An accidental parade

So many animals! The night was full of barking, meowing, bird songs, and a number of unidentified sounds. I woke up around 4am and only dozed for the rest of the night. I wonder when I’ll be able to sleep again…

I got up at 9 and started checking what is there actually to see here. And learning basic Portuguese. Yes, I am that prepared this time. I used my supreme language skills to buy some breakfast on the way to town – even managed to catch a bus ok!

The Carnival doesn’t start properly until Friday, but clearly the Brazilians can’t wait that long to party! Apparently parades take place pretty much from the start of the year. It took me a while to find somebody who could tell me when this one starts – people really don’t do English here much and my Portuguese is too pitiful. Turned out I had two hours, so I went to the park first.

Finding the entrance wasn’t easy, as it’s all behind a fence. Finally in, I took a minute to rest by the water. How wonderful to just chill out, outside, in the warmth! It’s only 24 degrees and cloudy today, but it’s such a contrast from Edinburgh! The park is massive indeed – and pretty full of people, too. Summer clothes, everyone, and my gods, are Brazilians beautiful! So much eyecandy! Oh, and there were also some LARPers with foam swords, obviously.

I soon started hearing more and more cheers and drums from the parade space, so I made my way back there. They didn’t want to let me in with my companion Nuka-Cola this time! I had to drink it all, but managed to convince the guards to let me keep the bottle.

I have to say that this time I regret traveling on my own. I wish I had a human companion to party with. I decided to address the problem in a Polish way, with alcohol. The crowd got thicker, music louder, and after a while I decided to make my way to the first row where soon enough I met a fun crowd drinking smuggled vodka with coconut milk and water. Their English wasn’t bad, they shared some drink, taught me a sexy dance and how to say ‘I want to fuck you’ in Portuguese, which the guys insisted was the most important phrase I need to know during the carnival. I forgot already, alas! One also decided I was Jesus, so I ended up blessing people around. The parade started properly, though the drums weren’t really that loud under the amplified guitars and all. We walked with it for quite a while, crowd getting thicker and thicker, some serious squeeze, until one of the girls decided it’s too much and dragged us all out of the pit.

I was getting a bit tired, the parade took its time to start so it was already quite late, plus I was worried about my stuff – I didn’t expect this, so took way too many things I’d rather not lose. So I left the new friends, chilled on the grass for a bit, and took off to town, towards Avidua Paulista, a major street in the centre, also on TripAdvisor list. I got there, wasn’t too impressed, spent some time figuring out how to get a local sim card and Internet, got some food, and caught a bus home.

I spent the evening on finishing my assignment. Now let’s hope this night will bring some sleep, finally.