Day 2 of the Carnaval. We thought we'd go into central Rio and do some museums. When we exited Carioca Metro station we bumped into a band led parade down Av Rio Branca. This was the site of the previous day's partying in the street with 2.2m in attendance! It was a bit like the morning afterwards and folk struggled to raise a dance and a beer but soon found them doing both to the Samba rhythm! We wandered into the Banco de Brasilia - cool marbled halls where anyone could take a break from the heat and a comfort break. V impressive that it remained open & welcomed serious visitors as well as people in all kinds of fancy dress. We very much enjoyed the Tarsila do Amaral pictures. A 1920's trip with bright pictures, old photos and baggage labels creating a great retrospective. After that we joined a band and dancing, Chelsea-inspired show, back along Rio de Branco ending up at Cinelandia to join 'everyone' on the Metro heading for Ipanema. We put on our masks and went to view the sunset! We watched the Carnaval of people of all shapes and sizes, in all sorts of outfits, multicoloured. Later we did the same overlooking General Osorio square as we had some supper. So many people out enjoying themselves from midday to midnight & beyond make so much litter...
Some impressions of Carnaval so far:
Full-on, very hot, very crowded, very noisy, joyous, chaotic, inclusive, messy, exuberant, everywhere!