Next day we got a chance to understand the phenomena of Carnaval even better, as we were about to take part in the 'Bloco do Nana.' Whatever it meant it was famous for its wild block of street parade. Why famous? Somebody said it was the most fashionable for its frivolous ways! Mainly everybody was kissing everybody...
We found ourselves in the middle of a jumping crowd with no escape... the only way is to jump with them, and try to escape from unwanted kisses... or enjoying the ok ones...we even saw a guy with a counter!!!
crazy, crazy, crazy....
It took us several hours of jumping to the rythms of samba, and singing with the crowd...
The end of the parade for us was in the lounge camarote 'Do Nana'.
It was huge – from a street side it was like a club, but it continued through different lounges and even a small live band's stage right through to a beach....
The music of the live band was all over the beach, so everybody could keep on dancing on the sand or in the water... freestyle whatever you want, but keep on moving, keep on going... our South African friend Suzanne even gave us a bellydancing show... The band kept on playing – it seemed like the set list was repeating, but the public was still dancing.. In front of the stage, it was very popular to make spontanous group choreography, like from a kind of musical - so much fun!!!! So refreshing! Even when you felt like you could not dance anymore you kept on going...
What are you doing during a lunch in hotel when you've been dancing samba last few nights? The answer is simple – you dance samba!
No, but seriously we needed a break, so the next day cured our sore muscles in a hotel pool with our Brazilian friends ...blue blue blue – pool, ocean and the sky... does so much good for the soul!
I think the philosophy of Carnaval is 'Let's go ecstatic, the night is coming!'
Tonight we were going to our favourite special Camarote Espresso 2222. And I knew that a dj friend of mine – Ramilson Maia is going to perform in Trio Electrico (on the truck in the street parade) with a carnival Diva – Daniela Mercury. It was all amazing almost transcendental. As they were passing our lounge the Diva was singing one of my beloved songs ' Palco' and that together in a spontanous duet with Gilberto Gil, whom I was standing almost next to...
So I enjoyed a dialog, as if I would be a part of it..I love to be in the right time right place :-)
The energy was so intense I was electrified and hypnotized. It was unforegettable and very strong, almost a kind of archetypical experience of unity with the singing masses, a whole nation repeating same lines of the song and waving their hands...and the Diva looking your direction....unity with something bigger than me myself and I, with something overpersonal and universal. Being so present, so much aware of every moment, absolutely excited...
That night we saw many more great artists. Among them was Fat Boy Slim. Criusing around balconies or different facilities or the Smirnoff Black lounge with amazing drum and bass, Brazilian or elektro music. Our Ben had a chance to dj there as well, so great!!
We were in the lounge of Smirnoff Black and here we got best service with the best fruity cocktails you could imagine...
***
Mission accomplished. It is 9a.m on the last day of Carnaval in Salvador. We made it – we have been working out hard along to never ending samba rhythms. It is time to go to hotel as in few hours we have to catch a boat to a nearby island - Morro de Sao Paulo.... to discover more of the beautiful spirit of Bahia.
But we will be back!!! Hasta la vista!!!
