RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) — From near-nude exhibitionism to Bacchanalian bashes to percussive street parades, it seems no excess is too great for Brazil's traditional carnival, which kicks off Friday.
But this year, the government is urging revellers to rein it in a little.
"Take a lot of care," President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday as Brazilians and foreigners alike streamed into Rio de Janeiro and Salvador for the headline festivities.
"We have to have fun responsibly," he said on his weekly radio program. "No-one has to drink, no-one has to do anything outside of what they do normally when they have fun."
His government is backing up the appeal with a new law banning the sale of alcohol in the street, while police will be out in force during carnival to breath-test motorists in an unprecedented crackdown on drunk-driving.
Nearly 20 million free condoms will also be distributed to tamp down on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases during the notoriously promiscuous partying that occurs.
"It's important to remember that the following week, we all have to work and look after our families," Lula said.
His message, though, was largely lost in the din of preparations, as the whole country brushed off glitzy costumes and samba dance moves ahead of the exuberant pre-Lenten explosion about to hit.
From Rio to Recife, dance schools were putting on rehearsals for the over-the-top parades where audiences pay up to thousands of dollars for a seat, and for the free street "bloco" shows where g-stringed women -- and transvestites -- play cheerleader for bands drumming out infectious rhythms.
Around 20,000 people turned out on the weekend despite rain to watch the Simpatia e Quase Amor group go through its moves along the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.
One spectator, a 43-year-old who gave his name as Josias and who was wearing a T-shirt with the words: "Sex Teacher -- first lesson free", said carnival attracted people of all ages, and all social strata.
"This is a completely democratic festivity. Everybody has fun as they like," he said.
In Rio's Sambodromo, where the priciest places for the parades could be had, organizers were putting the finishing touches to what they called "the biggest show on earth," to take place next Sunday and Monday.
One watcher, Altemir de Mello, 56 and with a beer in his hand, said money was not required to enjoy carnival.
"All you need is samba and a beer," he said. "We laugh at everything and everybody and each person does what they want. It's a blessing from God what we have in this Marvellous City," he added, using Rio's nickname.
Brazil's media were working up a frenzy of coverage of the event.
The website of Globo, the television network that has exclusive broadcast rights to the Rio parades, swooned over a blonde Brazilian model who is turning Japanese -- literally -- to front her float highlighting a century of Japanese immigration.
Angela Bismarchi said her husband, a plastic surgeon, would be altering her eyes to give them an Oriental lilt. It will be her 47th time under the knife. And after carnival, she will have another operation to shape them back.
"I'm a little anxious over this surgery because it's something that will change my face. But I trust my husband, and I know he'll do a good job," she said.
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