There is no way to truly prepare for Carnaval in Rio, to look at pictures, or video does not prepare you for the reality of being plugged into the light socket that is this unique celebration. Carnaval goes from morning till night and one street party, "blocko" blends into another, until you feel like Alice in Wonderland. Sometimes you want to step away for a minute, but then you find yourself in the midst of a group of people who are so warm, so willing to share their enjoyment, that you can't help but participate. I am collecting a few select interviews, for my documentary, but at the same time uncovering a mystery. Each person has a picture of what's going on in Rio and the rest of Brazil, some of it positive, some of it negative, all depending on the perspective. One day I did an interview with a Carioca, native Brazilian, who spoke about the improvement in the bus routes. Gone are the days of old when you could stick out your thumb and get any city bus to stop for you. In preparation for the World Cup and the Olympics, Rio is now setting up Zone 1, 2, 3, etc. where only certain buses stop, and this has been going on for some time but with some resistance. At 3 a.m. when I was trying to find the right bus to take me to Lapa after having attended 6 blockos that day, I was not amused that I had to keep walking until I found the right zone.
Some of the favelas in Rio have been "cleaned up". Drug lords (the guys) have been kicked out by police, who have established a permanent police presence in "some" favelas. Meanwhile other favelas have the "guys" paying for mini-vans to transport people to and from the favelas, and the "guys" are improving the favelas in other ways. Some Brazilians feel that kicking out drug lords, only forces them to move to other cities in Brazil, much like XXX shops moved from Time Square in New York to surrounding neighborhoods. This is the fast paced city that is Rio de Janeiro, ever the same and ever changing.
I am greatful to Carnaval 2011 for rejuvenating my spirit, and reminding me that we all create our own reality each day.
