendly and full of joy. Santo Domingo is a gate of a world of dreams. 

Just like the big mistake of thinking that Copacabana is all you will find in Rio, and Punta Cana is all you find in Dominicana...it is much more than that...Not only visiting the country, you've got to meet the soul of the island and find yourself jumping from rock to rock in the Damajagua 27 holes, better known as Charcos de Damajagua; spend days and says at Samaná where you can actually see the whales, getting to the interior of the country by exploring the Nature Reserve of Ojos Indigenas and go to the super wild Dominicana around the Lake Enriquillo. 

We think it is just an island, but this island is huge and has another name...HISPANIOLA, and just like its europpean Mother Land, Dominicana gave to the World Fascinating hands that picture daily life, express culture, feelings and endless colors, thanks to Bolivar Quiñones, Dominican Republic conquered a place of the most interesting paintings in the World.

And Dominican Republic provokes new painters and very new names like the remarkable Magaly Gouveia that knows how to portrait people so well, that her paintings look like real photography and Sandra Palmer, she is not dominican, but she knows how to display the magic of dominican birds. Sandra is from Switzerland and lives in Florida, USA!

My name is Rafael Torres Lopes, all my friends and guests call me RAFA. I am a tour Guide for 13 years now. I am based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and I want to make Latin America easy for you. I am a natural traveller and I do love researching new places, and I can see a wonderful future for DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, I am in charge to promote this wonderful land to my fellow brazilians and all my contacts in the States, Europe and Australia.

It is absolutely necessary to start your trip in Latin America where everything started...it is time to turn the eyes of the World to our Continent. And Brazil and Domincan Republic is a good combination, from Playa Rincon to Itacoatiara Beach, from the explosive merengue to the fascination of Samba; from the MAMAJUANA to Cachaça; from the Guavaberry to Caipirinha.

SOMOS LATINOS and we want you in our universe!!!!

Thanks to my Dominican Girls, I had the chance to feel that I have a family in DOMENICANA. I am part of this DOMINICAN HAPPINESS. I accept the challenge to work hard to promote this wonderful island which is a country in Brazil and North America. Thanks to my brilliant girls Melissa, Franchy, Ariana and Dulce I had the honor to meet another fanatic dominicano, the Ambassador Hidalgo Guzman who carries his country in his soul and who gives you the heart of this Caribbean Jewel. We will be together in the Dominican's National Day on the 27th of February in a huge party in Rio de Janeiro!

A USTEDES MIS CARIÑOS Y LA PROMESA DE UNA AMISTAD DE TODA UNA VIDA!

MUCHAS GRACIAS, 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

THE FOUR TREASURES OF MY LIFE AND THEY ARE FROM D-O-M-I-C-A-N-A

Marcone and I are tour guides for a long time. I am a tour guide for 13 years now and our smiley Marcone is a tour guide for 4 years and he is part of my team and I am so proud of it. Our work has given so many wonderful people and I have made friends for life. And one tiny island from the Caribbean, actually the most significant one, the one who gave to this continent the first city of all Americas...REPUBLICA DOMINICANA. Yes, this little island gave me 4 wonderful sisters, my wonderful friends that I trully love, I am so grateful for my work that gives me the best people in the World and I am very fortunate that I only come across to gorgeous people from all over the World.

We spend lots of days together and I was lucky to show these 4 little girls the best of my land and they gave me their heart: MELISSA, FRANCHY, ARIANA and DULCE, the sweetest, hahahahahahah :)))))

I know that those who understand Dominican Spanish (which is really a mistery) will be shocked but it was a CACAO JOURNEY!!! :)

Melissa...well, some months ago she contacted me with a lot of formalities...Estimado Sr. Rafael and she finished her messages, CORDIALMENTE...Something like " DEAR SIR" and then "Yours Sincerely"....At the right moment that we met it was HOOOOOOOLA RAFA...DAME UN BESO...HOOOOOOLA MELISSA, BELLAAAAAAA!!!

We loved each other A LOS GRITOS!!! :)))))) And I found a wonderful friend, someone that I know I always count with, and we did a lot together. She is the one who deeply represent all the TOURISM in Dominican Republic and she is my precious contact in Santo Domingo. 

We will make Rio de Janeiro and Santo Domingo twin cities and we will help our lands to be promoted all over the World. And I will help her to make you find out the genuine and most precious corner of Brazil and our tiny little (but with giant hearts) island DOMINICANA.

Ariana...she is the "Latin Bete Midler"...5 minutes with her, it is guaranteed that you will have your pants wet, hahahahaha :)))) She has the gift of the Word USAGE...she has brilliant brain and also joined the group to attend a very important LATIN AMERICAN TOURISM MEETING held in Rio and I am so honored to be the person in charge to introduce her my city! She was part of the gang and either in Rio and Niteroi, we had lots of fun. She came to Rio to show to "us" Brazilians, the culture, the traditions, the happiness and the beauties of Dominican Republic. 

