BRASIL: 10 Feb UPDATE: 19 New Images; Carnaval Begins; Some Natives Flee Rio's Crowds; Recent Disco Deaths Cloud Some Samba Celebrations.

         NEW! LINK CHANGE : TO SEE: 19 New Parade Images
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276055/Carnival-erupts-blaze-colour-Brazil.html#axzz2KLUil3ST

     Carnaval...the annual 5-day exercise in pure hedonism that Brasil and Rio are famous for...began on Friday.

     King Momo (foto) got the symbolic key...and will pocket $10,000 for the 5th year.
     King Momo, 33...is a really a hefty Rio bank teller...who must hold court...and preside over dozens of events...especially the famous samba contest/parade of 12 schools.

     Rio itself will hold over 700 processions.
http://www.france24.com/en/20130208-king-momo-kicks-off-rio-carnival

     Over 1.1 million tourists will attend carnavals in Rio, Recife, Salvador, Sao Paulo and other cities...that generate nearly $700 million.
http://www.france24.com/en/20130208-king-momo-kicks-off-rio-carnival

    AND: Not all Brasileiros are enchanted with the annual carnaval celebration.
    Many natives escape the city...to avoid the crowds, noise and nuisances.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=171479352

   ALSO: The recent deaths of 238 young adults in a Santa Maria disco fire clouds this year's carnaval.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/08/us-brazil-carnival-idUSBRE9170WT20130208