Carnaval Time!

23rd Feb - 2 Mar

The past week has been a blur.

Last Thursday was our final journey on Frank, our truck, as we approached the spectacular Rio de Janeiro. There was a very happy vibe on board as we pumped up our favourite tunes which we have all come to love during this trip. We eagerly waited for the moment we could step out the doors and set foot in the city notorious for its night life, beaches, parties, music scene and beautiful people.

On our first night in Rio we enjoyed a buffet at a local restaurant near our hotel, the Granada. Huge posters on the walls informed us that Franz Ferdinand was playing at the aqua duct a couple of hours later. Unfortunately there were no tickets left but not everyone was dissuaded. A few people from the group went to listen from outside, while the rest of us went to check out the bars nearby.

We spontaneously decided to check out Ipanema beach by night. We ended up at a little bar called Lord Jim’s pub, where a covers band were providing the music for a laid back crowd rocking out to the likes of Pearl Jam, Eagle Eye Cherry, Nirvana and other such bands.

On Friday we went to Corcovado where we stood by the feet of Christ the Redeemer. I took photos from every angle, not wanting to miss a single detail of this intricately carved monument. I am in now way religious but this was one of the most spectacular sites I’ve seen yet. Net we went to Sugarloaf Mountain where we took cable cars to the top for breath taking view of Brazil. We saw the famous Copacobana and Ipanema beaches and many others spanning the coastline.

That night a 5minute walk from our hotel saw us to a set of arches spread across the street where the music was pumping. The street parties were off the hook, the Caipirinha’s were flowing, people were dancing in the streets and wherever you turned there were smiling faces ready for a big night out in Rio. I had my dancing shoes on ready and was not disappointed.

Saturday night was the Red and Black ball. Everyone in the group had made the effort to get decked out in their best, craziest outfits and we headed off for yet another all night party. It was wild. We walked in there to be greeted by the sounds of a live band and a crowd full of eager party-goers. As the wee hours of the morning drew closer, the party got wilder and I thought it in my best interests to evacuate before I collapsed from exhaustion.
Sunday night was the night everyone had been eagerly anticipating. A 20 minute walk from our hotel saw us to the Sambadrome. What a spectacle it was. We got there for 9 when the first samba school was coming through, and, equipped with a few beverages and a couple of Bob’s Burgers, I was ready for the show.

The samba schools were absolutely amazing. They had obviously put long hard hours into the designs for their floats, their costumes, their dance routines and general appearance as this was a competition that is taken very seriously. I sat there, unable to draw my eyes from the parade, marvelling over the colours, so many colours, swirling in front of me in time to the music, as the thousands of competitors danced on by.

It was 10.45pm and just when I thought this night could not possible get any better, the rain came. Pouring down on us by the bucket load everyone was drenched to the skin. This did not dampen spirits but in fact gave everyone the motivation to get up and dance harder than ever before, if not even just to keep warm. The vibe in the stands was that of complete exhilaration as people everywhere were gyrating to the music, together in one soggy, wet mass. It was a rain dance if ever there was one and I was in my element.

At 3am a group of us set off to take showers at our hotel before heading out to another club nearby to the street parties at the arches. I found a hip-hop club and rounded everyone up for an early morning dance. We didn’t leave until 6 in the morning. Trudging back to our hotel we sat in reception and watched Carnaval on television as the final schools finished their lap. 6.30 rolled around and breakfast was welcomed by ravenous party goers who were, by that stage, ready to eat our own arms off. At 7 I flopped into bed, knowing that nothing would wake me from the deep slumber I was about to reward myself with.

After 7 weeks on tour, having met many fantastic people and seen so many awesome sights all around South America, I am currently enjoying some quiet time on the beaches at Isla Grande which is 4 hours off the coast of Rio. It has been a fantastic trip and one I will never forget!

=LOUISA=