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2,000 ft up

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Starting Back Up

Alright… here goes. Lets do this. Lets do a blog shall we.

Barcelona for four months. This is it right here. I have been studying here for three weeks now in this incredible city, and from now on I am gonna attempt to post a picture a day to log it all. Please Enjoy! x

Brazil 2014 – The Football

When it comes to traveling to the World Cup, perhaps nothing is more natural to me than the actual football itself. Football, in my eyes at least, the greatest sport in the world and the World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport. As a result the month-long span of pure excitement and joy that occurs every 4 years is the greatest and most telling span of time, that any sport or event can bring. For a month, the whole world stops, places all worries and issues aside, and just watches football. It is a truly beautiful time, and this year’s world cup was perhaps more special than others.

Goals, Drama and pain was the ethos of the group stages. Some saw heartbreak, while others bit more than others. The games that I had tickets in were all in the Northern Brazilian city of Salvador and hosted at the new Arena Fonte Nova. The first group stage match at the stadium was the Netherlands vs Spain game which would result in an ultimately shocking final score of 5-1. Two goals each from Dutch superstars Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben would ultimately finish the game off as well as any hope of Spain progressing through the group stage. The second game, Germany vs. Portugal, progressed along the same lines as the first game in the stadium; Controversy, Intrigue and of course goals. The greatness of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo did not prove to be enough as Germany would end up winning 4-0.Germany would go on to become the ultimate victors of the tournament in Rio and rightly so. They were the best team, they were the most consistent, and truly deserved the honor of the being the best in the world.

Although the Germans were the last team standing, perhaps what we will remember most of this tournament will be due to the creation of other teams. Brazil’s complete implosion in the semi-final at the hands of the Germans. Colombia, as well as the revolution that was James Rodriguez. Tim Howard’s heroics. Costa Rica and Algeria shocking. And giants falling. This was truly a special tournament with unforgettable moments and it is sad to see it leave. There is no better place to host the World Cup than Brazil, and despite the tournament not ending as they had expected, it was truly a privelege to share this tournament and their great country with them. So thank you Brazil for hosting the world this summer, and thank you football for delivering as you always have. Nothing was held back, and for that we thank you, and cannot wait to see you in four years time.

 

S

Brazil 2014: Samba- First Impressions

Brazil is the land of samba and rhythm and fluidity, and it was this fluid way of life, and relaxed nature of Brazilians that I was perhaps most looking forward to seeing. Despite these, much of what has happened in Brazil preceding the biggest show on earth has been of a slightly damaging nature. Riots and mass protests were a common feature in the preceding months and as a result, this rhythmic world of Samba had taken on the tone of a slightly less joyous land.

So there was really two ways that this trip could have gone. What Brazil was I going to see? Clearly much had been made about the infrastructure or lack of infrastructure rather, as well as the escalating amounts of theft and criminal activity on the streets, and clearly you could see that these rumblings were true, but you could also see it in the reactionary actions of many of the locals. Construction for constant and police were everywhere. It is true to say that the infrastructure in the town was not ready, the pavements were not done, roadways still be created and if it wasn’t for the large masses of europeans in town, you’d think that all this preparation would be for the Olympics… in two years time.

Despite all of this, the lack of readiness of the World Cup was in a way what made this World Cup, and this country so unique. It wasn’t perfect, nothing was finished, and yet they still went with the natural flow and rhythm of life. The music kept on playing and the children kept on dancing in the unpaved streets. Life doesn’t have to be perfect or finished to be beautiful or memorable. This is the Brazilian way, and quite rightly the beautiful way. And frankly, this unique point of view is why this past month has been so spectacular.

Thanks,

S

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Brazil 2014: A Quick Intro

These words that I am typing now trace the outlines of what will become the first post to this blog, and there was nothing that I deemed more fitting of way to begin this site, than on the shores of Brazil, amidst the greatest show on earth: The World Cup. Football to me is a religion, and to come to the World Cup and see it played out in the nation where the sport happily resides is truly a great honor and a memory worth craving.

And this trip has been nothing short of that. The people have been brilliant, the food incredible, the culture and sights have been nothing short of vibrant., and along the journey I have managed to document this adventure in order to hopefully reveal what going on a trip abroad is like, especially a trip that is such full of culture and hysterics as the World Cup is. As a result, and to create a more dynamic view, I will be posting multiple posts, along with a movie in the coming days to hopefully reveal the whole story. But for now, thank you…

S