BRASIL: Escape To Bahia's Remote...Isla Boipeba.

NYTIMES/ TRAVEL / A.JACOBS/ 2 SCREEN READ COMBINED

   Boipeba is a lush, remote island off the coast near Salvador, the capital of Bahia without motorized transport or thumping night life.
    “If you can’t live in the moment, this isn’t the place for you,”says a resident. “If you need to constantly know the weather forecast, you might want to go somewhere else.”

BRASIL: After Tragedies, Rio's Carnaval... Finally Begins.

AP / M. HERALD /
J. Barbassa
2 Screen Read...combined.

   After several recent tragedies in Rio, Carnaval spelled with an "a", Brasil's most extravagant and glorious six days...officially began.
   The celebration will attract about 756,000 visitors who will spend about $559 million usd.
   In Rio itself, 424 street bands and "blocos," have registered.
   Presiding over it is a figure called King Momo.
   "Carnival is the world's biggest manifestation of happiness, merrymaking, extravagance," said the man selected this year as Momo. "It's a massive getting rid of all the stresses of every day, and it brings a sense of peace and togetherness. I hope to do this as long as I can, God willing and my disposition holding up."

AND: The GUARDIAN  features 5 video links of various lengths to festive Carnaval footage.
I especially like the music/fotos of the 2:50 "bate-bolas" (ball-knockers) video "Batelandia" by Gui Christ from 2010.http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/mar/04/riodejaneiro-brazil-carnival-videos

ALSO: For a continuing views of Salvador, Bahia's famous street Carnaval,
from 3 march to 8 march, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/user/carnaval

MONDAY MORNING MUSIC: From Brasil: Ivete Sangalo.

YOUTUBE: 3:16/ Video consists solely of slides of the very attractive Ivete/

Ivete Sangalo sings" Não me faça espera"/ Don't make me wait.

Another bouncy, pulsating song from a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brasil... to start the week.
Music is the drug that keeps this news blog going.
Since I found this song on YouTube, I've been replaying it constantly. It's just TOO short.
Happy Monday!

 For BIO INFO ON Ivete:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivete_Sangalo

BRASIL: Trancoso: Celebs New Chic Bahia Vacation Spot.

NYTIMES/    Trancoso is a former fishing village with an unspoiled beach that is a convenient two-hour ride from Sao Paulo--if you have a helicopter. But many visitors to the tiny village on Bahia's coast apparently do. Trancoso is the new hot beach spot for Brasil's jet-setters. Rustic accomodations at St. Tropez prices. “This is the freest place in Brazil. You can do anything here, really," says a visitor.

BRASIL: "Black Magic" Needle Baby Moved To Bahia Hospital.

AP/ MIAMI HERALD/
A man from Ibotirama has confessed to inserting 42 needles into his 2-year-old stepson in a primitive religious ritual. Roberto Carlos Magalhaes says he was commanded to do it by a woman in a trance. Three have been arrested. Meanwhile the boy has been transported to a major Bahia hospital because two of the needles are close to his heart and deemed dangerous to remove.