[twitter]It’s the final week of excess for the world’s Catholic population. Lent starts this week, a season of fasting and “giving up,” which means everyone doubles up on the goodness in advance of going without. Mardi Gras, literally fat tuesday, is a time of parties and debauchery like none other in New Orleans.

Further south, in Rio de Janeiro, they mark the start of Lent by having Carnival, a week long party of dancing at the famous Sambadrome. Tens of thousands of people flock to the cement block to celebrate in wild costumes and music.

You can visit the Sambadrome as part of a Rio city tour that will also take you to Sugar Loaf and Corcovado. For just a couple bucks you can put on an authentic costume and dance around like you’re part of one of the schools – a once in a lifetime experience.