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Monday, September 30, 2013

THE SPANISH VERSION OF A LOVELY DAY IN RIO - FULL COMPLETE TOUR - LA VERSION ESPAÑOLA DE UN DIA COMPLETO EN RIO

Hola Amigos!!! :) Casi nunca yo escribo en español, idioma que llevo muy hondo en la vida pues tengo orgullo de mis raices andaluzas (fuerte abrazo a los amigos de Sevilla, de Malaga, de Cadiz y Almeria) y mi infinito amor y cariño por ESPAÑA (fuerte abrazo para mis primos vascos y los amigos de Murcia, Canarias, Aragon, Catalunia y Valencia, sin olvidarme de mi gente que está en Andorra) y siempre que puedo estoy con mi gente de Buenos Aires y los primos de mi queridisimo Uruguay; mis increibles amigos de Chile, de mis siempre felizes amigos de Colombia; mi gran brazo derecho Luis en Caracas; mis maravillosas hermanitas de DOMINICANA...(besos enormes a Santo Domingo), mi gente querida de Costa Rica, mis amigos de Puerto Rico y mi gente querida de Mexico...Tengo la LATINIDAD en mi...pero no sé si escribo o si hablo español tan bien cuanto yo deseo.

Pero quiero tambien estar presente con ustedes y hacer que todos sepan que yo hago y por donde voy.

Para los que no me conocen me llamo Rafael...soy Guia de Turismo en Rio, todo Brasil y en toda Sudamerica. Mis amigos y toda la gente que me busca me llaman RAFA...Estoy en este laburo apasionante por 13 años ahora y quiero que todos sepan que aqui ustedes encontrarán mas que un Guia, van a encontrar un amigo de verdad listo para hacer de Rio tu hogar afuera de casa.


Claro que toda visita a Rio hay que empezar en el Cristo, que está en la cima del Corcovado, impresionante montaña que se ve de todos los lados de la ciudad; simbolo maximo de Rio y una de las maravillas del mundo, pero atencion, si esta nublado el tiempo no vale la pena ir porque no se vé ni la cabeza del Cristo, seria como tirar plata a la basura, hay que intentar ir siempre lo mas temprano posible porque siempre hay enormes filas, y llegando a los puestos antes de las 9 de la mañana se puede ir sin problemas.


Y con mucha diversion se explore el barrio antiguo de Santa Teresa con su herencia portuguesa muy presente en la arquitetura, en las costumbres y en la cultura...Lugar de muchos artistas y de mucho verde. 

En Santa Tereza hay siempre que parar para un café o un té por la mañana y siempre con buena compañia, aqui aparece Marcone (uno de los excelentes guias que estan siempre conmigo) y yo con bastante humor en el CAFECITO, absolutamente tradicional punto gastronomico del Barrio. El buen gusto, la atencion de toda la gente en este paraiso de paz. Viva los amigos del CAFECITO.


El Arte en las calles de Santa Teresa es una atraccion a parte...aqui tambien participamos con lo mejor de nuestra dramatizacion, aqui y mi primita vasca, Sara estamos dando todo el apoyo a este pequeñito indigena; en mi facebook, hay toda una galeria de fotos de esta gente llorona, jajajajajajaja


Selaron no esta con nosotros pero nos dejó su legado y la gente que ama Rio de verdad siempre pasa por allí para ver los azulejos, para hablar de lugares visitados y para cuidar de este lugar que es mas un simbolo de Rio, la Escalera de Selaron tiene la cara de Rio y tiene que ser parte principal de tu visita a Rio.



Toda visita a Rio tiene que unir cultura, paisajes y mucha diversion, es hacer fiesta en nuestra casa, eso para mi es conocer Rio y si nos dá el tiempo y si tambien es mucho deseo de los sitios que tu quieres visitar, el Pan de Azucar puede ser parte del itinerario aunque visitarlo es tan facil que es algo que puedes hacer tu mismo y conmigo podemos visitar otros sitios mas dificiles de alcanzar, por lo menos una foto con la famosa montaña todos tienen!!! Aqui tengo mi amigo Mitch que vive en Brasilia y tiene Brasil como su segunda casa.


Niteroi es siempre una alegria, y la ciudad vecina a Rio está siempre presente en mi tour. La ciudad es como se fuera una gran señora fascinante que nadie conoce; nadie sabe que Niteroi es la "ciudad sonrisa"; nadie sabe que conociendo Niteroi te dará mucho conocimiento acerca de la geografia de Rio y su historia que es fascinante desde la epoca colonial hasta hoy. Niteroi está al lado de Rio que es la capital del Estado. Niteroi es la Tierra que me hizo ser lo que soy, he vivido espetaculares 20 años de mi vida.

