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Thursday, July 11, 2013

MORE ABOUT RAFA - HERE IN THE BLOG I HAVE TO USE A LOT OF LANGUAGES - HAPPY TO BE A TOUR GUIDE - YOUR FRIEND IN RIO


I am a travel freak!!!! I love going everywhere in my continent...the love for the land is so strong that I feel much more than Brazilian. And I believe that it is not only South America, my heart belongs to the 3 AMERICAS. My love belongs to the very north of Canada and ends in the very south of Argentina.

BUT BRAZIL IS WHERE MY HEART BEATS....

But what I want to say is that I can be found everywhere, my work takes me everywhere in South America where I am a "sort of bridge" between YOUR CULTURE and my LATIN CULTURE.

I am always happy to show you my people because my people are MY VOICE!!!


Brasil is blessed and I am so lucky to be a guide everywhere in Brazil and also in South America. You can count on me for everything and I am always happy to show you the best places in the country. Of course, I have people who work for me in so many different places in Brazil and other countries in South America, specially in Argentina.


If South America is my House...Rio is the main door and when you knock it, I will be here to open. I have plans, we can discuss about all possibilities. I welcome everybody, my heart and my whole life is open to give you the best of Rio.

Count on me...my english I guess it is fine, so you will be in good hands!!!

If I am busy...do not worry, I have "crazy friends" to take care of you!!!

Explore the whole blog...I have so many things to tell you here!!!

LOTS OF LOVE, ENJOY YOUR THE MOST AND COME TO BRAZIL!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

CLARO QUE SIIIIIMMMMM - TOUR PARA BRASILEIROS E PORTUGUESES!!!! :)))) EU FALO PORTUGUES E TEMOS DOIS DIAS NO RIO PRA VOCE! :)))))


Gente, eu sou Brasiileiro e como a nós dizemos: SOU BRASILEIRO, COM MUITO ORGULHO, COM MUITO AMOR...E é uma felicidade pra mim mostrar o que o meu Rio tem de melhor, tem de unico e o que a nossa cidade tem de especial. Sou Brasileiro desde do Rio Grande do Sul até o Amapá, de Rondonia até o Maranhão, do Acre ao Rio, de Roraima a São Paulo. Amo o NOSSO PAÍS e me orgulho de poder mostrar de um jeito diferente todo o nosso Brasil para nossos visitantes de fora!!!

É UMA HONRA ESTÁR AQUI NO RIO DE JANEIRO PARA RECEBER MEUS IRMÃOS BRASILEIROS DE TODOS OS ESTADOS PARA CONHECER UMA DAS NOSSAS CIDADES MAIS QUERIDAS, E FAZER DO RIO UM LUGAR FACIL E INESQUECIVEL PARA VOCE VIAJANTE DESVENDAR....

Embarque nessa...É Nós!!!! (hehehehe eu tambem tenho direito a licença poética)

Temos dois dias completos para conhecer e mergulhar em todas as surpresas do Rio, um modo bem legal de conhecer a cidade, cubrindo a historia, as atrações, os lugares que os turistas não vão, enfim...UM RIO INFORMAL E DIVERTIDO APENAS PARA VOCE!

No primeiro dia....Santa Tereza.....






Começando pelos casarios e o ar colonial do nosso primeiro bairro Santa Tereza, com suas ruas estreitas, seus restaurantes mais tipicos e um ar meio devagar como se parasse no tempo, depois descubrir as cores de uma das maiores obras feitas por um homem que nem sequer era brasileiro, as escadas do Selaron; uma homenagem ao mundo com milhares de azulejos que emprestam muita cor ao bairro mais musical do Rio, a Lapa. São os simbolos maximos juntinho ao Centro da Cidade, é onde o Rio é mais nosso amigo, onde o Rio é simplesmente unico!



