Dear visitor,

THIS PAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE COMING HERE FOR THE CARNAVAL.
PLEASE READ THIS PAGE CAREFULLY.

WE TRY TO GIVE THE INFORMATION AS TRUE AS WE CAN GIVE IT.
YES, IT CONTAINS MANY WARNINGS BUT THEY COME FROM AL PLACES, GUESTS, GOVERMENT, THE CARNAVAL ORGANISATION, POLICE, ETC.
IT IS NOT A JOKE, USE YOUR COMMON SENCE AND ENJOY THIS MADNESS.

IF YOU DON'T NEED THIS INFORMATION YOU CAN GO DIRECLY TO OUR APARTMENTS.

Carnival in Bahia is it, baby! That is, of course, if you like to party and jumping/dancing. You can join the carnaval here personaly! Not just watch the all passes by from the side walk, no you really can enter the "Blocos" and or "camarotes". Carnival Bahia is nothing like Carnival Rio de Janeiro.

Carnaval starts Thursday, and it runs through Tuesday, officially. Unofficially (and actually) it runs to the morning of Ash Wednesday.

WHAT IS CARNAVAL IN SALVADOR?
WHAT IS A BLOCO?
WHAT IS A CAMAROTE?
WHAT IS THE PIPOCA?
WHAT IS A BARRACA?
WHAT IS A ABADA?
CIRCUITS?
HOW DOES IT ALL WORKS?
WHICH BLOCO OR CAMAROTE TO CHOOSE?
THE POLICE
ADVICE TO AVOID ROBBERY!
ADVISE TO THE (BLOND) GIRLS!

WHAT IS CARNIVAL IN SALVADOR?
Carnival in Salvador has 2 circuits; Campo Grande and Barra-Ondina. there is also one in Pelourinho, but is not that popular for the tourits and more for the local people.
The circuits itself can be divived in; Blocos, Camarote, Barracas and Pipoca (translated Pop-corn); so what are they?

WHAT IS A BLOCO?
This is a group of 2 or more big trucks (called; trios electrico) with great sound system (sometimes you have to cover your ears; so loud). The first truck contains a "famous" band, singer, DJ (later more) playing local to modern music, the second, third truck has a bar where you can buy your drinks, toilets, medical unit, etc.
With some luck you can be invited to be on top of one of the trucks. There are tickets you can buy,but mostly the are reserved for "special" guests.
ARROUND THESE BLOCOS THERE IS A SECURTY ROPE which is carried by hundred of guards. YOU DON'T ENTER THE BLOCO WITHOUT THE SO CALLED "ABADA"(explanation later)! The guards can be hard handed, so don't try anything stupid.

WHAT IS A CAMAROTE?
This is a fixed podium where you can watch the carnival pass by. Most of them are connected with the BLOCOS and when they arive there it is one big party. You also need an "ABADA" to enter the camarote. In this camarote you have all comfort you wish for, some even come including drinks and food. Let us say this are big outdoor discothecks; loud music, a lot of people, etc.

WHAT IS A BARRACA?
These are (snack) bars located mostly on the street behind the main street where you can buy all drinks and snacks for more "reasonable" prices. Here you can watch all the commotion from a distance.

WHAT IS THE PIPOCA?
This is something different. Translated it is Pop-corn. Why pop-corn? Well, you will notice it yourself. As the blocos pass by the people start to jump, dance, what ever... and it look likes the popcorn popping in the pan. PLEASE BE CAREFUL HERE! fighting, picpockets, drunks, touching people, etc. (see article of police).

The CIRCUITS:
As told we have 2 circuits; Campo Grande and Barra-Ondina. These are totally different circuits and you need to know the difference very well.

Starting with CAMPO GRANDE; this circuit in during the day/afternoon. That means you must be careful with the sun and dehidration, DON'T JUST DRINK BEER OR OTHER ALCOHOL, DRINK WATER OR JUICES ALSO! These Blocos and Camarotes are the more tradicional onces and you will find primairy local people here. Here you will find blocos like .............................. The camarotes mainly are located at the square Campo Grande. The rest of the circuit is more or less PIPOCA. It takes about 4-6 hours to end!
WARNING!
If you go to this circuit you have to live with these rules: Don't leave the bloco or camarote (if the guards going to let you go) STAY till the end and wait till all calms a bit before you go away.
This circuit goes to narrow streets where you cannot escape, where ever you go you will end up again in the carnival or in BAD locations. There are only 1 save exit; Campo Grande-Vitoria (and to the Contourno by taxi or car). Enjoy yourself and don't put yourself in danger!

