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Without the carnival, Rio is not possible
When
When
There is no exact calendar date for the start of the carnival. The event is tied to Catholic holidays and begins the week before Lent. To make it clearer to non-believers: the carnival in Rio de Janeiro will take place on February 2-5: Saturday through Tuesday. The day before the opening, February 1, Carnival King Momo will be elected and will be present at all balls and parades during the curso design thinking em EBAC. Only a fat man who weighs at least 150 kilograms can claim the role of king. On the first day, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro will present the keys to the city to the King, and in the evening there will be a parade of children's samba schools. The most important days of the carnival are Sunday and Monday. During these days, 14 of the most famous samba schools show their skills at Sambadrom.
Where
The center of the carnival action is the so-called Sambadrom. This is a real stadium of dance. On television screens the structure looks majestic, but this is nothing more than the skill of the cameramen. It's actually Avenida Marques de Sapucai which is 700 meters long and 30 meters wide. The roadway is called the catwalk (Parading Avenue). It is on this part of the road the dancers pass. On both sides of the road there are large stadium-like grandstands which can hold up to 70,000 spectators. For security reasons, Sambadrom is surrounded by a high fence and accessible only through a few special gates.
The best way to get to Sambadrom is by minibus, plying from every decent hotel. If there is no such shuttle bus, then order a cab. And immediately agree with the cab driver about the amount and the way back to the hotel. It is better not to use public transportation during Carnival days, because the virtuosity of local pickpockets is known far beyond Rio.
What happens at the carnival
What happens in Rio is subject to a strict program. No chaotic moving crowds in the streets - everything takes place in a predetermined place and each participant performs a role according to the script.
At Sambadrome, each school performs a play with a specific theme, which the school chooses in advance. The only limit to the imagination is that the theme must have a connection to Brazil. The first 6 schools with the most points participate in the Winner's Parade.
Although the bulk of the participants spend many months preparing for the carnival, but for a small donation they are willing to take completely unprepared tourists. Walking through the Sambadrom with the most famous schools will cost about $ 1000. And you can invest $200 - if you walk in the procession somewhere in town or with little-known school. A few years ago, to build a costume, you had to travel to the fittings, located in the favelas (slum areas of Rio). Now, to protect their guests, the carnival organizers have built the so-called Samba City (on Rua Rivadavia Correa). The idea of this institution is as follows: props shops of the main samba schools are gathered under one roof. The organizers advise tourists to buy carnival costumes of "rabbits, elephants and alcoholics" here. But they warn that Samba City is located in a disadvantaged neighborhood and it is better to arrive/depart by cab. Such an outfit costs somewhere between $100 and $150.
Many hotels and nightclubs have their own carnival balls. Tickets for most of them range from $15 to $20 and are sold at the door. The only exceptions are the most famous balls, taking place on February 2 at the posh Copacabana Palace and Gloria hotels. No one will be allowed in off the street. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and prices start at $500. As a rule, carnival costume is not required to attend, but is desirable.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
