Carnival Kicks off Worldwide as Tourists Robbed in Brazil

by Rob Walker | February 20, 2009 at 10:04 am

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Carnival celebrations are starting up across the globe, but vacationers in Brazil got more of a bang than they were expecting when they were held up by thieves with hand grenades. The tourists were left tied up after being robbed and threatened with grenades by a gang.

Everyone else remains appropriately festive in Brazil, Haiti, India and many other countries.

British tourists were among 47 hotel guests to be tied up and robbed by intruders brandishing hand grenades at the start of Rio's world famous carnival, it emerged today.

Floats will be used by participants to highlight that Goa's land can be utilised for other means than just construction.

Jacmel, Haiti, February 15 2009: Haitians celebrate Carnival, which is marked by parades, pageants, masked balls, elaborate costumes, seductive music and great dancing on the streets. Festivities bring a diversity of cultures to the area

The attack comes after Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes threatened a 'shock of order' campaign, which would see the smallest offense punished during carnival.

Rio's mayor has a plan he believes can tame this chaotic city, which is both beloved and loathed for the cacophony of sins that reach their apex during Carnival, which opened Friday.

And of course not everyone is in love with Carnivals:

Seth Kugel, reporting for GlobalPost from Brazil, features some video voxpop in this report of Brazilians who are not as in love with the annual carnival as some of their compatriots.
"A vocal minority of Brazilians absolutely detest Carnival," writes Kugel, and he has the soundbites to prove it.