Carnaval 2008 in Rio: Photos from the Second Night

Last night was the second night of Carnaval's samba school parades in Rio last night, with the latter 6 schools marching. Once again, for any interested in seeing the photos of the cars, costumes, etc. (all 15 of you), you can find photos of Unidos da Tijuca, Beija-Flor (last year's champion), Grande Rio, Vila Isabel, Mocidade, and Imperatriz. It's still in Portuguese - I just haven't found comprehensive coverage in English, unfortunately. If you just click on the red links with "imagens" and/or "fotogaleria" in the articles, it will open the photos in a new window.

The champion of Carnaval, evaluated based upon organization, timing (all schools have to finish the entire parade in under 90 minutes), costumes, choreography, design, cars, and music/song, will be announced tomorrow, with one more parade of the champions on Saturday. Overall, I have to say the quality of the costumes (fantasias) and the cars this year was excellent, drawing on some great themes (the bicentennial of the arrival of the Portuguese court in Rio, fleeing from Napoleon and staying in Rio until independence in 1822, for example).