Rio de Janeiro shows no mercy for carnival

Travel

Rio de Janeiro shows no mercy for carnival

A variety of samba schools during carnival celebrations parade in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro in February 2008.

A performer from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival is known worldwide for its elaborate parades staged by the city⿿s major samba schools and is one of Rio⿿s major tourist attractions. Each samba school rehearses all year round for this event and all of its members take part in the rehearsals, whether experts or not.

Revelers make their way back home as a man sleeps by the floor in front a graffiti-covered wall with carnival characters in Rio de Janeiro.

Beija Flor samba school dancers parade down the street.

Tens of thousands of revelers attended Beija Flor's samba school parade.

A performer from the Beija Flor samba school.

The Beija Flor samba school float.

Performers from the Grande Rio samba school parade on a float.

Actress Grazielli Massafera, from the Grande Rio samba school parades, during carnival celebrations.

A performer, disguised as a dinosaur, jokes with a woman during carnival celebrations on Tuesday.

Performers from the Vila Isabel samba school on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Performers from the Vila Isabel samba school parade on Tuesday.

The Vila Isabel samba school parade float.

Performers from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school.

Miss Brazil 2007 Natalia Guimaraes, from the Vila Isabel samba school, parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome.

Performers from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parade on a float during carnival celebrations.

Model Luiza Brunet from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome.

Dancers of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade.

A performer of the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school.

Dancers of the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school parade.

A performer of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parades at the Sambadrome.

A performer of the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school parades at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

Performers from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

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A performer from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival is known worldwide for its elaborate parades staged by the city⿿s major samba schools and is one of Rio⿿s major tourist attractions. Each samba school rehearses all year round for this event and all of its members take part in the rehearsals, whether experts or not.

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