Mi amigo de Basel, Suiza, Michael estuvo con nosotros y este dia fué inolvidable.

Llegar a Rio y no conocer Niteroi es un grave error.



Una visita a Niteroi es siempre una fiesta...huerga total, buena onda y los encuentros en el MAC son siempre asi...estoy de acuerdo que visitar el Museu no es tan importante, pero la ubicacion es perfecta para entender y sentir la belleza de Niteroi, pero el edificio tiene su importancia en el encenario brasileño...fué una construccion de nuestro Oscar Niemeyer, el mismo architecto que construyó Brasilia, nuestra capital. Aqui tengo mis amigos de Australia y mis amigos de Goiania, el brillante Vitor con su increible compañera y gran amiga Carol.

El Museo es nuestra primera parada en Niteroi.



Solo en Niteroi es donde nos damos cuenta que Niteroi es hermosa, es donde uno siente en el alma que Rio es una verdadera y total pasion. El Parque da Cidade aún es el gran secreto entre los lugares que vamos a visitar. De ahi se salta al aire, de ahi se ve la mejor puesta del sol de todo el Estado, un verdadero playground esperando por ti.



Y terminamos el dia en un sitio que te dá una otra cara de Rio, un lugar quieto, tranquilo y lleno de vida. Una vida simples de un lugar sin el glamour de Ipanema o Leblon...pero un lugar donde se vé gente de verdad, un lugar en que el tiempo para tan cerca de la siempre apurada ciudad de Rio de Janeiro. Niteroi es asi...es un Rio que nadie conoce y que vale mucho a pena visitar.



Soy Rafa...tu guia en Rio que tiene la vida como mas grande tesoro, la persona que pone vida en lo que hace y que estará siempre por aqui a lo hora que necesites!

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

LONG LINES FOR THIS HIGH SEASON - SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CHRIST AND THE SUGAR LOAF


Yes...the Christ is famous and The Christ is a big friend of Rio and everywhere you go in the city you will always see our ICON with arms wide open telling you that you are very welcome in the city. But big icons are very visited and Rio is always on People's mind when they choose a place to go.

For me the big five icons in the World are:

THE CHRIST
THE "LIBERTY LADY"
THAT IRONED TOWER IN THE CENTER OF PARIS
THE CLOCK THAT IS NEVER LATE IN LONDON
AND THAT FLAT MOUNTAIN TOP IN CAPE TOWN...

So you have to expect huge lines and there will be no way to avoid a lot of time waiting under the heat...So when you think about having a tour in one day in Rio just consider that you will be waiting  a lot, and no guides can make it easier for you because it is not our fault that the city is not prepared for at least give us options.

So if you have more than one day...maybe going to the Christ by yourself can be the best idea and let me take you to the unique places of Rio, to the secrets, to the hidden pearls, to places that hardly any people go and you will have an authentic experience!

But I am not saying that I WILL NOT take you there, I am just giving you FOOD FOR THOUGHTS to make your trip to Rio perfect!


Oh yes...this is how Rio drives me crazy!!! I love this city!!! :)))))))

Heheheheheh one of the first things I write when I write to my guests for the first time is that I am not only a guide in Rio...I am your friend in Rio and I love being in a great vibe and energy and my work is a total fun. I really love what I do...

Anyway...the same suggestion that I gave in the very start of this posting, goes to the Sugar Loaf and lines can be terrible during the weekends. Sundays and Saturdays are the worst days to visit either the Christ or the Sugar Loaf, unless if you go very early in the morning. We may start the tour by 8:00 am.

Rio has so many incredible places and the city will be always the main door of Brazil.

RAFAEL TORRES LOPES
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

THE MOVE - THE FINAL STEPS


Now it is official, last Sunday, September 22nd 2013 (yes...it is not 2014, hahahah)...I am always living in advance...it is normal for RAFA...Anyway...all I can say and I am very happy to tell you...We moved...lots of days and days of hard working, going from Copacabana to Tijuca back and forth, working 24/7...Packing, working hard, lots of money saving and lots of sacrifice, but we moved!!! :)

Tijuca will be our new home from now on...

