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Carnaval in Rio
– Don't just stand there, samba! Request more information
January 30 – February 6, 2008
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Per person: $3,785*
Join Journey Out’s
trip to Rio and you won’t just watch the Carnaval
parade,
you’ll be in it!
"This makes the
Macy's parade look like kindergarten!" –
S. L.
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Carnaval in Rio
includes: |
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A smart,
well-traveled Journey Out guide who will make your Carnaval experience a
treat for the senses ● A small group of gay men, lesbians and their friends
to explore the wonders of Rio and the craziness of Carnaval ● Welcome
reception ● 7 nights
in a four-star hotel on Ipanema Beach ● All your breakfasts ● Three lunches and three dinners ●
Visits to the great monuments
of Rio: Corcovado and Sugarloaf ● A tour of the street markets and
a cooking lesson culminating in a traditional Brazilian meal that we prepare
together
● VIP seats to view the Samba Parade on the first night of the parades ● The second night,
participation in the
Samba Parade, including a dazzling costume to keep ● Special VIP tickets to
the great gay Carnaval parties ● Airport transfers ● History lectures, orientation talks and language tips
● All group sightseeing tours, admissions and more ● Itinerary is
subject to change. To arrange your air travel (not included),
click here |
Itinerary
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Day
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Monday |
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Depart USA — Please keep in mind that most international
flights to Rio arrive the morning after you leave the US. |
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1 |
Wednesday |
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Visit the Great Monuments of
Rio |
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Morning and Afternoon |
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Transfer to the
hotel and settle in.
Our first stop will be the
famed Cristo de Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue that stands with open
arms from atop Corcovado Mountain. Built between 1926 and 1931, this art
deco masterpiece stands 100 feet and is covered in a mosaic of soapstone. A
small chapel that seats 150 people is at its base.
After a group lunch,
we’ll go to Rio’s other stunning monument Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf).
Sugarloaf is comprised of two enormous hills that jut out into Guanabara
Bay. The hills are connected to each other and to the charming neighborhood
of Urca by a cable gondola. From the 1,200 foot summit, the views of the
bay, the beaches and Rio’s surroundings are simply breathtaking. Viewed from
Sugarloaf, Rio looks like the most beautiful city in the world.
Next we may even be treated to mini fashion show of sungas (male
speedos) and fio dental (women’s bikinis – literally dental floss). |
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Evening |
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After dinner on your own,
we’ll meet in the hotel lobby to attend the rehearsal of our Samba School.
Each Samba School in Rio has private
quadras (huge places for about 3,000 people) where they practice the
music, complete with drums and musical instruments. You can dance, hear and feel the drums
and be in contact with the people who
build
Carnaval. |
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2 |
Thursday |
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Explore Brazilian Cuisine |
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Morning |
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This morning, guided by our local expert on Brazilian cuisine, we will tour an open
market in Rio. We’ll sample the strange and unique fruits of the Amazon and
learn about the ingredients of Brazilian dishes. |
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Afternoon |
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For lunch, we’ll sample salgados (fried Brazilian snack foods) and
sucos (the best fruit juices ever). After a break, we’ll go to
our guide’s house for a Brazilian cooking lesson. The menu will be mouth-watering
and exotic, and we’ll have recipes to take home with us. |
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Evening |
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With our VIP passes we’ll go to Rio's hottest
gay spot,
a great dance bar near Copacabana Beach.
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3 |
Friday |
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Look Out
Below! |
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Morning |
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You are free to
sleep in, or play, as you wish! |
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Afternoon |
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Hang onto your
hats . . . you have the option of going tandem hang gliding from the hills above Rio down to
beach. This is breathtaking in every way imaginable, and perfectly safe --
you are partnered with a trained professional. To entice you to take
the plunge, we'll have champagne waiting for you at the beach. Be sure to
bring your camera for this event.
Afterward, you are free to play in
the surf at the beach! |
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Evening |
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We'll be fitted
for our parade costumes and learn to samba! Then we’ll go to Pampa Oceano, a Brazilian barbeque restaurant specializing in seafood. |
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4 |
Saturday |
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Meet Me at
the Fair |
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Morning |
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You are free to
play! |
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Afternoon |
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Later in the afternoon, we'll join the
Banda de Ipanema for the
extremely wild and very gay street Carnaval celebration.
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Evening |
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You are free to enjoy Rio on
your own. |
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5 |
Sunday |
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Watching the
Parade of a Lifetime |
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Morning |
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Free time. |
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Afternoon |
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Suggested itinerary for a
Sunday: Attend the Hippie Fair (local crafts) in Ipanema, visit the
botanical garden (short cab ride from the hotel) and GO TO THE BEACH.
Sunday is THE day that
Cariocas (Rio natives) go to the beach. Everything happens on Rio's beaches, from martial arts displays to soccer to
concerts. Go and indulge! |
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Evening |
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We'll enjoy a
meal of Feijoada. Feijoada, which began as a humble slave meal, is now the
national dish of Brazil.
After dinner, brace
yourselves for part one of the sensory experience of lifetime as we begin
our Carnaval parade festivities. For this night we will sit back and enjoy
the parade as spectators. We'll see the pageantry of dancing and costumes,
feel the driving beat of the parade drums (one of loudest sounds imaginable)
and hear the infectious Carnaval theme songs.
Please keep in mind that this
is a fierce contest and that WE will be judged along with our group when we
are in the parade on Monday night. |
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6 |
Monday |
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Don't Just
Stand There - Samba! |
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Morning and Afternoon |
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You
are free to explore the city or get out of town. Journey Out will supply
some ideas for fun things to do. |
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Evening |
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Rest up. We'll
meet in the late evening to hook up with our Samba School, don our costumes
and parade past 70,000 cheering spectators. This is your time to shine and
do your school proud. |
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7 |
Tuesday |
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The End of
Carnaval |
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Morning and Afternoon |
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You
are free to rest and enjoy Rio. |
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Evening |
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We'll
have VIP passes to attend one
of the magnificent gay balls in Rio. Costumes are required, the wilder the
better! Cut loose and let your imagination run wild - this is Carnaval
after all. |
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8 |
Wednesday |
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Farewell |
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Morning and Afternoon |
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Join us for a farewell brunch to say goodbye and remember the journey of a
lifetime. |
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Evening |
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We'll say a last farewell to Rio and leave for the airport. |
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* Price
quoted is per person, double occupancy.
Solo travelers may choose single occupancy and pay
an additional $950.
Ask about our free roommate matching service.
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