Day 65: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Today was the day to be in Botafogo (a small neighborhood in Rio) and we were lucky enough to be there. Today was the big futbol match between Botafogo and some unworthy opponent. It was a requirement that we go. We headed toward the stadium in a swarm of black and white (Botafogo´s colors). There were fans of the other team there somewhere but they dare not show their faces. Botafogo is one of the largest teams in Rio and thousands of fans had came to see the regional finale. Unfortunately the opposing team was rather small and only had a limited (few hundred) fans show up.

Action at the stadium

As we entered the stadium the crowd was already a buzz. Chants and black and white balloons filled the air. This is the epitome of Rio, futbol on a Sunday in one of the largest stadiums in the world.

The match was set and it was a great game, final score 3-0, Botafogo. It was the perfect day to be a (one time) Botafogo fan. We were right down near the field only a few rows up but the real action was in the cheap seats. Up in the balconies the real fans were having the time of their lives, releasing hundreds of balloons, waving gigantic flags draped in the sacred black and white and screaming at the top of their lungs the chants of Botafogo, which would surely strike fear in the heart of any opponent. When Botafogo scored a goal the crowd exploded, fathers hugged sons like they had been apart for years, confetti rained down from the second deck covering us like peppery snow, and the player who scored the goal took his victory run around the field.

SCORE!!!

Us in the middle of the action

Victory run with the cup

Victory Parade

After hours of dancing and blocking off the streets the party slowly died out and we returned to our hostel, content in that we had experienced the most important of all things in Rio, watching your favorite team beat the hell out of someone else.