We went to Rio to see how they play Samba in the baterias. So before we went we e-mailed some samba-schools to ask if we could visit them, we did not get a lot of reactions, but there was one school (G.R.E.S. Acad�micos do Dend�) who asked us not only to come and see, but to play along with them. Ofcourse we wanted to do that!!!
We arrived very early in Rio, so we decided to take a little walk... Our Hotel (Debret) was at the Copacabana, so we were close to the Lagoa (lake), and we decided to walk around it, it didn't seem so far, and the weather was nice... Ahem, big mistake, it is almost 20 km. But on the other side of the lake was Jardim Bot�nico, were we made some nice pictures.
If you look between the trees (the photo on the right), You can see Corcovado
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One of the best things about brasil, are the suco-bars on almost each corner you will find one. The make fruit-juices out al kinds of fruit, even some fruits which you've never heared of. And they display their fruit very beautiful! |
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| Then Andr� (the guy we e-mailed with from Dend�) took us to a party from Uni�o da Ilha, they are in the special group, that is the highest group, the get to walk in the Samb�dromo. Every school has a party before carnaval where they present the song and the theme of that year. |
The next day the party was at the school of Dend�, and we were the special guests. the people there were very friendly, everybody expected us and wanted to meet us.
It was realy great!!!
 We saw some little girls dance Samba, and some little boys play Caixa |
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In Rio carnaval is about tradition, they have a Porta Bandeira, a girl who carries the flag of the school and a mestre Sala, who flirts with the Porta-Bandeira. They dance together and present the flag to special people. It is a nice ceremony were they make a dance and then show the flag, the person who the flag is presented to then has to kiss the flag.
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 Here the flag is presented to us. |
From left to right: The mother of Andr�, Marcel, Andr� and I, next photo: Andr� and his girlfriend Daniella
This is the view if you stand on top of P�o de A��car, from left to right Copacabana, Corcovado and Flamengo.
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This is the transportation to the top, a cable-car. A few monthes after we had been there, there was a defect and al the people had to get out of the cable-car with a rope... iehhh. If you see P�o de A��car from this side it seems that there is not much to see, but on the other side there is a beautiful parc, and of course the view is awsome. |
 I also like the way the buildings are painted, here are some examples |
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This was our first rehearsal for the parade. They played realy fast, that is why I look so, ehh concentrated :)
Friday before carnaval Andr� took us to see the floats, where they are build.
On the left you can see the president of Dend�.
We were also alowed to see the floats of Uni�o da Ilha, unfourtunatly we were not alowed to take pictures.
The theme of this years Carnaval was Brasil 500 years, the birth of a new country.
Then we went to the Samb�dromo to see the parade of the children, which starts friday evening.
All the floats are puched by men, in Holland we have tractors in front to pull the float.
Every bairro (=district) has it's own podium and their own bands.
This band is playing in Catete (between Flamengo and Gloria).
Here you can see Rio Branco, one of the most popular places to be in the Centro.
This girl is waiting for the parade to start.
Believe it or not, but the white section in the middle of the picture is 1 batucada.
This is the Samb�dromo on Saturday, when the special group parades.
Here you can see how the problem of electric quitars is solved, just plug into the car in front of you.
They are definitly having fun.
Then the big day started!
The parade of Dend� in Bom Sucesso.
One of the floats and the costumes to go with it.
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 These are our costumes, It is hard to give a kiss with a hat like that. |
The indians and the portugese
The choreographer, Porta-Bandeira and Mestre Sala
Samba-girls and the leading Surdo de terceira player
Here you can see the Baianas.
The aunts from Bahia, who brought the rhythm to Rio.
| At the suco-bar again, with some p�o de queijo (cheese bread), suco de Manga (mango-juice) and suco de Mel�o (Melon-juice). |
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 | On our way to Corcovado we saw this monkey eating a banana. |
This is Christo Redentor, which was being restored when we were there.
This is the view you have of P�o de A��car when you are at the top.
There was a little fog when we were there, but it was beautifull anyway.
Marcel wanted a lesson in playing Repinique, so we went back to the school of Dend�.
One week after Carnaval there is the parade of the winners in the Samb�dromo.
These are some floats of Mocidade.
They became second, but were the publics favourite.
After the parade, people take of their costumes end get into the bus back home.
Here you can take a close look at the costumes.
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That was the end of Brasil, we had to make a stop-over in Lisbon for a day.
Great oportunaty to eat some pasteis do Bel�m, at this famous pastry shop. Or some roasted chestnuts on the street. |
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Then we went back home, where my father was waiting to pick us up.
We bought him some presents.
These are the instruments we took home with us from Brasil.
You can see a quica, caixa, pandeiro, repinique, 2 agogos and a rocca.
We had a great holiday, and we would like to thank all the people who made this possible.
Special thanks to Andr�, for he was a great host, and his mother for the best Feijoada ever.
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