JUST TO CLARIFY - RAFA IS IN RIO

Good Morning Dear Reader!!! So good to write to you in this lovely Thursday Morning. I noticed that a lot of people are thinking that I am in Argentina right now. 

Noooooooooooo.....I am in Rio de Janeiro where I live and where I have my whole life; I just write about my TRAVEL THOUGHTS, so I can write about Venezuela today and not being in Venezuela; I can mention Trinidad and Tobago and not being in Port of Spain...or I can just be in a place and write from this place.

My blog is here to make you know way more about me, my blog is also a result of so much love for my work, for my land and also about something that I most love doing: TRAVELING and also being with so many different people and make so many friends!

When you read this blog, I will probably be strolling around in Santa Tereza, our oldest neighborhood. Very charming hilly district of Rio that reminds Lisbon in Portugal with its cobbled stones streets and beautiful colonial portuguese homes...also one of the few places in Rio where you can find the best of graffitti and street arts; a place with fine cuisine because of various traditional restaurants like Marco, Portella and Bar do Mineiro. It is also the neighborhood where I like to take pictures with street arts and you took part of a gallery that you can find on my facebook, please add me there exactly how I explained you to do it. 

Here in this blog,  you can read more about Santa Tereza and also see the some cool pictures, here is the link - http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com.br/search?q=santa+tereza - when you open this link you will see some pictures of the tram that now no long exist; the city has plans to bring the trams back in the end of 2014.

I am always in Rio and I will always let you know where I am, so do not worry, if you need a tour you will have a tour! :)

But I can also write about Maranhão without being in Maranhão, just to let you know about super wonderful places in Brazil that you must visit. Thanks to that my wonderful friends in Italy, Cinzia and Luca are visiting the State of Maranhão with me in August; and Francesca, another wonderful italian friend who lives in Chicago with my other great friend Bejan are also interested to see this different and fascinating side of the country. Brazil has so many faces and it is a pleasure to me allowing you this chance to see real brazilian stuff; to have a marvelous authentic experience. 

By the way this is one of the most interesting places in São Luis, Capital of the State...the historic center called Reviver. It is a place where pace of life is measured; this a place where you can really feel the past and the present of such a magnificent capital in Brazil that hardly any visitor knows.

This is me and my windows....here I make you see the tradition of portuguese tiles that make São Luis famous, you can see how a very simple neighborhood grocery looks like (this people have this business for over 100 years and it still resists and you can see the photos that I have to be the director, when I am not taking the photos, hahahaha :) When I ask someone to take a picture of me, it is a whole speech, I have to explain everything, I am very lucky to find people with PATIENCE around myself!!!

So this blog is to inform you about everything that I am doing, to tell you the places that I love not only in Rio, it can be about any place in the most distant corner of Brazil; it can be anywhere in my spectacular South America and it can be even in your home towm. 

I AM ALWAYS WRITING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY MIND.

We can just be in Trindade, a wonderful village over the mountains in Paraty with gorgeous beach and you will be reading more about this wonderful region. I am an enthusiastic brazilian and it is always a pleasure to write about my own country. This land that had given me so wonderful things and provides me so many different adventures in life.

Sometimes I simply turn on my notebook  and start writing about a super funny moment that I am having in the biggest open public market in Rio, our incredible FEIRA DE SÃO CRISTOVÃO that takes us to a journey through the deepest Brazilian folkclore and you will know many curious details of our diverse culture.

No matter where I am...here in this blog you will always find out many different places, you will read about people's behavior, you will get to know much more about my personal life. 

So read this blog forever, show this blog to every one you know...JUST KEEP THIS BLOG ALIVE.

That is much love in these words.

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

FROM PARATY TO BUENOS AIRES - THE EATING PARADISE IN VICENTE LOPES - PIZZERIA VICTOR

If you are into Gastronomy just like I do...you will understand that Buenos Aires has lots of incredible secrets...It took me so many visits to Baires to find out more about the city, the soul of its people and the vibe of the city...In my travel I learnt easily that we have to avoid the obvious touristy places and then you will find a different World in such a common destination. This makes Buenos Aires special, the "local secrets" are the real HAPPENING of each place no matter what country you are. 

One afternoon strolling around San Isidro, one of my favorite provinces of Buenos Aires outskirts, with Mariano Rinaldi, my best friend, considered like a brother to me...In our way back, before getting home; we stopped in one of the most traditional and most popular pizza place in the north zone of Buenos Aires. 

PIZZERIA VICTOR...We had the impression that we were the only brazilian people who has been there and I really confirm the incredible pleasure of tasting their pizza...

You know when your stomach commands your brains...well, it happened when I first felt the absolutely delicious aroma of such a perfect hand made pizza, exacly like the most traditional Napoli Chefs do...I strongly believe that the italians outside ITALIA really make the best pastas in the World, like the italians in New York and the italians in Bexiga, São Paulo; and in Buenos Aires is not different. 

They say that in Buenos Aires, half of the population are italian, LOS TANOS; and the other half are spanish, LOS GALLEGOS...and it is true...For years and years I know the RINALDI''S FAMILY. And I really know how italian they are...from this wonderful family that I am so honored to be friends with; Mariano is the member that knows me for ages and he granted myself the honor of getting to know all his family...this family is so italian that LA NONNA is still there, captained her kitchen and so many kitchens in all of Rinaldi's home and surroundings...which I am very thankful for the endless time that I took part of the family Asados and the best Lasagna in the World...

Talking about World...this people mean the World to me...they are really my reference in Buenos Aires and if I know the city well, I owe all this knowledge to my good friends that I have made in Argentina. Thank you Mariano and all the Martinez Gang.

Marcone and I had a blast at Victor's. We travel to Argentina a lot, trying to find more new places to show you in this vast continent of South America.

Maybe it is a sin being in a photo drinking dutch beer in Argentinean Territory when I should be drinking Quilmes or Patagonia...please Dear Readers, forgive me...but the Pizza is very argentinean with a strong italian personality!!! :)))) And here is one of the argentinean's celebrities. Mariano, great friend, wonderful husband of my another friend and DIVA Andrea and fabulous journalist that every day keep every citizen well informed about the city and I always have privileged information every time I go to Buenos Aires.

Well, writing about Argentina does not mean that I am in Argentina and please do not think that you are in a wrong blog about a brazilian tour guide. As I mentioned before my blog is all about my thoughts, my life and my own World of Travels and it is also a source of good information about everything in South America.

I am just a little bit nostalgic about Argentina and I decide to make a tribute to all my argentinean friends and my big reference in Argentina, my brother Mariano Rinaldi.

I am sure I will be back!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

By the way, you will find Pizzeria Victor in Vicente Lopez, Avenida Maypu, 1798 corner with Hipolito Yrigoyen if I am not mistaken...If you are right in downtown Buenos Aires, you will need a taxi to go, it is far from the centre of the Capital.

PARATY IN COLORS BY JACQUELINE GUIMARÃES

Every visit to Paraty I always look for local artists just to see what's new in town, the city is a birth of incredible painters, people with natural talent that deserves to be known all over the World. The architecture of Paraty inspires so many creative minds and we have absolutely great work of art!

Jacqueline is one of them...her sweet presence translates the wonderful art she does...her art gallery by the church is open for every body, she will be happy to talk to you and tell you more about Paraty by her own eyes and hand.

Her paintings are really delicate, deep and it has a very "rich simplicity"...her art is absolutely open for everybody...

Jacqueline loves the nature of Paraty, she is proud of being part of the selected group of painters in the city. She is inspired by the colors of the city's nature and she translates with joy our daily life, and her taste for nature makes her work really fantastic. I support local painters and I really want you, dear Reader, to discover more about Brazilian Art.

Visiting Jacqueline's art gallery is in a way getting to know more about the beauty and magic of Paraty. She is from the South of the State, same region where Paraty is located. I specially like when she paints the flora which is so rich in Bocaina Range of Mountains and the surrounding hills of the Bay. Absolutely Awesome.

Jacqueline is working in her latest work. Not finished yet but I am sure this painting will be in one of the People's Homes...Sooner or Later I will have one for me!!! :)

And more important...if you are a dog lover...Jaguatirica will be please to welcome you...

Jaquatirica is a street dog that some store owners and local artist bring up...she is well taken by dog lovers and she said hallo to me, hahahaha :) I met him once and I took one picture; this time he is my friend and Jaquatirica will give you the honors when you visit Jacqueline. 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

LEAVING PARATY WITH GREAT STORIES

I know, dear Reader, one more trip to Paraty and again few time to enjoy everything but it was a good time with great friends and also a time I need to rest...but it was again one more chance to see again places that I love and also to convince myself that life is not working full time like a japonese workaholic, I need to time for simply not doing anything special, just going with the flow! :)))))

I just got back from Paraty...It is one of our most important historical colonial cities...the place still preserves its glorious past with its cobble stone streets and barroc buildings. So many very old barroc churches that tells us how interesting was Brazil in the time of the GOLD RUSH and getting lost among the alleys is always a journey that makes you feel how precious this country is...it is green environment with high mountains, endless forests and thousand of islands. Kind people who is not so worried about our busy life, everything there has a slow pace. 

Sometimes I just escape from the city to find some peace and also to have fun, at this time I went there with Marcone and my other great friends, the my wonderful cousins and amazing friends Sonia and Noeme and my canadian very good friend, she is almost a sister for me, Vanessa. We had an excellent time there! This was nearly a very close family gathering. 

