Here is my last video for my internship *tear tear*. I cannot believe that this experience is coming to an end… but I will save the emotional bit for another post.
I did both of these tours during Rio’s 450th anniversary weekend so both were in very lively and happy spirited environments. and hope that that translated well into this video!
Wanna go on one of these tours yourself, or browse other options? Click on the RioEncantos logo below!
Sunday was the city of Rio de Janeiro’s official 450th anniversary! I spent the day full of Cariocalicious activities. In the morning, I went to my last Ipanema Hippie Fair! 😦 So sad, it is the artisan fair that happens every Sunday in General Osorio Square in Ipanema. Considering it was my last Sunday in Rio and a great present and souvenir purchasing opportunity, I went hard for the money, literally. But I know it will be so worth it when I get to see all of my loved ones open their presents 🙂 (you know who you are- get ready folks!
The second half of the day, I went on my last Rio Encantos tour 😦 EXTRA SAD! This time we went to Morro das Prazeres, a region of Santa Teresa that is decked out completely in street art. To celebrate Rio’s anniversary, there was a live installation of new murals that we got to witness first hand as well! It was amazing to see how much of a positive influence some color and personal expression can have on a community! Literally happiness oozing from the walls.
Our guide’s front stoop
One of the french women who came with Rio Encantos, admiring the community above.
A playground with a view!
I could not stop taking pictures the entire time, but the vibe of this community could not be captured by camera– you have to come see it yourself! Click here to set up a tour!
Oi gente! My newest video is officially up on Rio Encantos’ website! This video is about the different Cariocas nights tours that RioEncantos offers. If you didn’t know, a ‘Carioca’ is someone who lives in Rio de Janeiro– just like someone from Los Angeles is an ‘Angelino’. Here you can see the different night life environments as a Carioca, and what I have been doing with my nights (working and sometimes not working) while in Rio.
Saude!
To see more of my videos or other tours offered by RioEncantos… click this pic!
The calm before the storm…
So I made a new friend! Meet Shadee, she RioEncantos’ intern for next term from Germany! She came early to get settled and experience Carnaval before her internship starts. We became very fast friends! I spend most of my time with her now because we, considering she is starting the same job as me, have very similar schedules. It is so nice to have a little buddy around! Anyway, before Carnaval started, Shadee, Kelly and I went on a quick tour of Lapa and Centro. The emptiness was quickly filled around 8 hours after we were there, when Carnaval hit.
Lapa Arches, with the famous cone shaped Metropolitan Cathedral behind.
Teatro Municipal
Ironic pre/post technological long distance relationships… Get it?
I have a soft spot for love letters ❤
Woman made this art from her father’s day planners that he never threw away… sounds like me. I still have my planners from middle school
RioEncantos intern love!
I need to do this to my room!
this photo does not do the sunset justice
And so it begins… Carnaval began. The main events of Carnaval are called ‘blocos’ and there are about 20 per day. You can go to 2 maybe 3 in a day if you’re really trying to get after it. But they are in just about every neighborhood of Rio and consist of a bunch of people parading down the street. There is a samba band on top of a huge speaker truck and people just getting silly all over the streets. The first one we went to was the Carmelita’s bloco Santa Teresa. Which by the way is a beautiful neighborhood upon a hill with amazing panoramic views of the port and Botafogo (kind of reminded me of home).
I need to remember this store in Santa Teresa, they had amazing hand made art all having to do with Rio!
Copacabana Palace at night!
…al. I’m sure you got the memo though
The next night, Kelly got Shadee and I the amazing opportunity to go to the Rio Scenarium to film her friend Sara sing. It is a very popular, high class club and the line was almost around the block! I am so excited Kelly got Shadee and I VIP passes, because we would have otherwise not been able to go. It was a much different and less chaotic atmosphere than the blocos so that was a nice breath of fresh air. What I loved most was the beautiful, eclectic interior decor. 🙂
Lapa Arches at night on my way home 🙂
The Sunday after Carnaval had ended, there was a concert for a bloco that turned into a performing group. Monobloco is their name and it was an amazing performance at the Fundiçaão Progresso in Lapa. It was like a bloco but in perfect conditions; indoors, fans everywhere and concert seating (though no one was sitting) haha. It was also sponsored by a bank so the event was impressively put together. Shadee and I, being the PR and marketing students we are, commented on the amazing promotional aspects of the event! There were hats and bracelets for free, a man dressed as an ATM to take your photo on the screen, and the best part- Carnaval makeovers! Yes- you read correctly… just wait for the photos.
Beautiful venue
ATM photo!
The back porch had an amazing scene of the Lapa Arches!
and upstairs…
Carnaval makeup!
And, without further adieu, SAMBADROME! The Sambadrome is where the samba schools “desfile” or parade down this long street. There is a bateria (band), singers, various floats and sections of costumes that all contribute to the schools’ theme. To give you an idea of how long this Sambadrome is/slow the parade goes (probably a combination of the two, it takes the school about an hour for each school to get to the end. Shadee and I went to the Champions’ Parade on Sunday, after the winners had already been announced. Here’s some math for you; if there were 6 champions, the parade started at 10, and it takes each school an hour to finish their ‘desfile’; what time did it end? Think about it. We only stayed for around two; we couldn’t hang with the Brazilians this time.
…A more accurate facial expression
This samba school, Portela, actually had parasailers fly into the parade with fire shooting off of them!
All of the people on the floats have to get lifted off on the end by cranes!
all of the ‘fantasias’ or costumes at the end of the Sambadrome. People collect them from the participants as they undress and resell them… smart cookies
And that is just a little snippet of my Carnaval experience. Now I am working on the last few assignments for my internship here. I cant believe I only have 3 weeks left, and 2 until my grandpa comes! I can’t wait to see him and go to São Paulo to visit where he and my grandmother grew up! This experience has gone by so fast and I couldn’t be more excited about how it has turned out so far.
As I said in my previous blog post about the tour of Rocinha, it was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. I am so excited to finally share the video that I produced for RioEncantos with everyone. It really does not do the experience justice though, if you ever find yourself in Rio you MUST go on this tour!
Eliza Stapleberry 