I visited Brazil to experience the Rio Carnival – it’s like nothing else on earth – The Scottish Sun

RIO de Janeiro’s most iconic symbol is Christ The Redeemer — the enigmatic and towering statue that makes  the city’s skyline so unmistakable.

The astonishing sculpture of Jesus with his arms outstretched is one of modernity’s Seven Wonders of the World and evokes the poignancy of the crucifixion.

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But, as I soon discovered in joyous, life-affirming Brazil, the Saviour’s pose also represents a universal invitation to fall into the warmest of welcome embraces.

And during the week I spent revelling in the drama and wonder of the miraculous Rio Carnival, I got the sense somewhere deep inside that heavenly stone figure is a heartbeat pumping to the sound of Samba.

Everything in this incredible, oceanside city revolves around the annual parade that reaches its jaw-dropping, spine-tingling, goose-bumping conclusion in February every year.

It’s no surprise a cascade of countless news and social media photos and videos flutter around the planet like confetti as the party of millions unfolds.

And so most people, from  Tillicoultry to Timbuktu,  probably think they have an inkling of what this world-famous extravaganza is all about.

I’ll confess I did too. But take it from the freshly enlightened, not one of the torrent of words and pictures you’ll see on your smartphone can truly capture the magic of being there.

Breathing in the steamy carnival air and seeing the  passion oozing from the pores of every Brazilian was nothing short of a revelation.

The show ignites an hour before midnight and crackles into the wee small hours inside an enormous 700-metre long arena known as the Sambadrome.

To put its scale into perspective, the capacity is around 90,000 — that’s almost 40,000 more than squeeze into Hampden Park when every seat is taken.

The fact you won’t see a single football or goalpost at this astonishing parade ground reveals something else about a country famed the world over for its obsession with the beautiful game.

But believe me, this huge nation of around 215million  Samba-daft souls get just as worked up — possibly even more so — about celebrating the unifying force of carnival as they do when one of their favourite footballing sons smashes home a World Cup wonder goal.

On arrival it quickly became  clear I had a lot to learn about the history and significance of this annual festival — as well as the rich, complex, cultural history of the city itself.

So it was just as well I’d been booked to visit an  exhibition documenting the 95-year history of Mangueira — one of the country’s most celebrated Samba schools who each year strut their stuff at the greatest show of its kind on earth.

The display — hosted at the galleries of the Sebrae Reference Centre for Brazilian Crafts   — gave me a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship that goes into creating the costumes and mind-boggling floats that make the seemingly impossible become reality.

Mangueira, like each of the Samba schools, was born in one of the many sprawling favelas that surround the city’s seemingly endless shanty towns,  enveloping Rio’s hills in a blur of chaos and colour.

The same description could be used for the many street gatherings — or block parties — that seem to bubble out of nowhere during the carnival season.

I found myself in the heart of one of the biggest ‘bloco’ knees-ups of the year when I joined a staggering 800,000 people at the Cordao do Bola Preto for  something akin to a five-hour Samba rave that kicked off just after 8am.

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Once again, my eyes were opened to a new world as revellers bounced without pause in a sweltering heat that had me thirstily sinking my new favourite tipple — Brazil’s very own Brahma beer.

The whole scene blew me away as I looked on slack-jawed at the thousands of faces surrounding one of three trucks inching their way through the street with a Samba band, glamorous dancers, and sexy celebs amping-up the electric party atmosphere.

I surprised myself by managing to go the distance but by the end I was definitely yearning for something a little more sedate — and thankfully Rio delivers in spades on that front too.

A leisurely, cooling cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain was just the ticket, as was the delightful meal we enjoyed at the summit’s Classico Beach Club.

It was the perfect spot to sip cocktails and gaze in awe at the otherworldly dreamscape below.

The setting sun seemed to sizzle slowly into the ocean’s Copacabana horizon like an opening scene in a fantastical sci-fi movie.

Rio delivered one unforgettable moment after another and you’d struggle to find a better place to base yourself than the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Hotel.

The rooftop infinity pool was a highlight as was its close proximity to the golden sands and surf that crashes temptingly on the shore just two minutes from the door.

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The countless restaurants along this beach-loving paradise offer so many gastronomic options but if you’re looking for something extra special book a table at Mesa do Lado by Chez Claude in the Leblon quarter.

It’s an immersive dining experience that’s the brainchild of French chef Claude Troigros who has become one of Brazil’s most celebrated culinary kings whose wonderful creations, such as the mushroom cappuccino, left, make guests feel like royalty.

Memories from a peaceful stroll among the astonishing palm trees of Rio’s beautiful botanic gardens also linger in my thoughts.

There’s so much to see in this stunning urban sanctuary, where visitors can explore for hours and still feel like there’s so much more to see.

The 130-acre site — which dates back to 1808 — is home to more  than 6,000 species of plant, some of them endangered.

And a delightful meal at nearby Camolese restaurant — which has its very own craft beer operation on site — was the ideal place  to recharge the batteries, especially for beer-daft Scots feeling a little parched in the South American heat.

But you won’t be surprised to know the most vivid moments that will live with me for a lifetime bubbled up amid delightful glugs of pink Champagne in the incredible Sambadrome.

The carnival, it seems to me, is in essence an expression of freedom, a glorious defiance against the things in life that bind us.

And just like the monument on the hill — like Brazil and Rio itself — a compelling reminder to open your arms and celebrate life like there’s no tomorrow.

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