Just before the first seven of 14 samba schools swung into the arena in an array of glitzy costumes, a torrential downpour fell on the venue, prompting loud chanting from the crowd.
This year a record 400,000 visitors from abroad are in Rio for the carnival. The judging for the samba competition winner of carnival 2004 takes place on Wednesday.
And, highlighting the international fame attested to by Rio’s carnival, the world’s biggest cruise ship Queen Mary II arrived yesterday with 2,600 passengers aboard to be welcomed by some of Brazil’s splendid mulatas, dressed in glitzy tangos, dancing to the samba beat.
