Some changes have occurred over the last years and I thought some fresh input could be useful for forum members who decide to come during carnival in the future.
- Street Carnival has changed a lot. The small, merry, teasing parades that resurrected a formerly dying street party scene have, to some extent, become massive, anonymous celebrations.
- The scene also became a lot more mixed, in a bad way. Think of scores of testosterone- driven teens showing off muscles and looking for trouble (the pitboys) along with clueless gringos straight out of a book of stereotypes and a lot of slum scum. In short, I'm not talking about mixture of races and cultures here, I'm talking about mixing people in a great mood with people who just happen to hang out as if they were watching TV at home with a beer in hand and bragging with their peers. These are groups which mainly contribute with numbers, not with fun or sensuality. To make things worse, the ratios in some traditional parades (Banda de Ipanema, Simpatia É Quase Amor, Bloco do Azeitona etc etc) have decreased to quasi-sausage-fest levels depending on the section where you might be.
So, I'm basically saying street carnival sucks now?
No! The answer to the rhetorical question is that the visitor will have nowadays to chose more carefully where and when to go if what he wants is to approach some higher female talent, in generous quantities, in a cheerful and open-minded mood.
The main tip is to avoid the massive, obvious parades. Especially in places like Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana which is where pitboys, gays, stereotype gringo losers and slum scum descend in huge numbers.
First Scenario: I'm lost in Rio and I ended up in the most obvious massive parade in the most obvious touristic place. What to do?
- I'd say break through the crowds and go very close to the band which is playing if you're wearing a nice disguise and try to close the groups of party-girls. Move beyond the hordes of gays/pitboys/slum scum, more likely to be found in the middle field, and try to find them. You'd be welcomed.
- "Eat from the fringes" which means chose a safe distance from the undesirable crowds and try to approach groups, pairs or the odd solo girl. This can work especially well with Brazilian girls from out of town, a true goldmine.
Second Scenario: So, you want to maximize fun and find more and better women. What to do?
- Believe it or not, the happy hour and the very best parades are now at about 8 AM. This is done on purpose to avoid the nasty crowds that do not add to the party. As a rule of thumb, the best opportunities and the higher talent are now to be found in the morning or earlier during the day!
- Avoid Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana unless you want Scenario 1. IMO the best shows and parades are now Downtown (with the exception of Cordão do Bola Preta), Santa Teresa, Laranjeiras and some of the gatherings which happen on the Aterro do Flamengo.
- The best parade, my opinion, is Cordão do Boitatá, happens usually on sunday 8AM at Praça XV, downtown (this year they had 2 appearances). Average of girls is 7 and above with positive ratios, tropical blondes, slim mulattas, arty people, slum cream and almost everybody actively partying and wearing creative disguises and costumes. The quality of the music is also as high as it can get. This year I thanked the skies I managed to go.
- Other parades (blocos) truly worth mentioning: Carmelitas (Santa Teresa), Volta Alice (Laranjeiras), Céu na Terra, Escravos da Mauá (downtown). You'll notice most of these "A League" parties also chose to take to the streets at an early time of the day.
- Also on the list: Sargento Pimenta (Beatles music played in Samba rythm), Toca Rauuul (also rock in samba style), Orquestra Voadora (Aterro do Flamengo). etc etc etc.
Best Aproach:
This is just an opinion, but if you're not a total loser and don't look like the hunchback of notre dame, chances are slim you won't score at least a 7. For heaven's sake, carnival is as easy as it gets down here.
IMO to wear a creative costume (I was a Papua cannibal for instance) is the best opener. Besides that, show positive energy and dance. After eye contact if there is a lot of smiling you can try a kiss after a couple of minutes and number close a few minutes after that. From there you can see and decide what happens next.
You can roll solo or, even better, with a friend which is more suitable to approach groups and pairs.
Bottom line is you have to show you're genuinely amused and your chances will be there. Just move slowly from group to group of girls and it should all come pretty naturally.
