While Zach and Kyle have been taking time out of their busy days to catch everyone up on our latest shenanigans, I have been catching a little extra rest or much needed shut-eye. But the blog rotation now has officially begun and it is my turn to stay up "late" (10:40 p.m. rio time) and fill in about the last two days. This is my first real blog so bare with me as it will be as much an adventure for me to write it as it will be for you to read.
Lulu last wrote about the professional game we went to at the famous and breathtaking Maracana stadium and how we finished the night at a samba club/school. Sunday was again a pretty relaxed day. With no games or official training to take part in, we slept in a little bit and then went for a team run. Unfortunately the waves were a little to ferocious during the slightly stormy weather and lifeguards kept people from going into the water. My swimming abilities may be limited but I have become infatuated with and addicted to playing in the ocean.
After our run and a quick lunch we set off for our second professional game of the trip, with the fixture between Botafogo (from Rio) and Palmeiras. The game was played in Botafogo's relatively new stadium that was built for the Pan Am games in Rio in 2007. While Maracana was amazing due to its sheer size and potential fan capacity, the João Havelange Olympic Stadium was stunning due to its state-of-the-art architecture. The atmosphere was booming as the two teams were playing for a little more than Flamego the day before. Both teams were in the top half of the Brazilian league, separated by a few points in the standings, with Botafogo the team trailing. The black and white of Botafogo flooded the stands as only a small section in the lower corner of the stadium was reserved for the green and white traveling fans for Palmeiras.
The game was much more up-tempo and technically crisp. Botafogo was the dominant team in the first half, creating the better chances and forcing the Palmeiras goalkeeper to make a couple key saves. Palmeiras had a couple breaks throughout the game but nothing too troubling and around the 75th minute or so Botafogo created a much-deserved goal off a cross from the right winger who barely kept the ball from going over the end line and was finished by a runner into the box to the far post who headed it to the upper left corner. Bright red flares, drumming and Botafogo songs filled the stadium immediately as the team held on for the win.
The spectacular night briefly turned sour on our way out as our exit from the stadium coincided by running into another American college men's soccer team. Rather than any friendly chats or hellos, the Swarthmore team chanted "Swarthmore's Better" several times as we walked away. Shocked by their idiotic and irritating chants, we forcibly and professionally held our tongues and continued walking, thinking it better not to start a shouting match. After all, who would honestly try to trash talk to fellow countrymen in a foreign country? Whatever though, we know our play can do our talking for us.
The night ended with a pizza buffet that filled us up minutes after we got off our bus. Waiters were bringing pizza after pizza and it became difficult to save room for the ice cream pizzas at the end. We were looking forward to our game today (Monday) but found out that night that it was canceled due to some logistical issues with the other team. So rather than wake up early for the game today, we went to Christ the Redeemer statue on one of the highest points in Rio. It was a warm, relatively clear day and we were able to see all of Rio. Directly across our line of sight was the Sugar Loaf hill that we visited a couple days earlier. We could also see the Copacabana beach that we lived so close to. On the other side of the statue was the circular outline of the Maracana stadium. What marvelous views. We discovered that Rio was much, much larger in its spacial covering that we thought.
A return to our hotel was followed by lunch and then a short beach training session before some play in the waves. Bean, Evan Atwell and Luke Hoffman were some of the more adventurous, swimming out pretty far in hopes or riding some of the several foot-high waves. A trip to a local market down the main street right off the beach was met with enthusiasm as gift buying came to the forefront of our minds. Some money was saved though for our trip tomorrow to Buzios, after our 9:30 am game against Fluminense (almost 10 hours away), which means a 7am wake up. This also means I need to get to bed and therefore concludes today's blog. By tomorrow night we will be in Buzios. Hope everyone back home is doing well. We are definitely enjoying ourselves. Thanks for your help on getting us here.
Mike
1 comment:
Good luck guys. Kick those balls with confidence!
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