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Carnival in
Salvador
The Guinness Book of Records sees Carnival in Salvador as the largest festive gathering on the planet. Many Brazilians flood to the city for this mega party, while via TV, the rest looks on in envy, meanwhile Bahians remain secure in the knowledge that they know how to party better than anybody, and think that seven days and nights are simply just not enough.
At the outset though it is important to point out that Salvador's carnival varies dramatically from the more famous Rio Carnival, truly the greatest show on earth where spectacular cinematographic floats powered by a samba thunderstorm thrill the cheering spectators along the 1 km Sambadromo. In Salvador it`s the greatest party on earth, more participatory as 2 million souls take to the streets on the street in a outburst of joy and dance.
Entertainment for the Salvador's carnival can be summed up as follows:
The keyword here is a bloco. A bloco is to Salvador what a samba school is to Rio de Janeiro. Each bloco has its own distinct costume called abada, once elaborate robes but in many cases nowadays just simple practical tee shirt and shorts, and each carnival appearance has a different costume There are two kinds of blocos: Afro blocos & trio eletrico blocos. If you prefer to watch what carnival in Salvador is all about, instead of participating, the option for you is the Camarote. For those who prefers a less frenetic option, Carnival in pelourinho is the ideal choice.
Afro Bloco
Esthetically the more beautiful, the Afro Blocos are large drum based troupes (some with up to 200 drummers ) who play on the streets accompanied by singers from atop of mobile sound trucks. The first of these groups was the Filhos de Gandhi (founded in 1949), whose participation is one of the highlights of Carnaval. Their 6000 members dance through the streets on the Sunday and Tuesday of Carnaval dressed in their traditional costumes of white and blue, a river of white and blue in an ocean of multicolored carnival revelers ...
Trio Electrico Blocos
Esthetically the more beautiful, the Afro Blocos are large drum based troupes (some with up to 200 drummers ) who play on the streets accompanied by singers from atop of mobile sound trucks. The first of these groups was the Filhos de Gandhi (founded in 1949), whose participation is one of the highlights of Carnaval. Their 6000 members dance through the streets on the Sunday and Tuesday of Carnaval dressed in their traditional costumes of white and blue, a river of white and blue in an ocean of multicolored carnival revelers ...
Pelourinho
Carnival like it used to be, strolling bands and performers on the cobbled streets of the Pelourinho for those who prefer a less frenetic, more approachable option, very popular with families and those who hanker after a more romantic era of Salvador carnival.
Camarotes
You love the energy if it all but feel a little daunted by the sheer scope and the crush of the event, perhaps would like to see what carnival is all about before participating on the streets, then this option maybe just right for you. Fully structured viewing areas, called camarote (a borrowing from the private viewing box in a theatre, in the carnival context this would be a raised bleacher-type viewing area, often private corporate boxes), offering bar, snack and bathroom facilities, as well as entertainment during the lulls in the parade. This options offer a secure, comfortable means of watching the action on the street.
There are 2 mains areas of carnival activities
BARRA - OLINDA
THUSDAY - WEDNESDAY
The Barra to Ondina cicuit is a 2.5 kms stretch leading from the Barra Lighthouse at the entrance to the bay to the Ondina district. Activites here begin late afternoon and go on until daybreak. Most of the best camarotes are located along this strip
CAMPO GRANDE
SUNDAY - TUESDEY DAILYFROM NOON - EARLY EVENING
The traditional route is from Campo Grande square to Praca Castro Alves, through the city streets, This is a more arduous undertaking than the Barra Ondina route, the distance is almost 5 kms. The area around the Campo Grande square is where many of the better camarotes in this are located.
PS: The Afro Blocos perform on this route during late evening
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