Carnaval in the country

Carnaval (Fat Tuesday) is officially today, but Brazilians celebrate for the entire long weekend. Sort of like the 4th of July in the states, it's popular to visit family and friends in your hometown. There's been music downtown every night, but the big celebrations were Sunday night and last night (most people head home today).

The cow skulls definitely add to the photo.

We cooked up another big churrasco and then headed down the hill about 11. I actually dressed for the occasion. Natividade closes off a couple of blocks near the bars and there are a few food carts set up as well. Of course there is the guy selling dumb hats and things that glow in the dark. He's universal the world over. A band has played all weekend and they were OK. Peter says the bands that come in for the rodeo in August are usually much better, but the crowd still seemed to be having fun.

Looking across the party.

Peter, Iuri, Ligia and Sandra

The band that might have been named "Band - Swing & Cia," or maybe that was just the style of music. (It's what the sign behind them said. ) The backup non-singers were not very talented in regard to dancing, but pretty cute.

 I finally had my first caipirinha, the national cocktail of Brazil. It's a drink that's traditionally made of Pinga (a hard alcohol made from fermented sugar cane), sugar, and lime. The name literally means, "little hillbilly girl." (How can I not love that??) While it might be the national cocktail, no one seems to really like them. It's sort of like you're required to have one, but there's a general wrinkling of the national nose. I didn't technically even have a real caipirinha. Mine was made with vodka, otherwise known as a caipivodka, and pretty much the only way my Brazilian friends would allow me to sample the beverage.  It was decent – VERY sweet. We switched to vodka and Schweppes citrus after that.

If you think small-town 4th of July mixed in with a touch of Halloween, you will get the idea of what this party is like. Lots of people you know (Peter knows) hanging out, dancing and drinking a little too much. There are signs posted saying no minors (drinking age is 18), but you see lots of kids running around and dancing with their parents. There also are "blocos," which are floats of a sort, but we missed those. I think the little parade was on Sunday.

Some people wear actual costumes, others just put on a goofy wig. Most just look like normal summertime people.

Tarzan the Brazilian

Hawaiian Brazilians

Janice sporting some purple hair and Thiago. They live in Santa Branca, about 50 miles away.

Drunk cowboy (I want his hat) drinks from a horn that he also blew on occasion (when it wasn't full of drink). Meanwhile guy in purple striped shirt judges. 

I saw people wearing Carnaval T-shirts and decided I must have one. Peter sorta knew this one guy (he did some welding on Peter's boat project and will now be dubbed Welder Guy), so I made Peter go ask him where to get a shirt. (I am equally bossy in foreign countries.) Welder Guy said they were shirts that weren't really available to buy because they were worn by people on a bloco, but he would give the gringa (that's me) his shirt. He then promptly put on another from his girlfriend that had been girlified a bit with the neck cut out.

Peter in the middle with Welder Guy on the right. The guy on the left is Walter who used to live across the street from Peter. He's in the military and likes Metallica. (TOLD you it was a small-town party.) Normally Walter is quite shy, but drunk Walter wanted to give me a Brazilian kiss. Alas, I passed.

The shirt says "Carnaval de Rua, Bloco Secos e Molhados, Natividade Da Serra - SP." That translates to "Street Carnaval,  Float Dry and Wet." Peter: "I have no idea what that's supposed to mean."

Iuri and Sandra

Ligia and me

Peter, Ligia, Iuri and Sandra

The bars close promptly at 2 and we wandered up the hill after that. I only have a touch of a headache this morning – nothing a good cup of coffee won't cure.