With the amazing help of SEU JORGE TOYOTA and his assistant Bira we moved the last furnitures...it was a long day...organizing all the logistic in the morning and touring with our friends Andrea and her children Doug and Bryce to color our day...it was intense but a day to always remember....Marcone and I started our day before 6:00 am but we made it!!!

Now the big work will be unpacking, getting in touch with a lot of services and dealing with new paperwork...

I am happy that Tijuca will be part of our lives...maybe in the future I will write about Tijuca, it is a very pleasant neighborhood in the North of Rio.


I think it is very fair to register my thankfulness to the folks who work in the building were we lived for 4 years in one of the main streets of Copacabana; Barata Ribeiro Street, famous location right beside the traditional bar Cervantes. Fabio is our doorman who always helped us, delivering messages and mails, always giving us the best of assistance. He is a professional but I am sure I have one more friend for life!!

Thank you very much Fabio!


Eight years of my life I spent in Copacabana and my whole life in Rio de Janeiro...Being a carioca and live in Copa is a real gift . All this time with great moments so I will always carry this place with me no matter where I go. I am not leaving Copa with sadness...I am quite near, just a little far from this endless and gorgeous ocean...Cannot walk anymore to the beach, but if I take my car and no traffic...I just need extra 20 minutes. 


Copacabana wrote too many chapters in my "book of life"...Thank you Copacabana.


I know when you choose Rio to travel, Copacabana is always an option for your stay...And you should do it; the spirit of Rio is here. So democratic, so diverse, so charming and so elegant. I had several moments of happiness here and I am always there!!!

Copacabana in a way did a lot for everything that I am today.

To all friends and guests (and our guests become FRIENDS OF LIFE), we are fine, super busy with this new period of life but absolutely happy to take care of this great place; now we have more space for drinks and some snacks, some decent place for a wonderful visit and always waiting for you. We are your Guides in Rio and your friends in Brazil. We may take a littler bit longer to reply your messages...We are working out and unpacking at the same time, so time is a little limited, we wish our day could have 36 hours because 24 hours is not enough!

We are always grateful for all assistance and friendship!

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Saturday, September 21, 2013

THE BIGGEST STEP FOR 2013 - GOOD BYE COPACABANA


Copacacabana and I....almost 8 years with common stories...one place in Rio that I learnt to love and I did it very well....people say that every story has an end; very true and tomorrow I am writing the last chapter of such a awesome period of my life. But greedy of course also reached the most famous district of Rio de Janeiro, cost of life is high and home rentals are completely nonsense so it is time to move.

That was hard work, Marcone and I are nearly going mad with so many things to do...first the incredible journey to find another apartment to live and we knew it could not be Copacabana; then putting together all paperwork that is needed to rent an apartment; and here in Rio, you need to know someone who owns one property to nbe responsable of your payments, if you do not pay, this person who is absolutely difficult to find, will be the one who will pay for your failure on paying the rental...and we are proud to say that it never happened with us, haahhhahahahaa :)))) or you can pay a deposit (not everyone accept it) which is 3 times the rental amount.

Dear Reader, paying 3100 reais (a little more than 1500 USD) for a small apartment, one living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and services area is not fair. So we came to a conclusion that we need to go to another neighborhood in Rio and we found a nice house, spacious, clean. not so much neighbors (and the very few he have a good friends of us, they are Alexandre and his wife Patricia and Alexandre's mother, Celia. 

And the new neighborhood who will welcome us with opened arms will be the traditional and "aristocratic" Tijuca....yupieeeeeeee. Yes...my time in Copacabana is over, I should think more about the money that I can save to do other things, like more money to travel, not worrying about saving a fortune to pay the rent in the end of the month; also reaching peace of mind when I realize that living in Tijuca I will have more space and time to create things; there I will have my own office, I will have more space to welcome my friends, that means if you like you have a place to stay, our house is very close to the subway station and from there (São Francisco de Xavier Station) you just take 20 minutes; so it is very handy when it comes to public transportation, and the neighborhood has a lot of cool options, fine restaurants, nice young bars, shopping centers, interesting grocery stores; nice and shady streets. I am leaving the Ocean behind but I am encountering with an "ocean of quietness", if you know what I mean...


IF YOU CLICK HERE YOU WILL SEE OUR PLACE - RAFA"S NEW HOME THANKS TO GOOGLE EARTH!!! :)




It is a non stop work and we have our professional lives that cannot wait, lots to do and we do not even reach the perfection, but going to a new home needs a lot of dedication and all this would be impossible without the big help of my cousins (nearly me real sisters) Sonia and Noeme; they were present in every moment and Marcone and I will always take it in our hearts. The house is big and God Knows how much my space is essential for my existance....I was like a "cleaning lady" watching the loo; the outside area, trying to organize the little winter garden and our office. Lots to be done and I will be more than happier to show you the final result in my blog.


The celebrations already started, every opportunity we go out here in Tijuca to celebrate this new stage of our lives. Living in Tijuca is easy, endless cultural options, lots of transportation facilities and a good vibe.

I am really happy to share this moment with you, dear Reader...

A moment that started in September the same month of my birthday, doesn't it tell you something?????

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A WONDERFUL DAY STARTING IN NITEROI - MORE AUSSIE FRIENDS


We were supposed to take a lot of public transportation and walk a lot in our downtown area but the day was so sunny, wonderful and hot that I decided to show my best secret: WE WENT TO NITEROI!!! And to make things a little bit fasted I used my car. This people at the very first moment I saw them at Copacabana Palace, I thought to myself...we need more. 

At the lobby I met 4 smiley people and instantly I got 4 more wonderful friends from Perth, beautiful region in Western Australia, the Darling Range and first point in Australia when you come from Asia....Well, my super friend Jane Bell recommended my tours for these 4 intrepid travelers and we had a blast!!!!



Rio is famous for its mountains by the Sea and we just followed the Coast heading to Niteroi, visiting the Bay Side and crossing the bridge over Guanabara Bay. Right before reaching the Centro, I love to stop in a very privileged point where we have the full view of the Sugar Loaf by a very green park called Aterro do Flamengo, this is where I take some of great pictures. And we stopped in Boa Viagem beach which for me, gives us the best view of the Bay.

As you know I was raised in Niteroi, the city lives in my heart...

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 



In our way back we stopped in Santa Tereza. It is the most bohemian neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, the first portuguese settlement...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. In my 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.

It was also our stop to experience some of the best brazilian snack and we got to a restaurant which looks like a local's meeting and they serve excellent food, I knew it because I went there 3 times and I did not bother to memorize the name; but we have this restaurant in our best memory and stomach, hahahahaha :))))))

Our adventure continued when we visited the steps of Selaron which pictures you can see below...



Visiting the steps of Selaron is celebrating the life of a wonderful person that left an incredible legacy to my Rio. He existed and changed the whole story of an abandoned place of a bohemian neighborhood we have here. We do not have this artist among us any more, he lost him last year, but his art remained and we have to preserve because it is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Rio.

Well, my Perth Family, I am sure there will be more trips to Rio, I know it is faraway but we are very close in the hearts!

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide and Travel Planner

Monday, September 16, 2013

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT A SPECIAL FRIEND (OR COUSIN)


I am so lucky with my profession...it always give me wonderful friends...People that simply show to your life and stay there forever. People who teach you about life and make it much more than unique.

I had the prestige to meet Roger.. a fantastic person blessed by life...a person that shows his feelings and open heart....Someone with one of the best smiles I have ever seen in my life!!!

When we pose for a photo that says TE DESEJO INFINITO that shows how deep we are...that means "I wish you infinitely"...he loves and he is loved. He has the respect that everyone deserve to have and he is deeply loved by everyone who knows him!!!

Now I am a happier tour guide and way happier person since I have this wonderful friend in my life, since I have a person that struggles hard to make a better World!

Now Palm Springs and Rio has something in common: ROGER

And both places are honored about it!!!

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Rafael Torres Lopes
Tour Guide - A Friend in Rio and a Travel Planner 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

THE BLOG IS SAVED!!!!



Heeeey!!!!! I was really scared to death...I nearly lost my password and I would never write in here again. Yesterday I was so desperate that I started another blog that not I have to ask you to forget about it....IT IS OKAY...RAFA GUESTS IN RIO CONTINUES AND ALL MY IDEAS ARE HERE FOR YOU TO ENJOY!!!

First of all I must thank you for all your support...Abra, Dolly, Jakob you were incredible!!! :)

And yes...soon I will be back after more than one month without updating my tours adventures and my thoughts...so I will be back...so many things happened and I will love to share with you!!!

By the way, this picture was taken on the top of Corcovado Mountain, I took my friend Taryana there today!

I am happy to get back, I am happy that now I have my password and THE WRITTEN VERSION OF RAFA.

LOTS OF LOVE, 

Rafa