The team awoke Sunday morning well-rested and ready to start the day. We left our hotel in Sao Paulo for a Brazilian handcraft fair where numerous streets were filled with Brazilian crafts of all shapes and sizes. There were many jewelry stands, home goods, and art shows. The display was enough to leave most of the team wanting to stay longer than planned. Finally, we left to go have lunch at the Italian restaurant we visited the night before. After eating our fill, a surprise birthday cake was brought out for Lauren Sinnenberg, who was celebrating her 20th birthday.
We proceeded back to the bus and made our way to the Santos stadium where we would be watching a professional soccer game between Santos and their rival, Flamengo. Having been warned beforehand, none of the team wore red or black so as not to be mistaken for a fan of either team. As we walked through the tailgates outside the stadium, we could feel the charged atmosphere of the upcoming game. We could also sense the gawking of many of the male fans; it seems they have never seen a group of 19 American girls walking through their stadium. After much walking (and whistling), we arrived at our seats which were immediately behind one of the goals. We were surrounded by Santos fans who eagerly welcomed us. During the first half, some Flamengo fans dressed in red arrived and sat above us...needless to say, there were many taunts and threats going on across and stadium. The wonderful location of our seats did not go wasted as we watched shots fly past the goal, hit the crossbar, and eventually go in. The final score of the game was 2-2 which seemed to appease Flamengo but crush Santos.
After all the excitement, we boarded the bus and moved on to our final hotel in Guaraja. As we left the bus, we were greeted with sandy beaches, breaking waves, and the salty smell of the ocean. We ate a hearty dinner at the hotel and a few girls ventured out onto the beach. The water was warm and sand felt great underneath our feet. Tired, but happy, the team headed to bed ready for the next day's adventure.
The senior Ephs are teaming up to provide daily updates from Brazil.
