30 Hours in Rio de Janeiro
On my way to Patagonia I figured was a good stop to see Rio. First time in Brasil and is a wonderful place, friendly people, beautiful weather and scenery and spirit like no other place. As I write I’m waiting for a lift back to the airport and the Carnival street parties are on full swing with drums everywhere and traffic ground to a halt. I came to see the parades and they were so worth it even if I caught the preliminary and not the largest of them. I did see last nights winner who will go again Sunday for the primary event. I also got to see famous beaches, Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, and some street parties so all in all not bad for a long day.
Having seen so many marathon signs saying “worst parade ever” this just made me think wow this is the best parade ever and that is all that went through my head as I watched the floats and all the dancing. Thinking about the spring celebration that is held before lent in so many places I wondered what some of the differences were? Venice, New Orleans, Sydney, Munich, the celebration is held in so many countries and all are so different. In Germany it’s starkbierziet with strong beers before the fast, in New Orleans Mardi Gras is debauchery, in Italy the celebration and the beautiful masks.
Here to me it’s all about the dance and the energy. Despite my concerns that South America is usually disorganized and chaotic this is anything but. The parades at the Sambadoromo are organized and amazing. The coordination it must take for the thousands of people in each samba school is phenomenal, hundreds of drummers, dancers of every stripe. I would include singers but the crowd fulfills that roll more than the floats often times which is what makes the energy so cool. I understand each Samba school has between 3000 and 5000 people making this the largest show on earth. People in the stands are all singing and dancing the night away in revelry from young to old alike.
This spirit and passion is something akin to the most intense sports fans at the biggest match of their season. The pictures cannot do justice to this place and these people but want to post a few before I leave for the next place.
Yes there is a man in the mouth of the monster over the kettle ……
And on to beaches and tourism.
Departing shortly after a bit more dancing in the street.
Not bad for 30 hours…..
