Burning Of Bad Humor ©emilio labrador
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Americans are probably most familiar with the letchery of New Orleans Mardi Gras but around the world the Rio de Janeiro celebration is regarded as the king of Carnival. But, with the recent strength of the Brazilian currency and massive investments being made in Rio’s tourism infrastucture for the 2014’s FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the Rio celebration may be out of the budget range for travelers looking to spend Fat Tuesday abroad.
For those pinching pennies during their pre-lent festivities, MSNBC has three budget-friendly (or, at least, budget-friendlier) international Mardi Gras options.
First, Mexico’s port city of Veracruz is just an hour-and-a-half flight from Houston, yet it is home to one of Mexico’s largest Carnival celebrations. Revelers get the opportunity to watch dozens of salsa dance groups show off their dance moves in a competition held in the city’s town square. But, the celebrations here aren’t just about parties, the people of Veracruz take the “fat” part of Fat Tuesday seriously with amazing food during their celebration,
“Carnival here is not just about music and parties, but also about the food,” said Mauricio Reyes, head waiter at Veracruz’s well-known Mariscos Villa Rica Mocambo seafood restaurant. “During Carnival, people love to eat ceviche, pompano a la sal (salt-baked pompano fish) and shrimp with chile and lime.”
For a different spin on Carnival, check out the Greek celebration in Patras. Since the country is Greek Orthodox, not Catholic, the dates of their pre-Lent festivities vary from year to year and are tied to Greek Orthodox Easter. The celebration in Patras dates back to the 19th century and is much more family friendly than many of its international counterparts. Carnival in Patras is a mix of different mini-Carnivals that include parades, treasure hunts, a kid’s carnival and masquerade balls.
Revelers looking to get a taste of Carnival in Brazil without the madness of Rio look no further than the pre-Lenten party in the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife. Like Rio, the city is famous for hosting a wild street party for Mardi Gras. The festivities in Recife are crowned by the Saturday morning Galo da Madrugada (Rooster of Dawn) which is arguably the largest single Carnival parade in Brazil.
Read more at MSNBC.