A Night Of Parades

We'd booked the hotel for the carnival before we knew exactly how the trip was going to pan out. It turned out we would get here two days earlier than expected. So today we left our hotel in the ropey area for a nicer hotel but still in a fairly ropey area. However, we are getting used to it, it doesn't feel as intimidating as it did a couple of days ago.

We dropped our bags off at midday and found a local bar for a couple of drinks. Carnival attire seems to be an anything goes sort of vibe. Though a thong and fishnet tights is a popular look.

This evening we had tickets for the Sambadrome, sector 5 open seating. Though tonight was also the night that Carol and Opal were performing in one of the parades, so they were being picked up and taken to join the school they were parading with.

I left the hotel just before 7pm and walked. I was in and had secured a spot right at the front of the enclosure by 7:30pm. Tonight started at 9pm and there were 8 different schools performing, with it scheduled to finish at 3:30am. Though we had been told timings were flexible! Fortunately, they were in the second parade and came through about 10:45pm. By nearly 2am, when we called it a night, the 4th parade had just finished, at that rate the last one wouldn't have finished until 7am. Just as well we left when we did as by the time we got back to the hotel I'd been on my feet for 7.5 hours.

As I was on my own in the stands I couldn't leave my spot, it was 4.5 hours before Carol and her sister got there after their parade. Even though there was a woman directly behind me selling beer and cold drinks I couldn't take the chance!Read more