Carnival is celebrated at Lent which is 40 days before Easter. Historically this is the start of a 40 day period of abstinance. So Carnival was a time to let your hair down and have a party before these 40 boring days took hold. Nowdays it is just an excuse for having a wild party and a fabulous parade . It has become a very commercialised affair now and tickets to the main parade down the sambadrome ( which occurs 3 nights running ( Sunday to Wednesday) are difficult to get hold of. But it still remains a magnificent event and well worth experiencing. You need to buy tickets as early as possible in the preceding year. Plan for a long night and an unforgettable experience. It usually starts around 8 pm and don't expect to get away until 6 am if you want to see it all. Security is good and taxis readily available to get you home. Food and refreshments easily available on site.
Pre-Carnival Balls. These normally start on the Friday before the parade and are held in large clubs/theatres around Rio. Some are private for the very wealthy but others are accessible to the general public. Also most clubs and discos will put something special on. Tickets to these balls vary but expect to pay up to $50. You can come in costume if you like but bermuda shorts and a colorful shirt are the norm for men.
On the Saturday following the Carnival the winners do a free parade around the centre of Rio de Janeiro.
Carnival Dates for next few years
2008 - February 03rd
2009 - February 22nd
2010 - February 13th
2011 - March 05th
After the Rio Carnival the most famous is the Bahia (Salvador) carnival. This has a different feel to it. It is a street carnival with masses of people and music on the streets. It is becoming very popular with foreign tourists.
Seats in the Sambadrome
The most expensive seats are in the enclosed boxes ( camarotes ). These are air conditioned and can take up to 12 people although that is a bit cramped. You will be mixing with rich and famous people in these boxes.
Next best ( price wise and view ) are the stands ( Arquibancadas ). Good views as they are raised. The whole sambadrome is a pretty basic place, just a bare concrete structure so your backside is going to get sore if you sit down for too long so you might want to bring some type of cushion. But you'll be standing for a lot of the time in order to see as everyone will be up dancing, jigging around etc.
Finally you should be aware that accomodation prices are very high during the carnival period, particularly over the 4-5 days of the parade itself. You also need to book well in advance to guarantee a room.
Direct Ads Plastic Surgery in Brazil Olympus Cameras 