Brazil getting selected to host the world cup in 2014 and folks around the world making the call to go happened almost simultaneously. A few friends of ours and we were in too. What better place for the biggest football party. Getting tickets to the games we wanted to go to, whole another story. Thanks to FIFA, most fans were at their mercy and the 'luck' of the draw. Some persistent mouse clicks, goats sacrificed and few rounds of ticket-sales phases later, we had two game tickets!
Entering the Maracana, the hallowed ground of Brazilian football, we were covered in goosebumps. So much at stake for the home team, hoping to avenge their loss here to Uruguay in 1950. The legendary Pele scored his 1000th goal here. It seemed like a great football museum, an electric atmosphere and a nation's pride all meshed into a giant energy dome. We saw Belgium vs. Russia in the group stage with the Belgium fans pretty much taking over most of the stadium. Pre-match theatrics included thousands of fans prancing around the stadium fueled by a breakfast of 'Brahma' beer, 'Sol' beer and more beer, 3500 police in riot-gear and lots of US fans wondering if FIFA played a cruel joke on them by handing them tickets to the Russia game :)
Good times...a lone goal scored by Origi in the 88th minute brought relief and a hard fought victory to the Red devils. Ranga had a field day taking pictures with fans with various country flags, I think he got upto 20.
Boisterous Chilean fans, die-hard Socceroos from Australia, the hopeful Colombians, soulful Algerians and countless Gringos kept the party going through the first few weeks.
Our second game was a totally different experience from the first one. In contrast to the rowdy crowds of Rio, Manaus was more muted yet had all the excitement of a new stadium and a small city overrun by fans from all over the world. The Arena da Amazonia had its share of very good games - Italy vs. England and USA vs. Portugual. We were there for Honduras vs. Switzerland, the Swiss were too quick for the Honduras players with Shaqiri (yet another outstanding Bayern Munich player) producing a brilliant hat-trick.
Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon region and that's where we headed next. Just out of the rainy season, the mighty Amazon river was brimming to full and most of the rain-forest flooded. We stayed 4 nights at the Juma Lake Lodge via Iguana Tours who did a fab job of organizing plenty of day activities to keep the restless traveler happy along with some cool night jaunts. One such night outing was to watch and study caiman. Our guide, the all-knowing Alan, snatched a 'specimen' caiman out of the dark waters and gave us a lecture including showing of all 72 teeth! My favorites in the trip were watching
- a sloth high up a tree do its thing - move slooooowwwwllllyy and sleep!
- pink dolphins and grey dolphins frolic in the river
- and canoeing in the bountiful river taking in the wildlife, sunsets and marveling at the sheer magnitude of it all
Overnight camping in the jungle gave us a glimpse of jungle night-life, 'punctuated' by mosquitoes along with spectacular starry skies unhindered by city light-pollution. The night sky in the southern hemisphere is something else and our fellow traveler/Astronomer friend from Columbia University took us on an impromptu journey traversing billions of light years through the stars, constellations all the way to the depths and myths of black holes.
Pantanal was another big part of our trip and we were pleasantly surprised by the scale , richness of wildlife and how pristine sections of the park were. It is the giant swamp region of Brazil, bounded by Fazendas or cattle ranches which feed the meaty needs of a nation. Hiking, driving and canoeing through the maze of snake-like rivers, one is treated to a display of nature at its swampy best. The flooded plains harbor a wide variety of birds including macaws, greater rheas, pink spoonbills, Anhinga, herons, Ibis and countless other species. Venture deep inside and sightings of Jaguar kittys are plentiful. Capybaras, Anteaters, Armadillos(the mascot of the games), jacaras (caiman), anacondas cover the gamut of cute to scary.
Rio lived up to its fame of party people, people people everywhere thanks to the biggest party on the planet. Locals mixed in with football fans from all over almost made the place more crazy. FIFA fan-fests in all the host cities made for guaranteed large gatherings similar to Spring-break or carnival! Copacabana was naturally the biggest of them all. Ranga indulged in beach football, the national pastime and I watched in awe as the locals played an acrobatic version of beach volleyball called footvolley. The players can only use their legs, head and chest but not hands..incredibly athletic people. Samba, Caipirinhas and football is the doctor's prescription for a good life - PURA VIDA.
Argentina - 'Late con Vos' (Beats to your Rhythm)
Our trip to Argentina was brief but memorable (Buenos Aires & Iguazu). Buenos Aires, often described as Paris of the South is a cool city. The people are fashionable, the architecture is classic, and every bathroom comes equipped with a bidet!
Some notable neighborhoods are the older, but well preserved San Telmo - hosts the biggest Sunday market, trendy Recoleta, La Boca - home of the famous Boca Juniors Sports club and Puerto Madero, an erstwhile dockland now converted to modern style. Every place we went, if felt like football-genius Messi was watching over us from nearly 80% of all billboards. Equally omnipresent is Eva Peron, Argentina's sweetheart and spiritual leader. Fondly called Evita, she and Che Guevara are Argentina's enduring heroes...but yes..Maradona is still the God. The sensuous Tango dance, late-night dinners and thriving theater scene are all part of the city's vibrant culture.
Iguazu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil is a sight to behold. Niagara seemed to pale in comparison. I won't bother describing its size or power, i don't know words that are BIG enough! It also seemed like all the million people we saw at the Falls, eventually made their way to the games in Rio :)
Back to the States now, where football is relegated to soccer and we are transported from Copa de mundial to the mundane motions of everyday life.
And who's this guy?! Neymar.....GOOAAALLLL!
