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.

Pre-Brazil: Musings of a Business Traveller

This is funny to think about, especially since it's my first time in business class. These are the things they don't tell you:

1. The towel is for your hands, not for your face (although it feels good on your face)

2. The light thing that you don't know how to turn on? Yeah, there's no button. It TWISTS on. Totally intuitive. 

3. You are going to eat really, really well. I'm talking like 4 courses here. I probably gained 5 pounds just from each of these trans-Atlantic flights. 

   a. Your napkin is your friend. Don't spill balsamic vinegarette and chocolate syrup on your white t-shirt. 

4. The bed is wonderful, but like most things, not quite as wonderful if you're tall. 

5. You can literally have whatever you want! It's all freeeeeeeee (unless you order from the skymall magazine, but who does that?)

6. There are outlets. Give me all the electronics. I will charge them all!

7. There is no wifi. So really, it's business class but you can only draft emails, not actually send them. 

Hopefully if you ever travel business on one of these planes, you will now be prepared. These are pearls of wisdom, I'm telling you. It's all about managing expectations (mine were exceeded). 

And now I'm 90 minutes out from Cincinnati and feeling pretty darn good. I'll probably get served food (how are all the people surrounding me not obese?) again in a bit and then I'll be landing and then I'll be going through customs and then I'll be hopefully running home only to be back at the airport because BRAZIL. 

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK

But with all that said, Newcastle was fun! And I really hope I get to go back again. It was lovely getting to meet my coworkers that I've talked to many times on the phone but never seen in person. And they were all awesome! 

And I definitely want to do this business class international travel again. Why does it have to be so expensive?!

Anyway, more updates forthcoming. Less than 18 hours until I'm in BRAZIL! World Cup here I come!