Day 1: Schmoozing with the USMNT

Okay, we didn't actually schmooze with the team but we did find out while in our taxi from the Sao Paulo airport to our hotel that the USMNT (US Men's National Team for the news) was only a block away from ours! And there were cameras which indicated to us that something was about to happen. So we got to our hotel, checked our luggage and quickly made our way to the team's hotel. And what were we greeted with was some of the players doing interviews! So of course we took pictures. And Larry even got acknowledgement from Tim Howard when he yelled, "Timmy, you're my boy!" #greatsuccess

Graham Zusi, Brad Guzan, Deandre Yedlin

Tim Howard x 2, Matt Besler

Us in front of the hotel and then the USMNT bus

After that exciting start to Sao Paulo, we walked to Paulista Avenue, one of the main streets in city and explored. We also tried to get a Brazilian phone plan but alas no such luck just yet. So we walked very very far to a restaurant Daniel's friend recommended buuuuuut it was ridiculously expensive so the walk was all for nothing! My poor ankle was unhappy. But coincidentally, nearby was a restaurant from the guidebook that I had written down that was much closer to our budget. So to the buffet we went (I mean, we are Americans so buffet's are definitely our style).

Following lunch, we went to the FIFA Fan Fest to watch some soccer. We stayed for the entirety of the Spain-Netherlands game, which for Pablo was not a good result. If anyone saw the Orange beating the Red 5-1, they're lying. And you kind of have to feel bad for Iker Casillas because... wow.

Since Pablo needed some cheering up we went to a bar on our way back to the hotel and had our first Caipirinhas! And Larry and Pablo had a very ridiculous conversation with the waiter who was excited Larry knew some Portuguese and that Pablo kind of understood from being Spanish. But really, they had no idea what he was blabbering on about. But that's life.

Caipirinhas!

And so now on to Day 2! We can definitely say the first day was a success: only took us 40 minutes to get through customs and baggage claim, we saw the USA team before they left for Natal (where Daniel and I are heading on Sunday night!), and had caipirinhas.