Our hotel room view of Copacabana
Beach, Rio de Janeiro (population
10,000,000)
Beach, Rio de Janeiro (population
10,000,000)
Ipanema Beach - yes, that Ipanema!
Beach culture is a central part of Rio
life.
Beach culture is a central part of Rio
life.
Avenida Atlantica is a constant parade
of sun worshippers enjoying a stroll on
the 2 mile mosaic sidewalk designed by
Roberto Burle Marx
of sun worshippers enjoying a stroll on
the 2 mile mosaic sidewalk designed by
Roberto Burle Marx
We attended the first of two all-night
parades at the Sambadromo, a purpose-
built mile-long stadium holding over
100,000 spectators
parades at the Sambadromo, a purpose-
built mile-long stadium holding over
100,000 spectators
The Samba parade is a mind-numbing spectacle of color and sound - music,
passion and unbridled frenzy - that is actually a very serious competition
between fourteen "samba schools" who practice all year for the event.
passion and unbridled frenzy - that is actually a very serious competition
between fourteen "samba schools" who practice all year for the event.
While the scantily-clad statuesque
samba dancers get lots of publicity,
they are actually a small part of the
parade
samba dancers get lots of publicity,
they are actually a small part of the
parade
These marchers seemed to represent
technology
technology
Each samba school selects a theme
song which plays over & over again as
they march and dance
song which plays over & over again as
they march and dance
Each school takes about an hour to pass through the stadium - seven hours of
parading each evening
parading each evening
Many floats are quite elaborate and
large - up to 100 feet long and 30 - 40
feet tall
large - up to 100 feet long and 30 - 40
feet tall
This pyramid is composed of blue body
painted performers!
painted performers!
This float is filled with Frankenstein
monsters!
monsters!
These marchers appear to have
super-sized brains!
super-sized brains!
Some floats were wholesome family-oriented themes...
while others had a decidedly more adult appeal.
This double float had several go-cart
mini-cars that sped around the track
as the float passed by
mini-cars that sped around the track
as the float passed by
Each samba "school" has between
3000 - 5000 participants in the parade
3000 - 5000 participants in the parade
The exuberance, joy & passion of the
singing & dancing was almost hypnotic
to the crowd, who waved flags &
danced in the stands until 7 AM!
singing & dancing was almost hypnotic
to the crowd, who waved flags &
danced in the stands until 7 AM!