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Well, I don't think there are any words to describe this place! Insane is one that comes close and carnage could cover parts! I have never known a city to party like it. Now I had heard that carnival was a party in Rio and that business comes to a stand still across public holidays spanning 5 days but nothing could have prepared me for exactly how much partying one city can do! Starting on Friday different streets across Rio host vibrant street parties called Blocos which last between 2 - 6 hours each and have between 500 and 120,000 attending! The first Bloco of the day starts at 8am and the final ones legally have to finish around 11am, however stragglers (and yes that always included us!!) continued the party into the early hours congregating outside bars and clubs dancing the morning away!! What this does mean is that if you so desired you could party from 8am onwards, following Blocos through different neighbourhoods, or if you are not so hardcore (me) you can choose the option of dipping in and out - maybe one early doors, then back for some pool and sunshine, then an evening one! Or equally go out in the afternoon and continue through - certainly not hardcore enough to go all the way through!
Having had three days prior to the madness to settle into the Carioca lifestyle we made the school boy error of turning up late for our first Bloco only to find it finished! So it seems that the notoriously laid back Carioca's who are an hour minimum late for everything buck the trend when it comes to partying over 'Carnival'; Blocos start on time, locals and tourists party hard and then they finish dead on time!!
Preparation for our partying started at 10am on Friday with a visit to the markets and numerous fancy dress shops - the most hysterical and over the top shopping trip ever! Donned with everything from sailors hats to 1920's style feather head garments, pink sparkly princess hats to hula hula skirts the only thing left to do was to make sure we also had enough limes, ice and Cachaca for the Caipaeinias to ensure getting ready went smoothly! After some impressive body painting from Dannie, glitter from Matt and a photo shoot of us all dolled up with 'The Big Guy' lit up in the background we were ready for our first Bloco - even if we were 3 hours late!! Ah well it's a good job Rio parties 24/7, Emporio in Ipenema it was then!
The uniform it seems is anything......go all out (paint yourself blue and go as a smurf, get dressed up as a lady bug, Indians were a popular theme, any Disney character or maybe a belly dancer) or just a subtle piece along with normal attire to prove you're in the 'Carnival' spirit (a hula hula skirt, a feather in your hair, a sailors cap). The party goers are all shapes, sizes, ages, races but with one thing in common, they are here for the ultimate party that is 'Carnival'.
What will I remember the Blocos for?
1. The fabulous music, both local and otherwise
2. Dancing like I was 16 again amongst 1000s of very sweaty bodies!
3. The street vendors selling beer from shopping trolleys, candy floss from broom handles and popcorn from barrows
4. The fake snow sprayed and the tiny colourful pieces of confetti thrown mostly by kids
5. The amazing costumes
6. The toilets!
7. The Brazilian male pulling technique - stare, s,ole, snog!
8. The aftermath of carnage on the streets and stench of piss that was almost close to India!!
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