There's
nothing quite like the biggest party in the world, the Brazilians
call it Carnaval. It is supposed to be just one week of the year,
but Brazilians start the party as early as January. And of course
everything stops, businesses shut down. It's pretty much the same
throughout the country, but with a couple of exceptions.
In
Såo Paulo and Rio de Janerio, they have what are called
Sambadrones. Which are large runaways with seating on either side
stretching to the sky. The Samba schools which are really the
backbone of Carnaval, parade down the center of this runway which
is probably about 1,000 yards long. They put on a show with floats
and customs and create original music. This is actually a competition
amongst the Samba schools for the best theme, customs, music,
etc. They get huge cash prizes and the status of being the best.
In
the state of Salvador and the city of Bahia it is a little different.
Instead of Sambadrones, they use the city streets to parade. The
schools are there but others are there as well. Sometimes musicians
will parade as well. In Bahia, they create these huge floats with
hundreds of people on them. Around these floats there is a roped
area and you pay to be inside the rope. You get a t-shirt or something
that says you've paid, otherwise you are out. Anyway, this parade
goes around the city endlessly for 7 days and 24 hours a day.
The people inside the rope party, dance sing and drink and they
go until they drop. This is pretty much the wildest Carnaval in
Brazil.
The
rest of the country is kind of of like Bahia, but only on a much
smaller scale. You owe it to yourself to go to Carnaval at least
once in your life. It is the biggest and wildest Party on earth
and puts the American version of Carnaval "Mardi Gras"
to shame.
Also
as a side note, we spell "Carnaval" the Portuguese way.