Apos visitar este Rio Nostalgico que nos leva a varias epocas...vamos mergulhar na Natureza da cidade, começando por conhecer o simbolo maximo da Cidade, o Cristo Redentor, no topo da montanha do Corcovado e tambem conhecer um pouco da maior floresta urbana do planeta, a Floresta da Tijuca. O Cristo é uma das 7 marivilhas do mundo e voce não pode deixar de conhecer





Seguiremos a Costa desconhecida do Rio e visitando uma praia bem exclusiva, a Praia do Joá com seus rochedos impressionantes, e visitaremos tambem uma perto do Rio que ninguem conhece, os canais de Marapendi, com suas ilhas e estilo de vida unico, alem de ver muitos passaros e um Rio com uma fauna completamente surpreendentes; aves e jacarés; e voltaremos pela Costa para uma excelente caminhada pela famosa Praia de Ipanema com as pedras do Arpoador, e o Forte de Copacabana.

E assim termina nosso primeiro dia no Rio, mas a gente ainda tem mais, o segundo dia, e o plano segue:






Vamos começar a ver o Rio pelo alto...vamos ao Pão de Açucar, pegar o bondinho e estar em um dos lugares mais famosos da cidade. Após o Pão de Açucar, vamos andar um pouco pelo centro da cidade e conhecer mais do passado portugues da cidade, ver o Rio de todas as epocas, o Rio Colonia, o Rio Imperial e o Rio dos dias de hoje. Vamos andar um pouco pelo Centro da Cidade, andar pelas ruas estreitas da Praça 15 onde o Rio andava em epocas mais importantes quando chegou até a ser o principal centro do Mundo Portugues, conheceremos as tradições e o magico barroco do Mosteiro de São Bento. E andaremos pelo centro financeiro da cidade para a gente compreender que a vida da cidade agitada também faz parte do modo de ser CARIOCA.

O Rio é assim, cheio de vida, cheio de energia com cultura e historia, mas nunca de forma chata, sempre com alguma coisa legal para se fazer.





Mas teremos tempo para relaxar e ver coisas mais lindas. A beleza do Rio vai continuar quando atravessarmos a Ponte que nos levar a Niterói, e entender mais sobre o Rio!

Niteroi é a grande surpresa para o mais experiente viajante que nos visita...Do outro lado da Baía a gente nota o quanto o Rio é magico, mas a cidade tem suas surpresas, a dramatica paisagem da Ilha de Boa Viagem, abrigo de piratas contrastando com nossa obra mais moderna assinada pelo nosso mais famoso arquiteto que fez Brasilia, Oscar Niemayer, o MAC, nosso MUSEU DE ARTES CONTEMPORANEAS; depois vamos explorar ainda mais Niteroi conhecendo o mirante do Parque da Cidade que vai fazer voce perder o folego com tanta beleza, é de lá que se salta de paragliding; terminaremos nosso dia voltando ainda mais no tempo, conhecendo nosso vilarejo pesqueiro Jurujuba, com seus barquinhos coloridos e seu ar mais do que rustico.


Eu sou o Rafa, é assim que eu gosto de ser chamado, porque muito mais que ser um guia de turismo, minha profissão que eu abraço com muito orgulho, eu sou mais feliz sendo AQUELE AMIGO QUE VOCE VAI ENCONTRAR NO RIO, ou aquele primo engraçado distante que mora no Rio e que voce tem certeza que vai se divertir muito. Eu quero sim fazer o Rio mais facil pra voce. Por isso conte comigo, eu gosto muito de dividir tudo que eu sei sobre o nosso Rio e quero voce comigo aqui!!!

Muito Obrigado 

Rafael Torres Lopes

Guia de Turismo
Idealizador de Viagens

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

WHEN YOU CHOOSE RIO TO VISIT


You might need a guide, but if you come across with this name: RAFA...you will find a real friend...it is like visiting a distant relative who lives in a very interesting place...and this place is Rio. And when you come to Rio...you will see another place, NITEROI, "the smiley city". And with Rafa, you will be NOT a tourist, you will be a traveller...As my mexican friend Chito says...EL TURISTA BUSCA, EL VIAJERO ENCUENTRA....

That literally means...THE TOURIST LOOKS FOR A PLACE, THE TRAVELLER FINDS...

