Photos: Carnival kicks off in Brazil
February 8, 2013
A reveller dances during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes (centre L) kisses the hand of the Rei Momo, or Carnival King, Milton Junior during the handover of the ceremonial key to the city event, at Cidade Palace in Rio de Janeiro February 8, 2013. The event officially kicks off the 2013 carnival week in Rio. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes (2nd L) claps his hands after he handed over the ceremonial key to the city to the Rei Momo, or Carnival King, Milton Junior (2nd R) at Cidade Palace in Rio de Janeiro February 8, 2013. The event officially kicks off the 2013 carnival week in Rio. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
Revelers participate in the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. "Carmelitas" is a band started in 1990 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a Carmelite convent. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Revellers play instruments during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Revellers dance during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro. February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
A reveller dances during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Revelers participate in the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. "Carmelitas" is a band started in 1990 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a Carmelite convent. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A reveller dances in front of puppets during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
A reveler dressed as the late singer Amy Winehouse snorts fake cocaine during the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. "Carmelitas" is a band started in 1990 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a Carmelite convent. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Revelers participate in the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. "Carmelitas" is a band started in 1990 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a Carmelite convent. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A reveller prepares herself before participating in the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Revellers sing during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
The mythical jester figure who reigns over Carnival, this year's King Momo; the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues Junior, arrives at the official ceremony kicking off the five-day bash, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A reveller dances during the annual block party known as 'Carmelitas', one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, February 8, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
A reveler wearing a sign that reads in Portuguese: 'Has anyone seen my fiancÈ?,' is kissed by another reveler during the "Carmelitas," street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. "Carmelitas," is a band started in 1990 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a Carmelite convent. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
The mythical jester figure who reigns over Carnival, this year's King Momo; the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues Junior, center, holds up the key of the city that was given by Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes, left, at the official ceremony kicking off the five-day bash, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Topless activists of women's rights group Femen Brazil struggle with security guards at Rio de Janeiro's international airport Tom Jobim on February 8, 2013 as they stage a protest against "tourist sex" which they claim rises in about 30 percent with the arrival of European tourists in the time around carnival. Rio's world famous carnival takes place February 9-12. VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Categories: Entertainment, News, Syndicated, World
Tags: photos