Carnival in Salvador

Baianos, the people from Bahia, are known in Brazil as those who most love parties. Almost every event is reason for a party, which should last as long as possible. Baianos do not deny this fame.
The Brazilian carnival had strong influence from the Africans, and Salvador is the blackest Brazilian city. All the samba schools in Rio must have a block composed only of baianas, women from Bahia.
So, it is not a surprise that Salvador has one of the best carnivals in Brazil. According to Guinness, with 2,000,000 people (including 800,000 tourists), Salvador has the largest street carnival in the world.
While in Rio most of the carnival happens in ball-rooms and in the Sambadrome (which require people to pay to participate), in Salvador most events happen in the streets and beaches, and are free for all. As a consequence, the carnival in Salvador goes on, non-stop, for nearly ten days. Small groups called "blocos" pop up everywhere in the city, and they are soon followed by locals and tourists.
A tradition of the carnival in Salvador are the "trios eletricos" (electric trio). Back in 1950, two persons, Dodo and Osmar (who today are legends of Brazilian carnival), put high power speakers on top of a Ford 1929 and drove around town inviting people to follow the rythm; it was a massive success. In 1951, the electric duo was joined by Temistocles Aragao, and the first Trio Eletrico was formed. Ever since, several trios were formed in Bahia, with much more sound power, on top of much bigger trucks; to follow a trio eletrico, just join the crowd, mind your ears, and let it go.
Several of the most popular musicians in Brazil are from Bahia, and they do come back for carnival. So, you may come across free shows by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Daniella Mercury, Gal Costa, Maria Betania and several other singers and groups; a sure presence is of Carlinhos Brown and the Timbalada band, which was made famous by Paul Simon a few years ago.