The Bloco at Barra, Rio de Janeiro
March 6th 2009 22:26
To most of the world, Carnaval in Rio is the spectacular samba schools’ parade. But to many, and especially to the ordinary people of Rio, Carnaval is the Bloco, or local community festival.
Here in Barra, the Bloco began with a grand parade a week before the official Carnaval weekend. Like Carnaval, it included floats, sambistas, bands, singers, a contingent of drummers, costumes and a cast of revelers. Unlike Carnaval, it cost nothing just a willingness to leave the beach, throw on some kind of costume (or not) and samba along after the water truck, the beer truck and the enterprising supermarket trolley merchants. Those who only stood and watched were liberally doused by the water truck.
The parade led into a week of celebrations at the kiosks up and down the beach. At the Bloco do Bundao, or festival of the bumbum, just across the road, for five days straight the band struck up every afternoon at 3 and played on until 10. Mums, Dads and kids of all ages took to the drums and whistles and the veteran singers rolled one old Carnaval samba into another. Young and old turned up to dance, from shuffling granddads to tiny babies. Some came in speedos and bikinis, straight from the beach. Others costumed up, like the Flintstone family of 20. And to make it a time we’ll never forget, the Bloco da Bundao turned out t-shirts, red or yellow, depending on the night and printed of course with a signature bundao.
On the last day of the holidays, the parade, probably less grand now in its final moment made its way along the beachfront. It was Ash Wednesday the next day and Carnaval was over until next year. We won't be here for it sadly. But still, we've boogied with the Flintstones, we're regulars down at the kiosk, we have the bundao t shirts, we're part of the neighbourhood for the moment.
The Grand Parade at Barra
Here in Barra, the Bloco began with a grand parade a week before the official Carnaval weekend. Like Carnaval, it included floats, sambistas, bands, singers, a contingent of drummers, costumes and a cast of revelers. Unlike Carnaval, it cost nothing just a willingness to leave the beach, throw on some kind of costume (or not) and samba along after the water truck, the beer truck and the enterprising supermarket trolley merchants. Those who only stood and watched were liberally doused by the water truck.
Drummers in Barra's Carnaval Parade
The parade led into a week of celebrations at the kiosks up and down the beach. At the Bloco do Bundao, or festival of the bumbum, just across the road, for five days straight the band struck up every afternoon at 3 and played on until 10. Mums, Dads and kids of all ages took to the drums and whistles and the veteran singers rolled one old Carnaval samba into another. Young and old turned up to dance, from shuffling granddads to tiny babies. Some came in speedos and bikinis, straight from the beach. Others costumed up, like the Flintstone family of 20. And to make it a time we’ll never forget, the Bloco da Bundao turned out t-shirts, red or yellow, depending on the night and printed of course with a signature bundao.
Dancing at the Bloca do Bundao
On the last day of the holidays, the parade, probably less grand now in its final moment made its way along the beachfront. It was Ash Wednesday the next day and Carnaval was over until next year. We won't be here for it sadly. But still, we've boogied with the Flintstones, we're regulars down at the kiosk, we have the bundao t shirts, we're part of the neighbourhood for the moment.
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