- Street Carnival has changed a lot. The small, merry, teasing parades that resurrected a formerly dying street party scene have, to some extent, become massive, anonymous celebrations.
- The scene also became a lot more mixed, in a bad way. Think of scores of testosterone- driven teens showing off muscles and looking for trouble (the pitboys) along with clueless gringos straight out of a book of stereotypes and a lot of slum scum. In short, I'm not talking about mixture of races and cultures here, I'm talking about mixing people in a great mood with people who just happen to hang out as if they were watching TV at home with a beer in hand and bragging with their peers. These are groups which mainly contribute with numbers, not with fun or sensuality. To make things worse, the ratios in some traditional parades (Banda de Ipanema, Simpatia É Quase Amor, Bloco do Azeitona etc etc) have decreased to quasi-sausage-fest levels depending on the section where you might be.
So, I'm basically saying street carnival sucks now?
No! The answer to the rhetorical question is that the visitor will have nowadays to chose more carefully where and when to go if what he wants is to approach some higher female talent, in generous quantities, in a cheerful and open-minded mood.
The main tip is to avoid the massive, obvious parades. Especially in places like Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana which is where pitboys, gays, stereotype gringo losers and slum scum descend in huge numbers.
First Scenario: I'm lost in Rio and I ended up in the most obvious massive parade in the most obvious touristic place. What to do?
- I'd say break through the crowds and go very close to the band which is playing if you're wearing a nice disguise and try to close the groups of party-girls. Move beyond the hordes of gays/pitboys/slum scum, more likely to be found in the middle field, and try to find them. You'd be welcomed.
- "Eat from the fringes" which means chose a safe distance from the undesirable crowds and try to approach groups, pairs or the odd solo girl. This can work especially well with Brazilian girls from out of town, a true goldmine.
Second Scenario: So, you want to maximize fun and find more and better women. What to do?
- Believe it or not, the happy hour and the very best parades are now at about 8 AM. This is done on purpose to avoid the nasty crowds that do not add to the party. As a rule of thumb, the best opportunities and the higher talent are now to be found in the morning or earlier during the day!
- Avoid Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana unless you want Scenario 1. IMO the best shows and parades are now Downtown (with the exception of Cordão do Bola Preta), Santa Teresa, Laranjeiras and some of the gatherings which happen on the Aterro do Flamengo.
- The best parade, my opinion, is Cordão do Boitatá, happens usually on sunday 8AM at Praça XV, downtown (this year they had 2 appearances). Average of girls is 7 and above with positive ratios, tropical blondes, slim mulattas, arty people, slum cream and almost everybody actively partying and wearing creative disguises and costumes. The quality of the music is also as high as it can get. This year I thanked the skies I managed to go.
- Other parades (blocos) truly worth mentioning: Carmelitas (Santa Teresa), Volta Alice (Laranjeiras), Céu na Terra, Escravos da Mauá (downtown). You'll notice most of these "A League" parties also chose to take to the streets at an early time of the day.
- Also on the list: Sargento Pimenta (Beatles music played in Samba rythm), Toca Rauuul (also rock in samba style), Orquestra Voadora (Aterro do Flamengo). etc etc etc.
Best Aproach:
This is just an opinion, but if you're not a total loser and don't look like the hunchback of notre dame, chances are slim you won't score at least a 7. For heaven's sake, carnival is as easy as it gets down here.
IMO to wear a creative costume (I was a Papua cannibal for instance) is the best opener. Besides that, show positive energy and dance. After eye contact if there is a lot of smiling you can try a kiss after a couple of minutes and number close a few minutes after that. From there you can see and decide what happens next.
You can roll solo or, even better, with a friend which is more suitable to approach groups and pairs.
Bottom line is you have to show you're genuinely amused and your chances will be there. Just move slowly from group to group of girls and it should all come pretty naturally.