Carnaval: Sunday Night at the Sambódromo

The highlight of our Carnaval experience this year was certainly getting to go to the Sambódromo in Rio de Janeiro! We saw 6 samba schools compete (6 more paraded on Monday night) between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. It was an awesome experience that I think everyone should have at least once in their lifetime!

The parades were a combination of huge crazy floats carrying tons of people, people marching/dancing along in huge elaborate costumes, a large group of drummers/other percussion instruments, and the oh-so-famous samba girls with their high heels, feather headdresses, some glitter, and not much else. Each school had a theme along with their own song that was sung repeated for the entire 1 1/2 hours that they paraded.

To give you an idea of just how hot and humid it was, we had just arrived at 9:00 pm when we took this picture. We did actually start off the night with showers and looking a little less greasy too! And, we were up at the very top where we could get at least a little bit of a breeze and where I wouldn't be brushed up against by quite as many sweaty people. (My personal space bubble gets larger when the temperature is above 90 degrees . . . even Dear Hubby was sternly warned not to touch me on more than one occasion!)

A panoramic shot of the 1/3 mile parade route

The float above was really cool. The gold-painted people would stop dancing and freeze every so often, looking like statues!

Proof that Z Baby got to celebrate Carnaval 2009 in the Sambóbromo!

There was a huge group of photographers that followed each of the samba girls down the parade route taking tons of pictures. Some were probably famous people, others were just beautiful and almost naked.

This chick is brave. Based on the construction techniques I've witnessed here (you know, like kitchen sinks that can't stay attached) you'd be hard pressed to convince me to stand on a moving piece protruding from a moving parade float over 3 stories high in the air . . .

Now, is it just me or do you also want to warn this girl that her lovely round cheeks are about to be pinched by a giant claw?

This was one of my favorite costumes. Part of the theme for this samba school was a celebration of the evolution of baths. These costumes were designed for two people and meant to look like they were taking a bubble bath in an old round wooden tub! Too cute.





Holding strong past 4:00 am. It brings a whole new meaning to the "5 o'clock shadow".

Leaving the Sambódromo after sunrise . . . we passed lots of the parade participants walking down the street carrying their hot, heavy costumes. I was ecstatic to be in an air-conditioned taxi at this moment.

And a little video montage for those of you wanting a better taste of Carnaval! (It may take a little while to load.)

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