Only a year ago Lake Tahoe was being pounded by winter's wrath. However, those memories appear to be so long ago, as this year the mountains had record lows. Yes, Hecklerians it was a long and dismal winter for powder hounds and snow snobs. But instead of skating through the winter, waiting for the miracle month which never came, I escaped the Tahoe basin in search of summer.

My search brought me to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where the weather was hot, the beaches were bumpin' and the people are beautiful. Rio is a overpopulated paradise which rests on one of the seven natural wonders of the world (Bay of Rio De Janeiro). It embraces everything Heckler is about. The streets are decorated with amazing street art from artists all over the world, board sports are everywhere you look, and music dominates the Brazilian culture. While this wasn't my first visit to Rio, it was the first time I conquered Carnaval.

Honestly, at first I was a little skeptical of the title "biggest party in the world." I've done the Derby, raged Chi-Town's St. Patties Day, been comatosed in college, kicked it at the summer festivals, and lived in Tahoe for the past seven years. Still, nothing prepared me for what truly is the "biggest party in the world." Rio De Janeiro Carnaval is something everyone should witness in their life. The city of eight million plus virtually shuts down for six days. The roads are close, streets are fill with people of all nationality, the beaches flood with beautiful women and speedos, while samba thunders throughout the city. With each hour a different block party, with each sunset a party that sends it till 6am. Then as the sun rises another day of debauchery, beachin' it, and music begins. There is literally no time to sleep and even though you cant understand the music you cant help but love it. The Brazilians celebrate their culture with such a relentless passion that it makes you want to become one. In a country where the rich are rich and the poor have virtually nothing it is inspiring to see the unity during Carnaval. Again, this was my first time I conquered Carnaval, but is now an annual conquest.