Rio To Offer YEAR-ROUND Carnival

[matcom]

:bounce:

<snip>

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Don't worry if you can't make it to Rio de Janeiro's raucous Carnival in February. Tourists will soon have a chance to enjoy the deafening samba drums, near-naked dancers and bright floats all year round.

In September, Rio plans to open the doors to Samba City, a 1-million-square-foot (93,000 square-meter) complex that will house workshops for 14 of the best Carnival troupes. It will stage parades and shows several times a week, offering visitors a peek at the preparations for the world's best-known party.

"Carnival ends on Ash Wednesday, but everyone coming to Rio wants to see the show," said Rio tourism secretary Rubem Medina. "Samba City will be a giant Carnival dream factory and, we are sure, the city's new tourism icon."

The complex is also expected to breathe new life into the now dilapidated sooty Rio port area around it.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=1&u=/nm/20040720/od_nm/life_brazil_carnival_dc

[GOPisEvil]

1. Woohoo!! ANOTHER reason to go to Rio!

:bounce:

[underpants]

2. Wow a WHOLE Year with HER!!!!!!!!

[Coventina]

3. Erm, call me a killjoy but....

I don't like the idea.

Isn't the point of Carnival is that it is a special time?
The period between 12th night and Mardi Gras?

I think having Carnival all year is kind of like those Christmas freaks who leave their tree up all year and stuff.

It might seem like a neat idea at first, but after awhile it just becomes routine.

I dunno, I think all the seasons and holidays should be celebrated, not just get fixated on one.

Just my two cents.
Flame away....