Day 3 was spent preparing to go to Natal for the USA-Ghana game and then dealing with an ATM emergency since both mine and Daniel's Schwab cards wouldn't work. This always happens when you're in a time crunch doesn't it? But have no fear, Schwab customer service to the rescue! They fixed the issue and we only had to do two more round trip trips to Paulista Avenue (about 1 mile total both ways).
Other news from day 3: Larry went to pick up his tickets and let Daniel get Starbucks. This is important because Larry had told me both on day 1 and day 2 that I could not have Starbucks. So I'd just like to point out this hypocrisy! And while I agree that I wouldn't want to eat/drink at American chains while we're here, Starbucks is the only place with iced coffee. Let me have my iced coffee, Larry!
Day 3 ended with Daniel and I hopping on a plane to Natal. We arrived at the unhappy hour of 2am and then had the cab ride from hell who couldn't find the place we were staying. He was literally calling his friends to figure out where the address was. You have one job, cabbie, one job, and that's to know your city. K, thanks.
So of course when we found the lovely apartment of Madeh, our lovely host for the evening who so graciously woke up to let us in, we immediately crashed. And didn't wake up until 10 am when we decided to get ready for our exciting day ahead.
And what was so exciting about day 4, do you ask? IT'S GAMEDAY! Time to play Game 1 for the USMNT! So we got dressed, put our gear on and headed to a US Soccer fanfest. Which turned out to have a good number of people but not so much a good atmosphere. We stayed there to watch the German demolition of Portugal and then headed to the American Outlaws pregame party.
And let me tell you, the AOs know how to get people pumped up for some soccer. We arrived about 3:30pm and spent the next hour and a half singing USA songs and chanting cheers with about 1000 of our closest friends. It. Was. Awesome.
We then walked the couple blocks to the stadium and by this point we were theoretically peeing our pants in excitement (theoretically because it didn't happen but dramatic effect people!). Upon entering the stadium, it was all awe because we were finally here! The reason we came to Brazil! And it did not disappoint.
Along with approximately 20,000 other USA supporters, we watched the fastest goal ever scored by the USA and went crazy! I hugged strangers, that's how crazy we went--we couldn't believe we had struck so quick! Then it was our job to hold on and cheer on the team, which we did--and my voice can attest to this. Once Ghana scored to tie it at 1-1, I loved how we responded and what do you know, 2 minutes later we were back up!
Today has just been so memorable and so worth the extra money to go to Natal for the first game. And we got three points!
Now to get on our flight to Rio to join up with the rest of our group, and then Spain vs Chile at the famed Maracana on Wednesday!
We woooooooooooooon!!!! Goooooooooooaaaaaaal John Brooks!
And sorry, just got into Rio but I promise pictures soon!
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