Jan 27 - Preparations are underway in Rio de Janeiro for Carnival. Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters. With the clock ticking for the world's most famous Carnival bash, Rio de Janeiro's samba troupes worked at full steam getting ready for this year's parades.
Carnival is a major business in Rio, which is home to the country's 12 top samba schools.
Every year, the schools employ thousands of seamstresses, painters, designers and carpenters.
Each school has a queen. The Viradouro school crowned 7-year-old Julia Lira.
SOUNDBITE: Julia Lira saying (Portuguese):
"I think it's easy to samba, because it's like dancing, but the moves are different."
The festivities begin on February 12 and finish on the morning of Ash Wednesday, February 17th.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters. watch
Robots launch into a version of the Carpenters' 'Close to You' and give a young woman a quick makeover. watch
Mike Rowe assists a team of carpenters working 150 feet above a Manhattan street on a roof that has NO railing. watch
