Rio’s legendary Carnival is in 2 weeks and already it seems to be on everybody’s minds.

Our taxi driver from the airport went on about how much kissing goes on during Carnival, even going so far as to pretend he was making out with an imaginary girl sitting on his steering wheel. He seemed quite disappointed when he found out Mr P and I were a couple, since all the chances for random hooking up with strangers would be wasted on us.

Never mind, everyone gets to enjoy Carnival in some way or other!

We were walking along the beautiful Rodriga de Freitas Lagoon (Lagoa), watching people jogging and walking by in their families, when we heard a distant rumbling sound and decided to check it out.

Lo and behold, a mini samba float party! Three dancers on stilts leading the show, covered in glitter and tireless in the heat…