The Maracana and Lapa

Yesterday was another quality day here. H and I went to the Maracana, the world's biggest football stadium, to watch a local Rio derby between Flamengo and Botafogo. I knew it was something I wanted to to if there was a game on so we organised it through the hostel.

Now, Flamengo are not only one of the worst teams in the Brazilian League, but they are also the poorest, but with the most passionate supporters. Rumours were that the organisers wouldn't put us in the Flamengo end (mainly for our own safety I think), so you can imagine my joy when we arrived at the ground and were taken into the Flamengo end. Honestly, it was joy! If you are going to a South American football game you may as well sit with the most passionate supporters.

The lower level of the Maracana is closed while they rennovate it but the top teir was open and it was probably threee quarters full by the time the game started. I guess there were 60-70k there. And the Flamengo end was full. The atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced at a football game. The fans were pretty mental, jumping around and chanting for the 90 minutes. All of us gringo's were sat together and there was a real party atmosphere in there, especially as it is Carnaval. The view was perfect, with Christ the Redeemer in the background. And perhaps the best thing is that you can drink as much beer as you like in the ground, and they bring it to you. Perfect.

Now, onto the game. Flamengo won 3-2. So I was even more pleased to have been sitting in the Flamengo end. They went 1-0 down to a dubious penalty, came back to 1-1, then went 2-1 down, before grabbing two superb goals to win. When the winner went in the place went mental, and the concrete was actually vibrating as everyone celebrated. H and I loved it.

Oh yeah, you come all the way to Brazil to go to a Rio derby with a Gashead from Staple Hill, and his girlfriend from Kingswood. Bizarre.

There was one other thing I noticed about the football. One of the main chants the Flamengo fans were singing to the Botafogo fans was "Bo-ha". It means sperm.





























When we got back to Ipanema the place was going nuts because the first local Carnaval parade had happened while the football was on, the 'Banda de Ipanema'. H and I went out to get something to eat, and then decided to try and get back to the flat via the street party. There were hundreds and hundreds of people in the street and it took us about 15 minutes to walk no more than a hundred yards. It was bonkers. It was also the local gay and lesbian street party and we saw some sights, that's for sure. We went to Lapa last night with our flatmates, and some of their friends from England and Ireland (who could also be coming with us to Ilha Grande next week). If there were hundreds of people in the street in Ipanema there were thousands and thousands and thousands partying in Lapa. We got there at about 1am and it was 29 degrees. The drinks were very very cheap and the street vendor food was unbelievable, which makes a really nice change because the food you get in restaurants over here is rubbish. It is just too bland and salty. And everything seems to be covered in cheese.

Andy - H and I thought of you as we spent some of the night dancing to Brazilian drum and bass. You would have loved it.

We had a great time drinking caipirinha's (which are very very strong) until about 5am. So we got to bed late and I forced myself up at midday to come down here and write this. H is still in bed.

So what's in store for us later? I think we will go to the beach this afternoon and I may have a kickabout on Copacabana with some locals. And now that Carnaval is in full swing we may go to the Sambodromo to watch the main parades (we have been watching most of it on TV so far), but tickets are very expensive. We have ticked all of the main boxes in Rio so we will just see what happens.