Monday starts off with a quick and early stop at the monument that defines Rio—Christ (say your prayers, take your photo and we’re out of there). Then we head to the city where thousands of workers prepare floats for Carnival—City of Samba—located in the historic center of Rio. Samba schools are the epitome of black culture in Rio de Janeiro and on this stop, we’ll learn their history and all the work that goes into preparing the Samba School Carnival parade. For lunch, we’re dining at Rio de Janeiro’s newest black-owned restaurant. Its chef trained at Paris’ Eiffel Tower restaurant. After you’ve filled your tummy with good food and drowned a caipirinha or two, we’re off to our Afro-Rio tour. The night ends with the famous Pedra do Sal samba party. Pedra do Sal, an urban quilombo, hosts one of the largest roda de sambas, a music format in which musicians play samba music around a table.