Wherever you’re planning on traveling this summer, consider picking up and taking along a GoPro; it’s a small waterproof digital camera that takes great HD video, still photos, & timelapses – perfect for capturing playful moments on land, in the water, and everywhere in between.
Today’s Video of the Day is a fun look at one couple’s 3-day vacation to Rio de Janeiro. It was shot completely on a GoPro and uses a creative mix of still image sequences and video clips. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the creator shoots video for a living – but hopefully it will give you some inspiration to embark on and capture your own adventure this summer.
Already have one to share? Submit your pictures to the Gadling Flickr Pool or leave a link to your videos in the comments section below. It could be our next Photo / Video of the Day!
Many of us love the window seat when traveling. Even in cramped coach class, you can feel like you have your own little nook with a place to prop up your tiny airline pillow (in case you don’t fly with a SkyRest like Mike Barish) and a great view of the sky and landscape below. But few of us ever get the best window seat, up in the cockpit, where the view is framed by hundreds of tiny lights and controls. Fortunately own resident pilot Kent Wien shared this nighttime arrival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. See more of his beautiful sky photos here.
Fat Tuesday is the culmination of Mardi Gras, Carnival, Carnevale, and like minded celebrations that take place across the world today. From Guatemala to Greece, Fat Tuesday represents the last bastion of excess in Christian culture before the Lent fasting season begins. The streets pulse with energy and revelers don costumes, throw beads, shout sheenisms, and generally have a booze-fueled fantastic time.
So where are the top 5 places to throw down and party for Fat Tuesday?5. Venice Venice provides the Italian atmosphere and throwback baroque charm to make you feel like you have stepped back in time a few centuries. Massive Parties are thrown at Piazza San Marco and thousands dress up in extravagant costumes to add an air of aristocracy to the Venetian streets. European revelers clog Venice’s narrow alleyways and bridges with a great time. The oldest Carnevale party in Venice took place in the 13th century, making Venice the original spot for the party.
4. Portugal
Portugal’s celebrations vary by region with some smaller cities incorporating pagan rituals into the “Carnaval” experience. The largest party in the country happens in Lisbon and is a very cosmopolitan experience. With famous dancers and a massive parade, it is easy to find a great time in colorful Lisbon. In northern Portugal, revelers dress up in colorful yellow, red, and green costumes with tin masks (pictured above) and consume a lot of meat.
3. Trinidad and Tobago
This tiny island hosts the largest Carnival experience in the Caribbean. The party lasts over a month and climaxes with a massive 3 day party in the Port of Spain that ends on Ash Wednesday. Steel pans and Calypso music echo out across the massive party as Trinidadians and Tobagonians dance to the beat while clutching cups filled with sugary rum. On the Monday before Fat Tuesday, revelers wear old clothes and cover themselves in mud, oil, and paint. Some dress as devils. On Fat Tuesday, the party hits overdrive and revelers enrobe themselves in their Carnival finery.
2. New Orleans
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and in the States, New Orleans is the place to take in the party. People come from all over the world for this French-American version of Carnival. The epicenter of the party is Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and Fat Tuesday is the apogee of the debauchery. With parades, beads, and hand grenades, it is hard not to have a great time in New Orleans.
1. Rio de Janeiro
The craziest and most intense carnival celebration takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazilians call it the greatest show on earth, and they make a valid point. Millions of people descend on the streets of Rio to dance the night away and gawk at Brazilian goddesses dressed in Samba costumes. The celebrations really take off the weekend before Ash Wednesday with the party exploding like a star on Fat Tuesday. Check out the video below to see what the world’s biggest party looked like in 1955.
The ultimate escape, Rio’sCarnival is open with celebrations expected to draw over 750,000 visitors, both foreign and Brazilian spending over $500 million.
“As the king of the party, I declare the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is officially open,” this year’s king Milton Rodrigues said. “Long live Rio, and long live Carnival!”
It’s a spectacle unlike any other where the normal world is turned upside down, rules go out the window and anything goes. For five days the city will be covered in confetti and music with dancing and music parades the order of the day.
While much of Carnival is about being someone else for a while as men dress like women and poor people dress like kings, some attending the event want to stay just who they are.Celebrities expected to attend include Pamela Anderson, added to the VIP party guest list just last wee along with Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore and Nicole Kidman. They will be looking for space in the coveted VIP boxes that overlook all the action along with Jude Law, Leonardo DiCaprio and more.
Off to a less than smooth start when 15 revelers were electrocuted and killed by a fallen power line, Carnival celebrations and festivities are in full swing now with highlights of this year’s festival to include appearances on parade floats by Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who will pose as Venus de Milo, and local singing legend Roberto Carlos.
Ongoing heavy rain has caused torrential flooding in São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s two most-visited tourist destinations.
CNN reported Wednesday afternoon that the storms and flooding have caused at least 99 deaths in the state of Rio de Janiero alone, and more than 127 overall.
The area northest of Rio and the city of Teresopolis have reported the most damage thus far, including 71 people who died in a mudslide caused by the flooding and three firefighters who died during rescue operations.
CNN reports that nearly 75,000 people remain without power, and Teresopolis Mayor Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his city a natural disaster area. He told CNN affiliate TV Globo that at least 80 rescuers have been sent to the region.
The damage from these floods could have long-ranging tourism impacts, particularly as the country prepares to celebrate its annual Carnival festivities, which draw thousands of visitors to the country each year.