those without the cash to splash on tickets for the sambódromo or admission to the many masquerade balls, will still find plenty of partying to be had in the marvelous city before lent starts.

cariocas of all ages, races, classes and dispositions will be celebrating from dusk until dawn and one cannot help but to catch the contagious, joyous madness that descends over the city until the sunday following ash wednesday.

toes tapping, hips moving, and butts shaking, what really makes carnival in rio is the passion of its participants.