Colors from today’s carnaval, all photos from Olinda’s website.
This photo is from the bloco Eu acho é pouco, or I think it’s too little, an appropriate tagline for the wonderfully hedonistic atmosphere of carnaval. We traveled for a few yards under this bloco’s signature dragon, dodging out from under the massive red and yellow covering to escape its heat and dance alongside the dragon in Olinda’s hilly, cobblestone streets. A bloco is a walking street party… each one has live music, it’s own theme, and depending on its popularity, tens to thousands of people dancing to its beats. The most popular bloco in the county, El Galo de Madrugada, attracted over 1 million revelers to its mobile street party this morning.
Alegria, pure joy. Under today’s piercingly blue skies, surrounded by the Brazilian’s warmth and aptitude to enjoy each single moment, one can’t help but get carried away, feet following the sound of an endearing beat, bumping into friends and lots of strangers in the crowded streets, happiness emanating around corners, reverberating off of the low colorful walls of the city.
These huge puppets dominate certain blocos, people inside of their giant frames, maneuvering around the crowds and adding to the energy of the streets.
Frevo, one of Pernambuco’s signature music styles (click here for great video).
It sounds a bit like very repetitive carnival music in the US (not carnaval, but an actual carnival). Loopy, frenetic, endless. It’s quintessentially Pernambucan Carnaval. And, it’s never too early to start planning your trip for next year…
Langelo said,
February 3, 2008 @ 2:42 am
Hey Lovely;
I wish I am there to share the joy with you. I am certain, the people, the surrounding have already changed you a little.
But don’t changed too much because the old Shayna was perfect the way she was.
Be well!
Carnavallll!!!! « Mama Shayna’s Musings said,
March 4, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
[...] I spent last year’s Carnaval in Recife/ Olinda, and blogged about it here. [...]