Although we still have more than 160 days to go for Rio 2009 Carnival, backstage parade negotiations for technical posts and drum queens are at full speed. Didn’t understand? Let me explain you: Carnival in Rio has several activities throughout the year, but some of its highlights before the official Carnival Parade, are the samba school theme definition and drum queen contests. Both of these activities are organized by Rio´s Samba Schools, between carnival ´s official end and the parade in the following year.

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Any worldwide travel guide that is worth your time is bound to include information concerning Rio de Janeiro, the second greatest Brazilian city (after Sao Paolo). It is a widespread mistake to point it out as the capital of the South American country, as it actually was so, up until ’60.

In any case, the first images popping up in someone’s mind when the name of this great city is pronounced include Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), the stadium of Maracana, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema and, of course, the notorious yearly Carnival. These are the first landmarks to identify Rio de Janeiro quickly in amazing.

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