World Cup Brazil 2014

The whole world is here and the Brazilians are happy and proud. They are going out of their way to be helpful, caring and accommodating. Their team is a source of national pride and they are flaunting it. Not without some cares though. They are quick to criticize the “selecao” where necessary. Their goalless match against Mexico brought sighs and the penalty shoot-out against Chile was almost more than they could bear. Today as they face their semi-final against the daunting Germans, they are almost apoplectic with grief at the loss of their star player, Neymar, and their captain, Thiago Silva, but somehow this may smooth over the inevitable doom they feel they may be facing in a few hours. I still think they can pull it off though with the vociferously loyal crowds behind them and a sense of worth that goes beyond simple talents. There is even one inside joke they all like to share about a particular player, known simply as Fred. “Fred has the best job, doesn’t have to do much and yet gets the best view of the match from the pitch itself”. He is the token player, the butt of many jokes. How does he still remain in the squad?

 

 Brazil is surprisingly organized at this world cup. To read the reports emanating from this troubled country before the championship you would have wanted to stay away or at least come prepared for some disaster, small or otherwise. Our experience has been fairly hassle-free. The airports have shown efficient services and the literature handed out to tourists has everything you need to get to the stadiums and know what to do. No terrible translations here to pick fun at although you can still get a few laughs at restaurant menus. And, besides the fact that some planes do not take off during a world cup match featuring the home country, everything is running like clockwork. The trains or metros to the stadiums are jam-packed, of course, but the crowds are made to feel safe as they make their way to the games. Lines of military police looking fearsome but friendly ensure your iPhone doesn’t get snatched from your hands nor your pockets picked. Their sheer presence serves as an adequate deterrent.

The peculiarities of the country are endearing. The taxi drivers watch their small screen TVs on the dashboard of their cars during Brazil matches and you fear for your life as their attention swerves from the road.

 

In their desire to sound helpful you have to take everything they answer to you with a pinch of salt and get a second opinion. This applies to any kind of information handed out. Always ask a few Brazilians before heeding their advice and although the response will never be the same just pick the most believable and hope for the best.

The banks look like clinics or ER waiting rooms. People stand in line in front of ATMS as only one of them is actually operational and most people spend hours in front of one machine to pay all their bills. If you need personal help then there is the chair-wait for a teller to become available.

No-one has change. In the shops just be prepared to round it up to the nearest real or carry several coins in your pocket.

Most of all, be very patient. Service comes with a smile but also slowness.

Your food order may not reach the kitchen in chronological order and there is absolutely no apology for your hour wait but at least the restaurant has a TV screen, great ambiance and the caipirinhas are flowing!