Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro: 10 Steps for Foreigners Visiting the Marvelous City

First of all I would like to remove all romantic notions of a clean crisp berry smell, that the air freshener Febreeze Carnaval would have you believe Carnaval embodies. Instead, please picture people on top of everyone sweating, beer cans all over the street leaving their scent in the air, wafting breezes of body odor and piss lingering the air, as a more realistic perception of the Brazilian Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, not sure if Febreeze would like to bottle that up.

For all foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, we would like to say, thank you and welcome, but most importantly, please wear sunscreen and be ready for a fun ride of random street dancing, drinking, and kissing. Here are 10 simple tips one should know before embarking to a street bloco (street party):

1) Don’t drink too much, because the Johnny-on-the-Spots are really gross and it is illegal to pee on the street. If it is an emergency, I strongly advise you to put out 2-4 reais to use a "civilized" bathroom at a bar or restaurant. It will still be gross, but not quite as bad;

2) Accessories and costumes are very cheap and ubiquitous, so please join in the fun (there is nothing worse than a party pooper);

3) Don’t take your passport to a street party (please, I have to mention this) to avoid it falling out or being pick pocketed; 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

4) Go to the popular street parties downtown and in Botafogo, but be ready for a lot of bodies to rub up against you (and not in a good way); 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

6) Girls, this tip is mainly slanted toward you. Don’t make eye contact with the boy that keeps checking you out unless you are prepared for the attempted kiss or hookup to follow, and I have a boyfriend won’t deter a smitten Brazilian guy on a mission to conquest your lips. (Demonstrated in the pic to your right)

7) Boys, if you are interested in kissing randomly, as written above, please pay attention to the Brazilian girls’ subtle hints if they are willing. Sometimes “no” doesn’t really mean “no” here, unfortunately for the foreign girls that are trying to be nice and infer “no” it really means “try harder”, just keep that in mind.

8) Try not to get sprayed with the water guns and please don’t perpetuate this annoying act. You never know if it is water, cachaca, beer, pee or a combination of the aforementioned being shot at you.

9) Learn the Carnaval songs and sing along. It’s more fun and you look less awkward.

10) Have fun and smile, you’re at Carnaval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you follow these simple tips to the “T”, Carnaval is bound to be a good time for you and your friends.