THE TRAVELLER EYES IN BLACK AND WHITE

Dear Reader. You know that I love taking photos and I am not professional at all but I like making art with my images, and this morning as you could follow in my posting below...I was wondering for almost two hours seeing so many life happening in less than three blocks in the outskirts of São Cristovão, not far from the port.

I am always happy to share with you and you please make comments because I really want to make it better and better! Black and white pictures make you see a sort of real movement, it is hard to explain...

Urban chaos...colonial architecture...São Cristovão has a massive portuguese community...In Rio every bakery owner is portuguese...and old portuguese people full of stories to tell...

It is not a place where you will see natural beauties but you will know more about daily life in Rio...

For photography's lover like I am...strolling around the neighborhoods of Rio is a real playground, but always do it with someone you know and this person has to know exactly where to go and when to go, not all the places in Rio are okay for someone who do not know the language...


This is the bridge that takes you to the international airport Tom Jobim.

Thank you for reading my blog and to see all my photos...I love to make you know more and more about my land, my culture and my people!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

GOOD MORNING RIO - IN SÃO CRISTOVÃO

Even when I decide to take one day off, this sunday, I stop somewhere to learn more about my own people and discover new places. It is my traveller's eye...I saw a bunch of people gathering close to a bridge in my way to my Mother's House...suddenly I realize that I was in one more flea market in the outskirts of Rio...A cool place for us to understand the culture, to know what's going on in many different parts of my opwn society. My search to understand the language of my people.

Summer Sunday morning and a little crowd buying old stuff...it is a daily life museum...Interesting quick stop to tell you how fascinating my Rio de Janeiro is. 

When you wonder alone to certain places it is hard to take pictures of yourself, specially in places where "taking pictures" are not so common, sometimes people sell things that they do not want to be exposed, so you need to be discreet...but it was an attempt to show that I was in one of the very hidden market in the city...In the harbor area of Rio which we call as "CAIS DO PORTO", in the district of São Cristovão! :)

Going deep into Rio's life...markets in the outskirts...harbor area....diversity...simple people...lots of stories to hear...many ways to understand brazilian life... where is it???? Well... São Cristovão!

This is what moves me, dear Reader, showing you what mostly of the time you never see when you come to Rio...being your friend who will show you anything to guarantee a special stay in Brazil! :)

Showing you the simple Brazil makes your trip grand...showing you places that you will never find in travel books...

A simple free day and less than two hours you find so much to do!!!

I am always happy to share my brazilian impressions with you!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

ONE MORE WORK DONE - MARCONE WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS BEJAN AND FRANCESCA

One more tour giving to our visitor a very deep introduction of the city; more two wonderful friends to live in our hearts. Marcone introduces Rio to be always recorded in your memory as your home away from home. Marcone is a very complete tour guide that I always recommend to give the honors of our guests. Bejan and Francesca trusted us to have a big adventure in Brazil and we are showing much more of a place; we are showing our house. First day they had Marcone's signature, the rest of the days, this great people will be under my care!!! GET PREPARED!!!

SELARON STAIRS - Yesterday they visited Selaron Stairs, such a wonderful hand working of tyles; it was a great privilege to have met the artist; he was a good friend of mine and also super kind to all tour guides in Rio. I am pretty sure that every Carioca was proud of him and he changed the whole HISTORY of our oldest neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Tereza. His work is unique and we need to preserve his legacy and I think it is really a must seeing his stairs which for me it is one of the symbols of my city!

In my blog I wrote more about Selaron and his stairs which became for us “the stairways to Heaven”, here is my favorite link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=selaron

And visiting my blog you help to increase the visits and feed my flag numbers which USA is the super number one!!

JOA BEACH – This is a stop in the private beach Joá is mandatory, few tourist and travellers know Rio in such a complete and unique way; some of the famous personalities in Rio live there, it is a wonderful hidden ocean spot where few people in Rio have access too. Dramatic cliffs, wonderful deep dark blue see that during the whale period we spot them going north for “love meetings” and to deliver their babies. Joa is a big surprise for the traveler because they never read about this place. The houses are lovely and luxurious. It is wonderful to take you there!

Joá is for sure one place that I adore going, I took so many pictures there, in my blog I have some good ones, please do not hesitate visiting this link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=jo%C3%A1 – I am sure you will recognize some photos and you will see some new ones of other places in the area.

NITEROI – OHHHHHH NITEROI…it is the place where I spend some of the most important years of my life; and of course it is  the second most important city of Rio de Janeiro State that once used to be the capital of the State when Rio was the capital of Brazil. Niteroi is a fantastic city out of Rio, super quiet, with friendly people and with unknown surprises that make every visitor way more in love with this first trip to Rio. Niteroi is a must see place that should be completely explored, the city had wonderful BaySide shore and the ocean side is absolutely amazing with wild beaches like Itacoatiara and Piratininga but visiting MAC MUSEUM where everybody go to see one of the most amazing projects of this glorious Brazilian personality, I do have some interesting pictures of this construction in my blog, you can open this link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=mac and you will see some funny pictures registering so many dear moments and finally the incredible viewpoint of PARQUE DA CIDADE who holds (and nobody knows) the most magnificent sunset in the whole state of Rio de Janeiro. This place is part of our newest national park called SERRA DA TIRIRICA, it is the city’s paragliding school where we have so many great friends, for us it is a pleasure to take you there!