BARRA-ONDINA: this one is the best for the (foreign) tourits. It starts in the late afternoon till...... the end or till you want to go home. Next to the famous local bands there will be famous foreign bands or DJ's (example FAT BOY SLIM, DJ TIESTO, there was Bono (U2). Also royal families can be found here). Here you will find a mixture of local and modern music.
This circuit goes alone the beach, so you can escape there to cool down or to the streets Along the main street.As the street is wide, there is enough room to walk and you can use the second street to move quickly to a other location of the circuit. Many big, nice, famous Camarotes like....................
The infrastructure of this circuit is better. At the end there are 2 big, closed streets only for taxis and busses. You can get home "quickly".
Also here a warning: DON'T JUST DRINK BEER OR OTHER ALCOHOL, DRINK WATER OR JUICES ALSO!

AFTERPARTY: for those who didnot have enough! It is possible to enter this party every day, starting 02.00 till 10.00.

WHAT IS A ABADA?
The Abada is your entree ticket. It is a T-shirt (sometimes with a paper ticket also) which you have to wear to enter the Bloco or Camarote. Everyday has it own color and/or text. Without you have no way to enter; as told above, the guards are hard handed and sometimes fight with the people who try to get in or just standing along the street.

HOW DOES IT ALL WORK?
As told you need an "ABADA". You need to buy one in special shops "Central do Carnaval" in shopping malls.You can also use the internet but for foreigners it is difficult to pay (only accepting Brazilian credit cards till 2008). We can be of service for you (See down).
With buying the abadas you enter a big administration and security system;
The security is needed because of the many scandalls they had in the last years. People are falsificating the abadas and sell them at the street or rob the manufacturies.
The administration is to make it all more complicated.
Oké let us start by the beginning:
1) you choose your Blocos and/or Camarotes.
2) you go to one of the shops when the sale beginns (2-3 months before the carnaval)
3) you pay and will receive a paper confirmation on the name of the buyer. This person needs to get the abadas in person and with an ID. After a certain date you will receive an open ticket "Passport" and everybody can get the abadas. IF ROBBED you have nothing!
4) serveral days before the start of the carnaval they open a big hall (conversation hall) somewhere far from where you will be staying. Here you need all documents, ID, tickets on name, "passports" etc. Walking with these documents you are a walking target for robbers.
5) entering this big hall an other confusion starts; where to go? Maybe you have to go to 3-4 different locations there and that with 1000's of people. Not really a joke if you don't speak portuguese.
6) If you finaly have all your stuff, you have to get out. Here you are again a possible contact for robbers. So you need to go out of there as quickly as can be.
7)At home you can relax.

For 2008 we bought for our clientsfor more then R$ 15000,00 of Abadas (3-4 times the anual minimum YEAR income!). Imagine. We had the luck that the distribution centre opened (secretly) 2 days earlier and that we received this information in time. Going there with 3 big Australian guests, we gethered all our stuff (45 min with no crowd) and left the centre with 3 extra guards to our car and quickly went to home.

This procedure is really not advicable for foreign people. Please let us do this for you. We only charge you 5% of the amount.

Which BLOCO or CAMAROTE to choose?
That is a difficult question and all depends on your budget, taste of music, etc.
Good BLOCOS:
SKOL D with famous DJ we had FAT BOY SLIM for the last 3 years
YES; new Bloco, with DJ tiesto last year.
NANA BANANA: with the famous group Chiclette com Banana
Good CAMAROTES:
SKOL D
OCEANICA
CAMELEAO

More information can be found at home.centraldocarnaval.com.br.

THE POLICE
During the carnaval they walk in groups of 4 persons or more. If you see them, please go out of the way; they push you with thier stick "gently" in your back. If you see a fight or you are getting in a fight, please walk away. The police will come in hard and don't asks question who started. They hit, kick and arrests. Jail is not funny here!

ADVICE to avoid robbery
Carry little money (change) enough for the day. Put it in your shoes, socks or buy some sweat(wrist) bands where you can hide some money.
They (little boys/girls) just put thier hands in your pocket to grab anything there. Let it be, don't make a fight.
For the same reason don't wear watches, necklesas, rings, celulars etc. Leave them at home. Even if they are not of any value. A neckless ripped from your neck can be very painfull.
Keys, tie them inside your pants or other safe place.
STAY IN GROUPS!

ADVICE to the (blond) girls
The man (and maybe girls) wil touch and kiss. Let it be! Just push them gently away. Husbands and Boyfriends do nothing, take it as it is; Nothing! Just a Drunk Man/Woman.