Updated on Feb.7, 2013
Simpatia é Quase Amor ("Friendliness is Almost Love"), one of the most popular Carnival blocos in Rio de Janeiro's South Side, gathers thousands of revelers in the parade which starts at Praça General Osório and follows the Ipanema shoreline all the way to Leblon.
Simpatia é Quase Amor parades on Carnival Sunday and usually on a Saturday before Carnival. Dates and starting times are released as Carnival approaches.
Created in Ipanema in 1985, the bloco is named after Esmeraldo Simpatia-é-Quase-Amor, a character in the book Rua dos Artistas e Transversais by Aldir Blanc - with short stories about the bohemian Vila Isabel district in Rio's North Side.
Yellow and lavender, colors that might have been inspired in a heartburn medicine packaging or a hot bikini, are the Simpatia é Quase Amor colors. Every year, the bloco issues a new T-shirt, with a theme that's traditionally created by Brazilian artists. However, you don't need a costume to join the casual bloco.
Every year, the bloco has a new samba-enredo, or theme song - that's a feature shared by all members of Sebastiana (the Association of Street Carnival Blocos from the South Side, Santa Teresa and Centro, www.sebastiana.org.br). So are a great band, a bloco flag, and the year's t-shirt.
Simpatia é Quase Amor Immersive Panoramas
Be a virtual reveler in the crowd parading on beachfront Avenida Vieira Souto: the Carnival Panoramas on Rio 360 by Ayrton include two shots of the bloco in action during Carnival 2007:
Simpatia é Quase Amor - Photo 1
Simpatia é Quase Amor - Photo 2
Simpatia é Quase Amor - Pre-Carnival 2012 Parade:
Sat, Feb.6, 2012
Exact time has not been announced. In 2011, the pre-Carnival parade started at 3 p.m.
Starting Point: Praça General Osório, Ipanema. The bloco parades on Rua Teixeira de Melo towards Ipanema beach and follows Vieira Souto, Ipanema's seafront avenue, to the Country Club.
Simpatia é Quase Amor - Carnival 2013 Parade:
Carnival Sunday, Feb.10, 2013 at 4 p.m.Starting Point: Praça General Osório, Ipanema. The bloco will parade on Rua Teixeira de Mello and Avenida Vieira Souto towards Posto 10.
