7 March 2011

Tonight is the night! Carnaval in Rio! Only the world's most famous party. The whole city has been going crazy since last Friday. Today is Monday. Officially the last night of Carnaval. And the most exclusive night of the Carnaval Parades in ths giant Sambadrome.

I've been spending the past week in Brasil with my very good friend Justus. We went down to Paraty, which is a very nice beach hangout, to relax and do some long overdue talking about all the stuff that's been going on in our lives. And about life in general of course. A beach, some caipirinha's and a good friend. What more do you need? But Justus has returned to Holland. So I'm on my own again. This is the start of the second phase of this amazing project. This project that in many ways has become so much bigger than I ever thought it could become. And I have the feeling we're just getting started! Phase II; The America's.
Let's start with a bang! Carnaval!

It's party time all over town. And it's been going on for days now! I've been around the city a couple of times. But I've been taking it relatively slow. Why? Because tonight I will be walking in the Sambadrome! The Sambadrome is the massive stadium for the Carnaval Parades. Basically it's a wide road of about 2 miles long that has huge crowds all the way up on both sides. This is where the 'floats' roll in one after another with their vivid colors and dancing Sambaqueens. They start with the drummer bands. Lead by the most important Queen of them all. After that each Sambaschool has about ten floats with different themes beautifully decorated and filled with the most beautiful women of Brasil. Without a doubt the place to be!

But 2011 has been a difficult year. Especially for 'my' Sambaschool: Grande Rio. A huge fire wiped out 90 percent of the floats and costumes this year. Nobody really knows what happened. Some say sabotage: Grande Rio was the favorite this year. Others can't believe anybody would do that. Carnaval is just too positive. Even the cartels from the favelas have a truce during Carnaval. The drug wars stop for five days so the people of Rio can celebrate the people's party of Carnaval.

I got into the Grande Rio school through a friend. A Dutch woman named Sabine who's been living in Brasil for three years. I don't know how she did it but she managed to become one of the dancing queens on one of the floats! Obviously for a Dutch woman quite an achievement and a very big honor. It's even an honor for Brasil's rich and famous!

She heard I was in town and invited me to follow her during this special day and make a photo reportage about it. That's how I got in. I can't wait to walk into the Sambadrome tonight and be in the middle of the biggest party in the world!