I must confess that I have forgotten how much the nation goes crazy about Carnaval here!!! It's non-stop!


Everyday there are "Blocos de Carnaval" on the streets, those are people from the local communities that get together to come up with music, lyrics, costumes, themes for their "Bloco" (kinda like a street band). When it's time to get on the streets with its components, everyone from all over their and other neighborhoods follow the Bloco as it travels on its made up route around the streets of Rio. 


You hear old and new Samba songs sung by everyone, the band attracts everyone with its "paradinha" little stops during the song they make with a hip-hop/funk beat that makes everyone get crunk as my friends from Louisiana would say! :) There are dozens of Blocos registered in Rio, they all have their own route, police for security and keeping the peace (and now the pee, it is illegal to pee on the streets, and they will take you in for that!) and people dancing and singing non-stop for hours! 


More than half of those people who follow the Blocos, usually go from one to another, making it a Bloco marathon that could take 12 hours or more in a day!!! Those people we call them SOLDIERS, bc only with a soldier training you can do that all 5 days of Carnaval. 


There is also the Samba School parade, they have their own league, and it's much more like a professional parade. The Samba Schools are judged in many categories. Every year there is a theme they must follow. Every Samba School must have percussions aka Bateria, an opening act called "Comissao de Frente", 6-7 "Carros Alegoricos" (the floats) if I'm not mistaken, "Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira (soon to be explained), "Rainha da Bateria" and some other things. They are all judged about their music, lyrics, performance, style, floats... so many categories... It's the real deal!!!! 


I had the privilege to go watch the second day of the parades at the Sambrodomo (name of the place made JUST for this parade). I got a VIP pass to one of the Samba School's room. It was AWESOME! I was at Grande Rio's VIP with a fellow volleyball friend. We had so much fun! In there they have free drinks, free hot dogs, even free ice creams! WOW! Oh.. Also dinner, they served us some pasta and later on so fresh fruit salad, now that's what I am talking about!!!


My friend and I stayed til 6:30am when the last Samba School finished crossing the Sapucai (name of Sambodromo's Avenue). We HAD to watch Mangueira, the Samba School that I passionately cheer for. Oh... Have I mentioned that the Samba School parades is sorta like the musical soccer leagues??? Oh yeah! You cheer for a Samba School and you love their flag and their colors, just like soccer! The only difference is that you NEVER acknowledge another soccer team's good performance otherwise you are a traitor, but you may acknowledge another Samba School's performance, because it is all for the love of music at the end. ;)


I made a few videos so you guys can have a small idea of how HUGE this is, it's beautiful and so much fun, and it is DEFINITELY something you all should do one day in your life!

After the Rainha da Bateria comes the Bateria itself, composed of more than 150 people who train so hard twice a week minimum for about 6-7 months per year so they do a great show during their time on the Sapucai (name given to the Avenue where the parade takes place). Behind the Bateria come the Passistas (sort of professional samba dancers from the school), they are likely to be people from the community, who grew up going to their rehearsals and learned how to samba like no other. 
Now, if you want to ask me if I know how to samba like them??? The answer is YES! Although i might be a little rusty from spending the last 10 Carnavals in USA ;) but if you are wondering if i wear the same outfit they wear when I go do my samba... the answer is NO WAY! hahaha, maybe if one of the Samba School invite me to their parade one day I may just jump on that train!


Here is a video of "Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira" aka ??? how can I translate his name? Sorry but I cannot make sense in this translation if I try, so let's call him the guy who introduces the girl, the Flag's Keeper. They are a "couple" at the Sapucai, Avenue of Samba. They represent the love for the Samba School, also with coreographies and stylish footwork. They play a major role in the points system too!

What about training you must be asking, since my title says Training during Carnaval... well, it kinda does not happen hehehehe. We took Saturday, Sunday and Monday off, which it is not a lot at all. I know some teams have been off since Friday and are just returning to their full training regimen tomorrow, Thursday! 


So that is it! I just wanted to share a little with you guys about Carnaval in Rio, it is a great experience if you know where, when and how to go to all the Blocos and Parades.


Til next blog!!! :)