So, nice to meet you near Reader, my name is Rafa and I might be the one who will take you to amazing places in Rio!!! :)))))




When I travel, I am always interested about the local culture, I admire people's art, so many different way that local people love to express themselves and Rio is burning with art everywhere, you can find art in the streets thanks to an enormous effort that we have in our school to convince children and young people to make the city even more beautiful and interesting for anyone, for a person who lives here or for a person that just chooses Rio to visit!!! So with Rafa, you will take very odd pictures!!! I am so very sure about that.

I have to thank the Russells to make my tour so funny and so full of incredible moments, also travelling to Rio you will have a great chance to play like a child!!! :)))))


Of course when you come to Rio and meet me...you will see the classics Christ and the Sugar Loaf but names like Niteroi, Parque da Cidade, Jurujuba or Ilha Grande will be very familiar to you and it will make your trip just incredible.

So do not hesitate contacting me and I will make Rio de Janeiro very special to you!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Saturday, July 6, 2013

SUNDAY THOUGHTS FROM RAFA - MY MIND IS GOING TO PARATY - THAT IS ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GO WHEN YOU ARE IN RIO


Dear Reader, I am a big fun of open door places and places where Nature is with you wherever you go. And this so sunny winter in Rio I woke up very inspired! Next time you come to Rio, I mean, the third expedition to Rio, let's explore Paraty Area...so many wonderful places there, from the islands to the mountains and also, Paraty is one of the most important colonial tours in Brazil...

If by chance to you a week to burn in Rio or even when you come for 4 days...you really should think about at least spend one night in PARATY.


Well, right now I am hungry...so all I can think when Paraty is in my mind...FOOD...Cuisine is simply magical...lots to choose and our stomachs will never feel abandoned...




Some of the best restaurants in Brazil you can find in Paraty...chefs from everywhere in the country had selected Paraty to give us their best talent, some very old restaurants can be experienced there...in every corner you can just get in, have a seat and a wonderful conversation with friends always followed by some delicious typical snack to please THE VERY DEEP SOUL OF YOUR EATING DESIRES....




Just hiring a fishing boat we can find so many islands and so many villages that we can just reach by boat...cool chance to meet simple and fascinating people, wonderful chance to see remote and absolutely breathtaking places in Brazil and we always realize that Rio is not only Copacabana and we find very hard to believe that everything here is a reason to get more than 300.000 people to protest against the high price of our transportation, hahahahaha :)))))







It is a real "DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY" place....

Feel minutes a way from the historical center we can go deep in the forest and find amazing waterfalls with crystal clear water...

Paraty is a place to spend at least one night, but I would spend easily a week with so many things to do.

It always will be a place to take my guests, to meet friends and to meet my own private peace...





I know you must be asking...how long it gets to reach Paraty...well it is a long way driving in the beautiful Green Coast, four hours but it is so pleasant, you see so many different landscapes and we can always stop in some interesting places in the way, like the fishing village Tarituba or in some mountain villages like Taquari or in the falls of Cunha.

SIMPLY LOVE PARATY...IT IS REALLY A MUST GO PLACE!!!!


Rafael Torres Lopes

Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

NATAL - ONE OF THE BRAZILIAN TREASURES


Brazil is a giant continental country and there are lot of unique places waiting for you. One of the biggest surprises is no doubt, the city of Natal and its surroundings. From Rio you can fly to Natal heading the magical North East or simply NORDESTE as we like saying here. Some travellers also get there by Cruise Ships as this is one of the most beautiful destinations in Brazil. Natal is a very vibrant capital of Rio Grande do Norte State, a real paradise located literally when BRAZIL MAKES A CURVE in the map. Paradise beaches, charming inlets, remote fishing villages and lots of adventures are waiting for you there! :)


We have more than 8000 km of diverse coast line...and the shore of Natal is blessed by many species of fish. Camurupim is the name of this enormous fish, commonly found in this part of the State and it is also the name of this lovely beach covered by impressive reefs which forms very warm natural pools. It is a Brazil stuck in time, you can spend the day visiting each remote fishing villages spread out in the area of Natal.