I have more good pictures of Parque da Cidade in my blog, please always visit this link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=parque+da+cidade

So many thoughts about my super favorite place in Rio de Janeiro

I am always proud to know that in my sky of team members, Marcone is one of the most shining stars...So be sure that once you meet Marcone you will have your best experience in Rio guaranteed. Let's see Rio and find out a home in your life!

Marcone Lima is really in love with Rio and Brasil...he is a wonderful brazilian ready to give you some brazilian taste in your life!

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

ILHA GRANDE - MY NEARBY PARADISE - LOVELY WEEKEND

I just got back from Ilha Grande where I regularly organize tours and I love doing it...It is simply my favorite place in the State of Rio...a paradise island, full of local places and also travellers from all over Brazil and all over the planet. 101 beaches to choose, lots of boat tour options which I usually take the one that covers half of the island, and covering half of the island is nothing easy as the name says...it is a BIG ISLAND (roughly this would be our "LONG ISLAND"), but every corner reveals a secret, every little green spot brings you back to the PIRATE TIMES and every stop makes you think that you are in such a wild place and then you realize how incredible Brazil is....Myself as a brazilian, get simply impressed and I really believe in the strength of my land showing to the World our beauties, our colors, our personality. We have everything that we want when we leave our homes seeking for new adventures!

And in the same weekend, last sunday, 3rd of February, Marcone and I got back to the island...We love that, and I had for the second time  another chance to have Marcone with us and again, the fun was tremendous. We took part of a speed boat ride that visits many incredible parts of the Islands such as Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde and some secluded beaches and with a lovely stop in a local village called Saco do Ceu for lunch...the place for lunch is simply a wonderful way to follow coastal and fishing men daily life in one of the most remotes places in Rio de Janeiro, exploring Ilha Grande makes us to think about BRAZIL 500 years ago!!! :))))) And with a speed boat we cover more places and we share the boat with few people that instantly become our friends...so much fun...every stop you can use a snorkel to see life under the water, and this gives you such a peace and always increases your curiosity to see so many colors in the corals and also the incredible diversity of fish down under. 

It is possible to see the island in one day but it is always best to stay at least two days in the island...one day to explore the island by the sea and another day to walk around, see the trails, enjoy the nature and admire the endless greenery of the island jungle. Ilha Grande is absolutely one of the most gorgeous places in the country. I am a big fan of Ilha Grande...

Just for you to have an idea...in my preferences about places that a visitor should never miss after visiting the whole city of Rio with me...

NUMBER ONE - ILHA GRANDE - The wonderful island!

In my blog you can see loads of photos - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=Ilha+Grande

NUMBER TWO - PARATY - The historical heritage, the untouchable nature, wild mountains and more and more tropical incredible islands to visit.

Also check in my blog more about Paraty, here is the link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=paraty

NUMBER THREE - BUZIOS - Trendy natural beach place...young and colorful people, great gastronomy and fun in the Peninsula

Photos and more about Buzios you can also see in the blog - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=Buzios

I am proud to be Brazilian and I am happy to share with all visitors the joy of this land called BRAZIL. Ilha Grande is one of these places where Brazil will be wonderful for you!

Ilha Grande means a lot to me...it is one of the many places where I understand what real Brazil is and for a nature lover like me, it is my personal paradise that I have the pleasure to share with all my friends!!! I am sending some pictures that I took in the island and this sunday I am taking more guests to the islands!

When you come to Rio, I want you to know that you will always find a friend! Someone who will give you the best.

Thank you very much, 

Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

THE REAL HAPPINESS OF VISITING ILHA GRANDE

Back to Ilha Grande...one of the most beautiful places in the country....That means, the island is not only one of the main places to visit in Rio but when you are in the island you need to know that you are visiting one of the most fascinating places in Brazil...

I am so fortunate that Ilha Grande has to be part of my tours and I have several plans for us to enjoy the island and you will feel like a local...

This  weekend I went there TWICE...One to take our german friends Mathias and Tobias who love to dive, and Ilha Grande is one of the best scuba diving spots in the State of Rio...and the other visit was a whole day with our Missouri friends, Katie and Thomas which we had loads of fun as well.

But the first visit, Marcone and I took it to explore the island even more and we took a speed boat to see places in the island that we do not know yet...and during our lunch time we visited a village called SACO DO CÉU which still keeps the pace of a calm little fishing village that will give you an idea of Brazil stuck in time...And I took my chance to show you my biggest hobby: PHOTOGRAPHY that I am happy to share with you.

I am not a pro and my cameras are not the best cameras...this january I decided to play a little bit with my sepia resolutions and the idea was playing with lines, nature and trying to get the spirit of wilderness and simplicity.

Ilha Grande can be a wonderful playground for people into photography, I love so much what I do that I can spend the whole day!!!

Part of my photography inspirations were our new friends from Portugal, Miguel and Filipa that got to the island to spend some funny and sunny days, they gave me their joy and I could get the whole spirit of it...great smiles with nature.  We had fun and we had great food in the local restaurants. 

Marcone Lima is my everlasting adventure partner, wonderful character and diving nature lover and he always travels with me discovering new places to show you and he is also your tour guide, he will always be part of my team because of his knowledge, charisma and fantastic way to deal with people. It is impossible not to like him. He always inspires me to create new images!!!

I am training a great photographer...Marcone slowly are entering in the fascinating word of photography where we catch people and nature elements! He is the author of the first picture and this last one!!! :)

You are more than welcome to share very happy and unique moments in Brazil with us...Send me an email and let's see what we can do in Brazil.

RAFAEL TORRES LOPES
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

donrafainrio@globo.com