She is the pearl of Santiago de los Caballeros from the magical island of Dominicana...I think it is too formal to call it Republic, specially because Franchy is from the Carnaval land of her country!!! So I will always refer to her country as DR or Dominicana! She is such a wondderful friend, someone I admire and someone I will always take care. We are strongly commited to show to the World that Latin America has a great future in the Tourism Industry and I had the honor to take her and all my Dominican Sisters to my homeland in Niteroi. 

Dulce is a spanish word that means "sweet" and the translation could never be so appropriate. My charming girl...so clever and so practical. She helped with the logistic of her country presentation in the Conference, she was the one who made sure that everything worked well during the days of the Conference and that made Dominican Republic one of the most popular stand among all other countries from Latin America. And I have a place in her heart, I have a shelter in her shoulders. Great friend, wonderful person and priceless friend!!!!!

This is the miracle of my job, this is the pleasure of embracing the wonders of our Continent. Our big effort to make our lands easy for you to visit and feel yourself at home!

LOTS OF LOVE, GIRLS!!! I DO LOVE YOU, YO LAS AMO MUCHO!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

A CRAZY LOVER OF REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

Muchas Gracias todos mis amigos de Dominicana, gracias por el cariño, por las risas, por las locas noches, gracias por el cariño, gracias por dar mas MERENGUE a mi latino corazon que tambien late por ustedes!!!

Rafa

BUZIOS - THE GREAT ADVENTURE FOR OUR CRUISE NAVIGATORS

BUZIOS MEANS CHARM
BUZIOS MEANS GOOD TASTE
BUZIOS MEANS ADVENTURE
BUZIOS MEANS ROMANCE
BUZIOS MEANS LIFE AS BON-VIVANT
BUZIOS MEANS FREE SPIRIT.

It is a place for Nature Lovers...It is a place to live your freedom, it is a place to relax and forget about all problems...I go to Buzios a lot...it is my place of work, it is my place for leisure. Only two hours from Rio, easy to go there. We all love Buzios and we all adore the beaches there!

Buzios is a place to take special people. Abra from Ohio is a big fan of Buzios and the one who always send me wonderful people from the States. She is the BRAZIL'S REPRESENTATIVE in USA, BUT SHE knows that her home is here! She is special and we always miss her a lot. Abra is one of my best friends in the World and I do enjoy showing her every new place when she comes to Brazil! :)

Buzios is one of our dearest places for holidays and I am so happy that you are going to visit too!!! We will have fun, lots of fun. Wilderness, the coast of Buzios is amazing, the beaches are stunning and lots of people everywhere. Very trendy place, it is a pety that you only have one day, Buzios is a gastronomy center in Brazil, wonderful restaurants from the tasty Brazilian food to the international cuisine…Food for all demanding tastes. It is wonderful to experience Buzios and I will be honored to share everything that I know about Buzios!

When you come to Brazil from the Ocean...you will visit several gorgeous places of our coast. And Buzios is one the most charming beach villages of Rio State. YES YOU WILL BE IN RIO!!!

So it is important to know that Rio de Janeiro is a city and also gives the name of our State...Exactly like New York City and New York State but the only difference is that Rio is the capital of our State. Also, for your information Brazil has 27 states plus the capital Brasilia which does not deserve a visit...if you know what I mean...too boring!!!

But Buzios will be your first stop in Rio and I will be there to meet you. Also my team will be there to give us a lot of assistance.

We will always be in Buzios before the ship's arrival and the meeting point will be in the local pier which qhite small so be prepared for some lack of organization...it can be a fast and calm process of it can be a ghastly chaos...but you will have all the cell phone of our team.

Arraial do Cabo is a super unique surprise when we go to Buzios...two different villages but very closer to each other...It is one of the places in Brazil that you can still experience exactly like the first portuguese settles saw when they reached our coast 500 years ago!

As for our short adventure...

I will try to be intense and do different things with you...we will drive to a neighrbor city called Arraial do Cabo where we will take a little boat...I KNOW....you probably be wondering: Oh Boy...after hours in a ship what a hack wi I be doing in a fishing boat????

The best way to explore the very unique places in this area will be really using boats....and we will see a wonderful lpreserved area the sea..a desert beacb where we can jump in the water and this water is soooooo blue....so so so blue that reminds the pristine and turquoise caribbean beaches and then we will also see the dramatic rocks heading to the blue caves.

That is Abra again...She is very present in my tours and she knows where to go in Brazil and one of the reason she comes is that she will meet Marcone and me. By the way Marcone is my super great friend and also one of my best tour guides; she loves the floating restaurant in Arraial.

I know that you eat alot in the boat but for our day in Buzios try not to eat that much and set yourself free in this fascinating world of good food that Brazil is!!! :)

This is where I plan to finish our day. And do not worry about the way back..we will be back in Buzios with time for you to embark in your ship.

I am sure we will have lots of fun!!! LET'S THE GOOD LIFE ROLL!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner