Part of my doesn´t even want to attempt describing Rio Carnival. But i will try as best i can... It´s always been a dream of mine to experience this event, and to have been there, and done it and had my expectations more than met i can honestly say...EVERYONE should experience Carnival at some point in their life! There is a reason why millions flock from all over the world to see what all the fuss is about.
For me carnival began on my first day in Rio. On the 20th February, there was a street parade near Ipanema beach, and the following Sunday i experienced the first of many street parties! Every weekend for the month build up before carnival parades and parties begin in the streets - giving a snippet of what will come.....
5 days of Carnival Carnage....
Friday 4th March - First proper street parade
Carnival officially began. The morning was pretty chilled out and consisted of a nice breakfast and walk to the beach, and as the afternoon went on the streets filled out, the costumes appeared and Renata, Leo, Gokhan and i experienced the our first parade of carnival 2011. Part of a mass crowd featuring all sorts of characters from Minnie Mouse to an M&M we followed the float blasting samba songs around for two hours.
Saturday 5th March - Reunion and Masquerade party
Reunited for round 3 with the wonderful Hannah and Laura Saturday night started with Caipirinha´s and free bread at some bar/cafe/restaurant in Leblon.
Then back to the appartment i put on make up and heels for the first time in weeks. It was nice! I went with a big group of Brazilians to a really fun club - all wearing masks to dance the night away until 6am. The club was pretty huge and spread over a few floors. Traditional Brazilian music along with some English music was played. Everyone was in good spirits.
Whilst waiting for a cab i experienced my first snippet of corrupt Brazilian police. At a gas station waiting to be collected Renata, Leo and I saw a group of policemen take a man around a corner with a gun. This was probably the first time i have ever seen a real gun so close. Apparently the police in Rio are quite corrupt and that was the impression i got. If you get into trouble it´s advised not to seek help from them. I don´t know what happened to that man in those hours of the morning but the cab ride past the Christ Redeemer and through the city in the early hours felt very surreal.
Sunday 6th March - Beach and rest
Surprisingly i woke up around 10am having had about three hours sleep and made my way to Copacabana at lunch to meet my English friends. Although we were laying on the beach the carnival spirit was still much alive with bands on the streets and everyone still in full costume. At around 5pm we made our way back to Leblon to cook dinner.. The journey took about 2 hours because the parades were starting again and the streets were overflowing with people.
Monday 7th March- Street paties, parades, bus parties, Sambadrome
After a well rested sleep i was ready to get back on the streets in costume for drinks and dancing. After helping to fix the toilet in Renata´s appartment which had somehow been blocked the previous day Carol and i hit the streets. As soon as we opened the appartment door there was a parade float outside the front, people going crazy and we joined the fun. We boarded a bus to find a parade in another part of the city, but the bus alone was a party. I have never seen anything like it. Dancing, singing, shouting at every point in the city.
In the evening it was the attempt to get tickets for the famous Sambadrome (which is the only part of carnival really displayed on British TV). Renata is a journalist so Leo, Gokhan and i went to the part of town in a cab with her and then tried to get cheap tickets. Luckily being with Brazilian meant we didn´t get to ripped off. This part of town was very different to Leblon. When we entered the Sambadrome, away from the dark and somewhat dodgy alley ways the colours, music and sound of the crowd overwhelmed the senses. It was amazing! We only stayed for one samba school because the rain started gushing down, but it was 2am by this point. Off to Jobi we went for some early morning beers and snacks.
Tuesday 8th March - Final street parade, parties, Lagoa
The final day of carnage had arrived and i experienced my favourite street party of the lot. Cocktail on the beach at midday, purchasing pink wigs and getting into costume before following a parade with a marching band was how it started.... and how it continued. We spent all day dancing in the street near Ipanema beach. Fun, sun, smiles, and laughter.
The day ended at an amazing bar near the lagoon, where the scenery was breath taking. It was the perfect place to unwind from all the chaos and energy from carnival...... walking down the street the following day with no-one in fancy dress, no bands, no parades, no crazy singing and no dancing was almost as surreal as carnival itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment