Party like its 1999

One of the biggest events in Rio and Brazil for that matter is their Football (soccer). And since Rios got one of the biggest stadiums - why not go to a game? Flamengo vs Internacional was the match and I went with a tour. Some random Brazillian guy in a green shirt screaming songs on the bus as we roll into the stadium parking lot high on Caprihnas (brazillian drink - very popular). They have a lot to live up to since I am a Penn Stater and we have one of the largest stadiums in the entire USA with some of the loudest fans in the world.

Entering the empty stadium and trailing down to our seats, we are only 5 rows from the 50 yard line. Great seats! I guess we will wait til it fills in with the fans. Hunger pursues and I decided to walk up to the food stands. Laughing hard as I try to order a cold packaged hot dog and non-alcoholic beer (thats all they had). The selection is hilarious. Only other option was a packaged chicken salad sandwich - the packaged sandwiches are huge here. At least the prices arent jacked, but boy do I wish I was at Yankee Stadium right now. Some homeless guy tries to get my reales as I find my seat.

I sit next to a New Yorker and we chat a bit - I buy a headband (1reales) - the stadium never fills up. Apparently Brazil played in the daytime vs Italy and everyone stayed home to watch that, plus it was Sunday and Sunday dinner is a big thing here as the brazillian people are a family oriented species. So the short version - it wasnt loud - it wasnt exciting and I was bored to the point of wanting to leave. What makes it worse! They dont have a timeclock anywhere. You never know how much time is left in the half or game for that matter. So ridiculous. Flamengo won (4-0) - apparently the more popular team. We Are! Penn State!

From there Pedro picks me up to bring me to a Favella Funk Party! Odd event! It is a massive stage and air conditioned dark room filled with extremely poor people partying like its 1999. Dont even bother trying to get a drink at the bar - they had one bar tender and probably close to 3,000 people in the place. It was interesting how happy everyone was - its just a way of life, but at the end of the party - everyone goes back to their Favellas - which is no way to live - its just horrible. I didnt bring my camera for obvious reasons here.

Days seem to meld together when you are on Rio Time - things dont really happen til about 2pm. So a typical day here is 2pm til 6am and back again. At least if you hang with Pedro and Marcello. Its an interesting culture, different from NYC as even the bands at the bars and clubs are still going til the early morning. Anyway, this schedule brought upon a cold for me that I am battling with ACAI, GRAVIOLA and my regimen of vitamins. I have kept it from getting out of control.

I had grand plans for my birthday - so excited to make it happen - but due to unforseen events it was not possible. Instead those plans have been moved to Friday. The secret continues. Instead, Pedro and Marcello take me to a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the ocean (marcellos father bought this house in 1971 probably for peanuts, considering the cost now is around 8 million reales). I have been to some beautiful places in the world and even some wonderful houses overlooking oceans - but no picture will bring you to how I felt when I walked out to the great expanse of the entire ocean surround the cliff of this house. It is one of the most breathtaking places. I took tons of pictures and spent a lot of time just sitting on the many decks. Every bedroom in the house is overlooking the ocean but from a height the equivalent of a mountain. It was the perfect relaxing atmosphere to spend the daytime of my birthday.

A pasta meal was prepared for a late lunch followed by a deep nap. This location is a part of Pedro and Marcellos plans for their future entreprenuership. Maybe someday I will be able to rent it out for a party - but for now - Im here on my birthday and I will take in the views right now!

It was quite nice when Pedro and Marcello showed up for the night, with a gift for me - Johnny Walker Red - it was such a nice thought and the beginning of the second half of my birthday. It was an awesome low key samba band at a club called MELT. After intense negotiations with the door charge lady - dropped 40 reales to 20 reales so that we can get in, we waltz up the stairs just in time for the start of the band. I am a huge fan of brazillian music because of the brass. Trumpet, Sax and Trombone wailing away - and me dancing away. Of course in the front - of course terrible moves - but loads of fun. Hand slapping with the band members and sweating through my t-shirt, I find myself really enjoying myself. I didnt even have one drink the whole night. I gave Pedro and Marcello hugs thanking them for such a great time.

A little late night eat followed by 6 flights of stairs to my room - I slept like a baby with a runny nose.