Feliz Carnival!

The world's biggest party starts tonight. Most Brazilians have spent months planning for the next few days. The cities fill up as friends and family flood in along with thousands of sun-burnt gringos. Stores along the main avenues board up, and small barracas sprout up selling everything from beer and hot dogs to candy and cheese on a stick. The city closes down and there is nothing to do but go out in the streets and dance. Everyone is ready for a good time.

Each major Brazilian city has its own distinct Carnival traditions, and for the uninitiated, things can become very confusing pretty quickly. Here's the dirt on Carnival in Bahia, Rio, and Olinda, with some nice pictures to boot.

Chiclete com Banana in Salvador.


Salvador's carnival revolves around trio-eléctricos that weave through the city.


In Rio, the Sambadromo is another planet (and these are tame images!):



I wonder where these two are from?

In the streets of Olinda, a more old-school carnival with bonecos and maracatus.




Over the next few days, we'll talk more about Carnival, so stay tuned and have a blast.