It's always a shock to come back to Rio, but this year's shock was bigger than in the past. I arrived to a city in shock from overwhelming government sanctioned violence (operation) concentrated in Zona Leopoldina leaving everyone on edge and in mourning. I have a lot of thoughts and a lot to learn about what exactly happened and I'll write more about this later as I feel it is important for folks outside of Brazil to understand the daily lives of sambistas in this city. But I want to try to get a better handle on it before I go spouting off about things that I don't fully understand. Most ensaios were canceled due to the operation so there weren't...
Fall is here in Portland and I'm feeling anxious about going to Rio. The samba schools are going full bore and I can't wait to get there but it is always a LOT to make it happen and navigate 2 cultures. I'm leaving my community here for my adopted community in Rio. Join me on this trip by subscribing to my the YouTube channel and get some behind-the-scenes peeks into what it takes to create these videos on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/cw/gosamba/posts #carnaval2026 #riodejaneirotravel #travelrio
Samba School themes for Carnaval 2026 Here is a quick guide to the themes (enredos) for the top 12 Rio de Janeiro samba schools that will parade in the Grupo Especial during the 2026 Carnival. Estação Primeira de Mangueira: “Mestre Sacacá do Encanto Tucuju – o Guardião da Amazônia Negra” Mangueira will celebrate the ancestral wisdom of the Amazon rainforest and honor the spiritual power of Mestre Sacacá. This revered curandeiro (healer) from Pará is known for his deep, traditional knowledge of medicinal herbs and roots. The enredo emphasizes the importance of preserving the forest's ecological and spiritual heritage, valuing the often-overlooked Afro-Indigenous cultures, and recognizing Mestre Sacacá as a guardian of the region's cultural heart. Acadêmicos de Niterói: “Do Alto...
Since April 10, 2025 Brazil is once again requiring that visitors from the USA, Canada and Australia apply and receive a tourist visa. The application process can take 3 weeks, I recommend allowing more than 3 weeks to send and receive your passport back. In addition to all of the paperwork you will need to send them an self addressed and stamped cardboard envelope (FedEx) so that they can return your passport and visa to you. According to the Brazilian government's website: APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Valid Passport (signed, valid up to the end of the travel to Brazil, 2 visa pages free) Visa application form (completed online) Passport-style photo (2” x 2”, white background) E-visa fee payment (US$ 80.90) Confirmation of flight...
I have been running, playing in and observing samba groups for quite a while. I even have a podcast called The Brazilian Beat since 2016 where we talk a lot about running samba groups outside and inside Brazil. Through these conversations themes begin to emerge. Things that are hold mediocre, low functioning groups back from being truly great.But first, what do I mean by low functioning groups? Groups that never seem to grow in numbers. Never seems to improve in quality or swing. Perhaps there is a core group of 10ish members who have been there forever but the band is a bit of a revolving door for other players. Constantly relearning the same material week after week. Players don't...
