Carnival :: Salvador, Brazil

In 2011, Brazil’s historic Salvador will erupt with the unbridled energy of carnival.  It is the world’s biggest and greatest street party, featuring two million revelers and six days of music and dance all set within the paradise of Salvador’s colonial architecture and white-sand beaches.

Salvador’s carnival is a descendent of entrudo, or ‘entry’, a pre-spring festival brought to Brazil by the Portuguese.  During entrudo, Salvador’s poor residents would take control of the streets, throwing eggs and water at one another in unabashed revelry, whilst the rich looked on with disdain from their mansions.  Seeking to replace entrudo, the rich imported to Salvador the carnival traditions of France, such as masquerade balls and street parades.  These traditions continue to influence modern carnival in Salvador, but the anarchist spirit of entrudo has never died.  Unlike Rio de Janeiro’s equally stunning Carnival which features opulent floats parading through giant stadiums, carnival in Salvador is an entirely street-orientated event, a spectacle in which every participant is the star. Read more

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Carnival :: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There is no bad time to visit Rio de Janeiro, Brazil´s most beautiful city, but the best time is undoubtedly during carnival. As the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue gazes down from his perch on top of Corcovado Mountain, the city explodes with four days of pageantry, music, and dance. The people of Rio de Janeiro have made this traditional festival uniquely theirs, importing the masquerade balls and parades of Europe and infusing them with the African beat of samba. Luckily for travelers, the city and its people are more than willing to share the experience with outsiders, and the diverse range of events caters for all budgets. Read more

The Newark Museum :: Newark, New Jersey

Located in the heart of Newark, New Jersey, a city not immediately identified with the arts, the Newark Museum of Art is an absolute jewel. Finding it is a snap- large banners clearly mark the way through downtown. Secure parking is located next door for a nominal charge. Read more