Brazil's Biggest Bash...

Excitement can make time move slowly, like in High School where the minutes before lunch break seemed to last days. In Rio, many are counting down on a different clock for Carnival to arrive. Across the stacks of apartments and colorful favelas, each neighborhood samba school is meticulously double checking their routines and sewing the last details onto their costumes. Only the most passionate, soulful samba schools make it to the performances on Fat Tuesday where the competition is fierce. Across the city, one starts to hear the staccato of fast paced drums echoing from one street to the next, each school is a team and every element contributes to the festival that will shut the city down for a week. Although today, the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Rio is continuing, these streets will be full of blocos (block parties) that begin at sunrise and won’t end until well after the sun sets 7 days later. Set your countdown, stock up and chill down your Dado beers and although the anticipation is unbearable and rent may be due, the festivities will begin before you know it. Carnival is right around the corner!