Stunning pictures of Carnival, 2009.

Take a look at these incredible photos of Carnival around the world, which do considerably more justice to the celebrations than my lousy shots. 

The parade of the Beija-Flor samba school in Rio, shown here, was one of the most spectacular that we saw - although it was not the winning school out of the fourteen competing. 

Picture 36 gives some idea of the scale and spectacle of the Sambodromo. 

(If turkeys have nightmares about Christmas, then Carnival must keep ostriches awake at night).