CARNAVAL DE SALVADOR

Almost every city has its own festivities, but Salvador's carnival, or Carnaval de Bahía, is undoubtedly one of Brazil's most famous. In the country's most African city, the atmosphere is even more frenzied than in Rio, largely due to the fact that the carnival takes place in the streets, accessible to all, rather than in closed enclosures. It's a huge party in which the trios elétricos take a predetermined route around the city, following three main circuits: Batatinha, in the historic center, Dodo, in the Barra and Ondina districts, and Osmar, which connects Barra to Avenida Campo Grande.

Each trio hosts a musical group. The musical style remains samba and axé. To join a bloco, i.e. to access the group framed by a cord that follows the float of your choice, you need to buy a t-shirt of the chosen group. You can also sit in one of the camarotes, the stands set up along the parade route. Another option is to enjoy the party as a pipoca: participants don't belong to any bloco , but follow the floats, staying outside the cordon and, like popcorn(pipoca), constantly jumping up and down beside the floats. Finally, you can choose to stay close to a barraca and take part in the celebrations held there at the same time as the procession passes by.

As with all events of this kind, take as little as possible with you, as the crowds are large and pickpockets numerous.