Photo source: Wikipedia.com

Carnival
Carnival is upon us once again!  After months of rehearsing and planning, Rio is now pumping under the beat of samba.  Street blocos are popping up like poppies in an opium field and locals are dressing as German beer maidens, clowns, babies and exotic gypsies.  People adorn the latest t-shirt of their samba school or bloco. The weekend trains are packed.  Sun kissed tourists are getting down and out and street vendors are edging in for the trade.

The last of the technical rehearsals at the Sambadrome has now taken place and the city awaits…some for the parade and some for the public holiday and annual opportunity to get out of town. For a surprising number of locals, Samba is not their thing. But never to worry, as for many people and for many communities (young and old), Samba continues to be an essential part of peoples lives. It is where passion and joy…