"Best R$3,428 I Ever Spent!" Carnival, Rio de Janeiro Style

Yesterday, we compared our own slate of LA Fat Tuesday parties to the madness of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and came to the conclusion that, if we admittedly couldn't rival the bayou for sheer insanity, we were at least committed to having a good time and were trying to stay true to the spirit of the holiday without "L.A.-ifying" the whole thing. Of course, then we saw these photos of the parade and Cordão do Bola Preta in Rio de Janeiro, and we realize yet again that we're not even in the ballpark of how Brazil gets down. Check out these amazing shots and just like us, you're probably going to want to start booking your trip next year right away.

[all photos via and via]