Twist My Arm # 2

Yes....I did go to the soccer game.

How could I pass up an opportunity to go to the Macarana Stadium in Brazil to see a game that the Brazilians are so mad about. I had to do it.

Cost was 55 Reais ($27.50 USD) for game ticket and metro return....with a guide so we wouldn't get lost.

The match was Fluminense and Vasco. No idea who these teams are....but I know everyone was cheering for Vasco.

The stadium was huge and had tons (and I mean tons) of security.

There was a bit of confusion when we first got there....Alice, Moira and I got separated from the guys and ended up on the lower level (which is a priced a bit lower as the view is best from the second level, and we had actually paid for second level).

No discussion with any of the staff would get us to the right seats, so we watched the first half from this lower level. The party was really on the second level with tons of insane fans yelling and screaming during the whole first half. They even had a full samba band continually banging on the drums the WHOLE time!

We needed to get to that section no matter what!

So...........during half time we looked for some different staff members and found one lady that actually spoke some english, so she did everything that she could to get us to the second level.

This involved talking to numerous people and then being personally ESCORTED by one of the supervisors all around the stadium via these secret elevators and doors to the second level.

We felt like ROCKSTARS!

Once we got to the second level, our task was to get to section A and found our group. Not very easy with all the fans standing up and flags moving around. The place was so full of energy and so LOUD!!! We loved it!

We found our group and then watched the rest of the game...cheering and yelling like the others.

What I found interesting was that:

1. When a goal happens, the guys rip off their t-shirts and wave them around singing and jumping all over the place. They are obviously super happy and boy do most of them have great bodies! I'm not sure I would ever what to see this in Canada. Majority great bodies???? Don't think so.

2. Samba drums are played non-stop for the whole game. This can be very loud, but it gets everyone dancing. I personally enjoy this. Especially when you don't really understand the game. You have something else to do. You also don't need any mascots.

3. Security madness...which I now understand, due to a few fights that broke out. I guess England gets even more crazy for fights, so I was told this was a pretty tame game for fan madness.

The final score was a tie at 4 goals each.

I'm so glad I went.