Paraty means nature as well...so many wild beaches...places still untouchable since the Portuguese Navigators time and one of my favorite places is Trindade...even when the weather is not so sunny, going to Trindade is always something so incredible to do....you can be in touch with Nature and see so many amazing sceneries...in almost every beach there is always a clean river. so much fun is waiting for you when you come to Rio...

Ufff the water is certainly cold but the nature is always breathtaking...at Escorrega waterfalls in the location of Penha, in a district in Paraty called Cunha; you can find so many trails in the nature...real jungle with wonderful natural pools...it is a WATER FESTIVAL. An amazing place where you can find a restaurant in the middle of the forest called Tarzan....for sure you should never miss to get to know the waterfalls of Paraty in any trip to Rio.

The historical town is a real festival of beauties and culture...it is a trip to the portuguese colonial past of Brazil. NO doubt that Paraty is one of the most important old town of Brazil, and being there having fun in every narrow street corner is priceless. Every trip to Parary is absolutely total fun.

For leisure and for work, Paraty is my passion and it is not so far from Rio City, 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

WINDOWS OF HISTORY - PARATY IS SPECIAL

Some windows in Paraty can tell you so many things...it is a village that was very important to our Past, and it is one of the main places that we really have fun in the Present. In that Past Paraty was so much important as Rio because all the Gold from Minas Gerais were shipped to Europe when Rio was full of pirates. So many merchants from all over the World settled here, but above all Paraty always have been and the city still is veeeeery portuguese. 

Life has been passed under this windows for so many years and the colonial windows are wonderful inspirations for our lens. If you like Photography, maybe Paraty is an amazing place for you!

Cachaçarias (stores specialized in our national liquoir - CACHAÇA), charming stores, wonderful gastronomy in traditional restaurants full og good taste, everywhere you will find JANELAS COLONIAIS, as we say here, the colonial buildings of Paraty are simply amazing and you can spend hours strolling around in the cobbled stones pathways and streets where you will get fascinated in every corner!

The city has several districts...Paraty has a big and well preserved historical centre; there are several beaches and local villages; indigenous villages, ex-slaves villages that we call it as QUIROMBOLAS. fishing villages, lots of islands and incredible jungly mountains full of history such old portuguese sugar cane and coffe farms and so many traditions everywhere; the whole architecture is colonial, and they all have WINDOWS to keep on telling fascinating stories. This one I took in the cottage that we are spending this days off; the very pleasant and peaceful Small Farm of Pousada das Acacias, right in the neighborhood in Cunha.

RAFAEL TORRES LOPES

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

I LOVE SAYING: GOOD MORNING PARATY

Birds sing a general chorus: GOOD MORNING VISITOR!!!

Quietness at last....and I am here in front of the computer....when you look for quietness, the last thing you should do was even turning on your computer, or not even bring your computer to this GREEN CATHEDRAL...In places like Cunha where nature and wilderness are the RULERS, you should forget about technology and live like GUARANIS before the spanish....

But dear, Reader you know myself...we just got here 4 in the morning and I already finished two long reports, answered a few emails and I am here almost 10:00 am, telling you how super happy I am to be in Paraty....

This time I am in a different place...me, Marcone and my lovely cousins Sonia, Noeme and Vanessa decided to be a little bit far from the buzz of our famous colonial town and we chose a place by the mountains and by the forests; close to the River and the incredible Bocaina Mountains Range. We are in Cunha....

GOOD MORNING CUNHA!!!! :))))))

Pousada das Acacias...our farm in the background of Paraty, right in the bottom of Bocaina Mountains....peace...that is the word to define such a pleasure of feeling our of our sweet life crazyness! Breakfast with homemade bread, natural juices, fresh air and wonderful company!

In the first hours of the morning, you know how I am...we played in the fields of Paradise...The inspiration of nature make us turn into three naughty children. The place is very well equipped with all comfort you need to be in absolutely harmony with Earth.

Well...Paraty is no doubt my favorite place in the State of Rio.

We invite you to the "doors of Paradise" and I invite you to know where I get my refuge when I am simply in the mood to stay with my birds and my plants! Cunha is perfect if you love waterfalls, colonial portuguese heritage and to experience daily local life. More is to come, in Paraty you will see Rio that you will never imagine!!!

RAFAEL TORRES LOPES
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

A friend of Paraty

A TOUR OF LIFE - COMPLEXO DO ALEMÃO

There was a time that we saw the favela behind bars or inside the house because we would never there to get our nose outside...A time with Terror, a time with deaths, a time where you could not say anything or do anything you like. More than 100.000 prisoners.

Now behind the windows...we can see HOPE...the violence is being extinguished...now behind the window we see FUTURE and brilliant future. Now the name FAVELA comes together with "Community". 

