Rio's roving street bands keep Carnival free, fun

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) _ Nuns in hot pants, nuns in full habits and even nuns with bushy mustaches _ the motley band of costumed revelers gathered to celebrate the first day of Carnival, joining one of the growing number of roving street bands that take over Rio de Janeiro during the five-day party.

A dancer performs during the parade of Aguia de Ouro samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Brazil's official carnival is held this year March 4-8. (AP-Yonhap News)

Revelers sing during a "Ceu na Terra" street parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

A woman dances amid orange smoke during the 'Bloco da Lama', or Mud Block carnival group parade in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011.(AP-Yonhap News)

Members of the the 'Bloco da Lama', or Mud Block carnival group, cover a man in mud during carnival celebrations in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

Revelers of the 'Bloco da Lama', or Mud Block, carnival group, walk covered in mud before a carnival parade in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

People dance during a "Bola Preta" block parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

A dancer performs during the parade of Tom Maior samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

A dancer performs during the parade of the Vai Vai samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

A dancer performs during the parade of Unidos do Peruche samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

Bolivia Carnival 

Dancers perform during carnival celebrations in Oruro, western Bolivia, Saturday March 5, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)

(AP-Yonhap News)

(AP-Yonhap News)

Colombia Carnival

Dancers perform during carnival celebrations in Barranquilla, Colombia, Saturday, March 5, 2011. In 2003 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, declared Barranquilla's carnival as a 'Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'. (AP-Yonhap News)

(AP-Yonhap News)