Even children are aware of the Rio de Janeiro carnival. However, as people frequently ask quite strange questions about it, we have understood, that nobody gets to the heart of the matter. That's why we have decided to note down some words about this show. For example, relating to the carnival admission tickets. As their price is high enough, every second person asks if it's possible to avoid buying them. Why shouldn't he look at the carnival in the street among dancing people? Of course, it's possible. Only it will differ from the carnival we have used to watch on the TV. In fine, you should tell carnival week from samba schools competition. The first looks like our city holidays when everyone is drunk, dancing and having fun. The second one occurs in the special sambodrom. You are not allowed without tickets there. The TV airs this competition. Gigantic figures are moving, naked feathered beauties are dancing surrounded by firework and fire. You may look at some dancers in streets (free of charge) or at unorganized fan groups of a school. All the most spectacular and exciting takes place in the sambodrom, built for these purposes.

The sambodrom looks like a long wide stadium. Two bleachers occupy the left and the right. There is a runway between them. Competing schools make their way through the runway. The sambodrom length is about 700 m. Each school is intended for taking this distance within 80 minutes. It heads about 4000 fancy-dressed participants. Before each school starts moving, amazing firework explodes in the sky. At that moment the samba (each school holds its) gets under way and the people's column sets in motion. It's going forward very slowly, stopping to dance and repeating its samba over and over again. Huge floats are rolling every 100-200 meters. Inconceivable design of constructions. It may be moving lorry-sized tigers, Egyptian pyramids, waterfalls, gods' statues and outstanding people's ones or something of extreme complexity (hard to guess how it's manufactured). Combination of colours in the participants' suits, roaring and dancing bleachers with spectators, shotlights rushing the sky, hundreds of drummers beating samba rhythm… All this creates excitement of such force that you don't manage to express your delight and astonishment. Nobody has thought up anything brighter and more fascinating in the world and will think up hardly. Rio puts in the shade other similar performances. It is beyond people's mind. The first-rated carnival of all other carnivals.






In total, 6-7 samba schools pass at night, the final one turns up in the morning. Other samba schools emerge the next night. Some practical comments. Sambodrom seats differ in cost and in comfort opportunities. The bleachers are the cheapest, small tables located directly along the runway are the most expensive. Booking tickets far in advance is reasonable. In this case, their price makes up 150-200 ˆ. It rises before the carnival and can reach 1000-2000 ˆ. And you are compelled to pay through the nose for tickets.