After living in New Orleans for two years and experiencing four years worth of Mardi Gras madness, it was time to check out how Brazil does Carnaval. The first impression I got was that it is much bigger than NOLA. Maybe it is because I haven´t been to Mardi Gras for five years, but it just feels bigger. And it might be because the whole country is celebrating. The majority of people that I have met during this week are Brazilians from São Paulo, escaping their town's party for the one here on the beach.
Recife and Olinda are two towns located along the coast and are next to each other. At one point, they were separate twons, but their borders now touch each other. During the day and into the evening, the parties are happening in Olinda .Then everyone jumps on the bus and makes their way down to Recife for the night and early morning.
Most of the partying is just drinking on the streets and at bars and at tiendas that set up tables on the sidewalk and streets.
easy business model- a cooler in your trunk with lotsa ice and beer for sale...
There are many food trucks, selling drunk food like hunks of cheese on a stick and grilled, (my new favorite) chicken nuggets wrapped in bacon and grilled and a bowl of manioc topped with grilled onions, corned beef and pork chunks (no picture).
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| bacon~wrapped chicken and a cold beer |
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| cheeeeeeeeeeese! |
And here is an empanada made to order that contains meat, corn, peas and cheese then deep fried.
There are brass bands with drums that randomly walk around the streets playing while people follow and dance
there are a few stages set up in Recife for bands and DJs. The electronica tent has music 'til at least 3am.
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But the main characteristic that is Carnaval is just walking around the streets checking out other people and getting jabbed or pinched or picked by others. I got picked a couple times while slithering thru the streets in Olinda. A second wallet was taken along with some maps, a bag of Brazil nutz and my OSU koozie.
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| not as heavy as it looks, but still a great costume |
and the booze of Brazil. I just like the labels...
recycle enough beer cans and you can make a chicken
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