26 August 2008
Carmen Michael
Carnaval takes the madness of Rio de Janeiro and multiplies it by one hundred. It is nine hours long, deafeningly loud and involves 30,000 performers and more sequins than there is sand on Copacabana Beach. Smart travellers get the best seat they can afford and only turn up at midnight, when the best samba schools start coming out. For those with cash to flash, the Copacabana Palace ball is the Saturday night entertainment. It offers visitors the chance to rub shoulders with the who’s who of Brazilian society. Fine for some, say the locals, but the real heart of Carnaval is still the street party, where people in brightly coloured circus dress stop traffic with their trumpets and drums, banners and paper umbrellas. And that samba rhythm never stops.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way October 2007
Updated: August 2008