Located between our gorgeous Guarairas Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean we can find Praia da Pipa, one of the absolutely stunning beaches of Tibau do Sul, 80 kilometers south of Natal. This region is the most important ecological sanctuary of Rio Grande do Norte, in many places in the Bay you can spot dolphins and marina turtles, and in the woods you can go hiking among the endless Mata Atlantica Forest, many different trails for bird watchers. for nature lovers exploring each corner of one Brazil rarely visited by tourists. Praia da Pipa deserves one day, the best way to explore the region is when you have more than one day to spend in Natal. Also it is possible to spend the whole day in Praia da Pipa. It is indeed one of my very favorite places when I go to Natal.


If you are looking for short adventures, when you just have 4 hours to explore this paradise, my team at BuggyTurismo and I can arrange sand dunes zip line, when you throw yourself on the top of a huge dune and you land in such a fresh lagoon; we literally call it as AIR BUTT and also you can explore the beaches and dunes in a buggy tour visiting different places in the city like Arituba, Barra do Sono, Ponta Negra, Genipabu, Pitangui and Jacumã...Difficult names for a foreign reader, but places that will ner leave your best memories of Brazil.


If you ever decide to explore Brazil properly...do not forget about Natal, this could be one of the most beautiful places that you have been in your life; if Natal is one of your Cruise Trip stops do not hesitate to look for me and I will help your group to have incredible fun in the beaches and you will see many different incredible surprises that Natal can offer.

We have a team there captained by my friend Alane Maia that will be with me to create many different tours. i can meet you there also if you write to me way in advance, so I can get myself prepared to introduce you Brazil just like I love to travel in my own country.

NATAL HAS TO BE IN YOUR TRAVEL LIST...IT IS ALREADY IN MY HEART.


Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Monday, July 1, 2013

THE REHEARSAL WAS FINE - THE CONFEDERATION CUP


Yesterday as usual I felt more Brazilian than I used to feel...yesterday after feeling a cold energy in my spine hearing more than 70000 voices singing our anthem I felt the strength of this Nation. The Confederation is a formal rehearsal to check if we are prepared for the big event...The World Cup, and we proved to the World that we are ready and we conquered the Cup. 

And we defeated Spain...so sorry to see my "cousins" (I have spanish blood) loosing in such a festival of goals and happiness...specially after conquering the World Cup and the European Cup and being so confident...they surrended in the World Football Temple...the Maracanã Stadium. 

I think all the bulls in Spain must be happy because we KILLED THE BULLFIGHTER and we screamed out loud OLÉ in our Arena.

Please, my spanish friends and readers, do not get me wrong...I am just being very nationalist today!!! :))))))




LAST SUNDAY, 30TH OF JUNE,  WE SAW THE GAME IN MY COUSINS' HOUSE and we had a blast...some snacks and lots of beer and lots of laughs as well, I made a special picture to show you how great fun we had, and I hope you like it!!! :)))) One of my favorite things to do is simply get together with family and enjoy our time together. We were celebrating at home together with many people in every single bar of Rio, together with the fortunate people that got a difficult ticket in Maracaña...

YES, ONE COMPLAINT...TICKETS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE NOW IN BRAZIL!!!





In Brazil the birds as you can see are very brazilians...Ararajuba is the bird symbol of the country and unfortunately quite rare, we can find Ararajubas in the central region of Brazil and also the Amazon. I confess that in my whole life, I have just seen this bird only once.




Well...The spanish saw yesterday that BRAZIL is the sacred soil of FOOTBALL, Soccer like you say in the US...Even the champions of the World know that when Brazil plays in Brazil...things are always a little bit different...specially with so much pressure coming because of the Confederation Cup and the World Cup, we are hosting both events...The finals took place in Maracanã, our top number one stadium not only in Brazil but in the Whole South America...

The main stadiums in the Continents are always MARACAÑA in Rio, la Bombonera in Buenos Aires and the Centenario in Montevideo. Three main names in the history of football: BRAZIL, ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY...But when we think about Brazil we think about Rio, we think about Pelé, we think about Garrincha and we think about glorious World Cup. 5 times getting the maximum prestige in the Universe of Football...so we are in the right path!

Football is part of our culture...not even the big protests outside the stadium could kill the magic and the respect for our National Team...even people in the protests stopped in some bars to see part of the game...When we think about Brazil, 3 things come to our heads: SAMBA, FOOTBALL AND BEACH.

Now...let the World Cup Comes....

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner