While we're waiting for Carnaval Pics...

A friend just sent me a link to this.  Prepare to be grossed out.  Yes folks, this is Carnaval. 

Carnaval is coming.  I'm sure I don't need to explain what it is - even those who are newbies to Brasilian culture know about Carnaval.  Part of the big deal here in Bahia is to go out with the Blocos or to watch the Trioelectricos go by from a Camarote.  I generally don't go to either of these options; I am a pipoca girl.  This year, however, I was gifted the key to enter the "exclusive" club.  In order to get behind the ropes or gates of these choice places, you have to pay for it and wear the proper attire.  Enter the abadá. 

As far as I can tell, these things are generally made of the hottest, most uncomfortable fabric that exists, perhaps in order to put most of the R$200-R$2000 you put into acquiring one into the pockets of those who run the establishment.  Often they come as a one-size-fits-all gigantic sleeveless sack like object, with holes cut somewhere for your arms, and another hole somewhere for your neck, sometimes with actual finished hems, sometimes something just sort of "hem like." They are ugly.  And usually big.  Any why not, as you will probably only wear it just this one day because of the amount of sweat, pee and other disgusting substances you will get all over it when you go out in to the biggest street party ever.  Disposable clothing!

  

A big temporary business here is revamping these one-time-wear shirts into something one might actually want to put on your body (ignoring the kind of fabric it is, of course).  I have no idea what the current going rate is, but I suspect it is around R$15-R$20 a shirt, depending on embellishments and what not.  There are rules you have to follow to do it, I guess - some things cannot be removed or changed at all.  Each bloco or camarote may have different levels of abadás that allow you to do different things, with distinguishing characteristics and colors for each day and level.  Maids, nannies, and anyone who has a sewing machine at home may try to make some extra cash pre-Carnaval by "reformando abadás." Signs pop up all over the city with phone numbers offering this service. 

Just for fun this year, I decided to try a few myself.  They came out pretty cute in my opinion.

And if you're headed to Campo Grande on Tuesday, be sure to look for me on the top of the Trio;)

It always rains during Carnaval

Just the thing you need to cool off while dancing the afternoon and night away, a little shower. I got one last night, from what I remember of the evening.



Happy Carnaval!

Carnaval traffic

The rush to pick up Abadás began earlier this week. Traffic had picked up and made passing through certain parts of the city near impossible in a timely manner because there are so many people trying to park anywhere and everywhere in order to pick up their cheap-really-hot-fabric brightly colored shirts that allow them access to the "safe side" of the ropes and walls that make up Carnaval blocos and camarotes.


One of these pick up points is Aero Club on the Orla, one of the main veins to get from anywhere to anywhere in the city. At all hours of the day, traffic is built up to a standstill while people park on the grass, sidewalks, and even on the street. Vendors with coolers line the edges of the road, waiting to sell beer and anything else you might want as early as 7 a.m.


There are way too many cars in this city.

Hiper knows what you need for Carnaval

The first page of the Pharmacy section gives you a taste of what to "expect" for Carnaval. Some medicine for an upset stomach, some eye drops, oh, and these, you will probably be needing.

Not bad to pay for your safety this Carnaval season. I like the name of the brand too. And notice that some even have "heating lubricant." Just what we need! It's a good price to pay for your health, don't you think? Compared to the price of sunblock...

Now, you can see the value here - for your everyday person living on R$430 a month, obviously your sexual safety much more doable than avoiding skin cancer. Although that depends on how much sex you plan (or don't plan) to have during Carnaval. For some it may even out.

There is a term for people who were conceived around this time of year, mostly born in November - Novembrinhos. If your birthday falls in that month, we know what your parents were doing during Carnaval!

Carnaval comes

No one reading this site is probably a stranger to Carnaval - 5 days of drinking, music and insanity. Already there are signs of Carnaval to come, specifically the 22nd-24th of February, but in Bahia it starts the week or even the month before and may go for several days after. "Pre-Carnaval" "Post-Carnaval" - any excuse for a party here. Even at the local home building supplies center this weekend, we saw shredded paper all over the floor and they had a pair doing live samba music on a raised platform in front of the lighting display area. There are all kinds of pre-Carnaval sales going on, and the rush for Abadas (the shirts that allow you access to Camarotes or Blocos) is already on.

This is a Trio Electrico. A giant truck of speakers - the band rides on top, doing a live show for hours at a time in the hot sun. I don't envy those who ride up there, except that they probably have easier access to somewhere to pee than those of us in the "pipoca" do. I have never followed a Bloco or been in one. I usually hang out on the sides and just fight the crowds (called the "pipoca", or popcorn), but I don't knock those who want to pay the money to be inside those ropes. Peeing is important and not having somewhere to go when you really got to go (blame beer) can put a damper on your festivities.