The Sambodromo

So this is what the Sambodromo looks like. Above, looking from our seats toward the finish of the parade route to the right. Below, one of the floats going by. We had of course heard of the famous Rio Carnaval and something about parades or some such, but had never realized that they have a special-purpose parade stadium taking up several blocks of prime real estate that they use for one week each year.

For the rest of the week -- and probably next week, too -- pictures of the crazy, elaborate floats and costumes they put together for these parades.