This wonderful people who had their wings cut...now they have wings to fly...And this people now can fly high and this is what makes me happy. My own people ready to work, ready to have normal life like I have in the other side of the city.

It is not a touristic attraction and I do not like to see the situation like this...it is a chance you have to follow our daily life. A visit in a Favela is not like and never will be like visiting a ZOO...where poor people are animals that we see in a cage...coming to a favela is talking with people, visiting a favela is having a real approach about how life is improving (slowly but really going) for a part of our society which is not so fortunate. But they are happy with their BASIC life...But a lot is going on in so many favelas in Rio..and when the authorities finally think about them....you see a lot of social projects happening and one of the greatest acts are the construction of a cable car to one of the biggest communities in Rio...The complexo do Alemão...

It is hard to translate or define COMPLEXO DO ALEMÃO, but let's see this region as a vast region that once belonged to a very white person with blond hair that the locals used to call him ALEMÃO, it was his nick name and the nick name that our population always use for those who are blond here.

When we do not have much time, I simply take the northern highways to the outskirts of Rio, heading the neighborhood of Bonsucesso, this is the fastest way to go there...but we all get surprised when we realize how we really get there...and this is the highlight of the day.

There is also another complete way to see the favela...we only use public transportation, a real lesson about urban brazilian life and the chance to see how much  their lives improved, and all the benefits this community conquered. We take the subway, then we go to the Grand Station Central do Brasil to take a suburban train to Bonsucesso and we finally make a connection with their cable cars!

If you love pets, then visiting Complexo do Alemão is a real challenge, you will want to take every pet we find home...I nearly took this one, you know that I love cats and this one was wondering in between our legs and he was our great company during lunch!

Yes, our visit to a Favela, you will meet people, you will talk with them and you will hear about many incredible life stories. My tours on Favelas are focus on the social side and the experience...we will eat their food and prepare your bellies because their food equals the best gastronomies of Europe, at least everything there is MUITO GOSTOSO!!! I mean, very tasty!!!

And talking about food....hhehehehehe :)))))) 

We love food...and brazilian cuisine has strong portuguese, african and indigenous influence...As I told you, with me you really go deeper in our culture and in our society. Home made, really home made; clean, honest, cheap and high quality. Our lunch can be really possible in a Favela Visiting...You know....it is priceless to be part of our daily life and I do it with honor and passion.

Unni and Chris are wonderful globettroters and i was honored to welcome them...Real friends, people with big hearts and ready to see what's real in Brazil. We had fun and our tours had heaps of laughs! They are from the land of conquerors and adventurous travellers...NORWAY. Always pleased to welcome norwegian friends and I thank you for your confidence and friendship!

Let's make it possible when you contact me!!!

ALL THE BEST AND HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

GOOD MORNING RIO!!! RAFA IS HAPPY

I hope you had a great friday and now the weekend is here...Just be happy and enjoy the company with anyone you like. Here I am sure everyone must be in Copacabana jogging...walking in the beach promenade...keeping fit is religion here, hahahaha :)))) But the scenery inspires...Sugar Loaf can be seen, the blue Atlantic Ocean baths the white sand of Copacabana with violent big waves and the myst builds some interesting bodies' figure...stepping on the sand with your bare foot keeps you in touch with Mother Earth...simple things can be always magnificent here...Oh well, I just woke up very inspired after a intense week of tours, meeting so many different people, going everywhere and also facing the bad side of a big city with its endless traffic...I am fortunate because almost always I know how to escape...

I am okay with life...please do not find weird thinking that THIS IS THE TOUR GUIDE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MEET...being with you here is simply fun and fun we are all going to have...be prepared to stop in unusual places...it is just part of the laughs we will have in any point of your day!!!

But a new week will begin...new people are coming...challenges will surprise me I am sure but I am not afraid...I just take a deep breath and I say to myself, I love life!!! So rare when you have a work that combines with your personal life when you really have big passion for it. I am in love with my work, I love dealing with people and this work gives me more friends. 

My last week was full of happiness with the sweet presence of my Norway's friends Chris and Unni...oh we went to the super local favela Complexo do Alemão where we met wonderful simple people with just one approach...WITH SOME TRUE SMILES!

Norway, United States, Argentina, Australia, Mongolia, Armenia, Sri Lanka...no matter where you come from...just be part of my endless friends' gallery...let's just enjoy every little moment of our lives together and let's have some fun!!! :))))))))

So my guests have to come all the time...it is great to give them happiness and it is enormously important to get the happiness they give me!!! That is why in the end of each tour I say to each one: THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY that you gave me to show you my land and all the secrets!

Oh well, this saturday somehow made me very very melancholic...but it is a mix of joy and gratitude...

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Rafa