After leaving São Paulo on the night bus which is an easy 5 - 6 hour journey and well worth doing at night to save time and money I arrived in Rio De Janeiro.
I thought It was amazing how busy the bus station was as I arrived, crammed with football fans and although I had seen the Copacabana fan fest on TV I wasn't ready for what lay ahead.
The biggest football beach party ever!
I arrived in Rio at the end of the group stages which meant of course England had already gone home and only some nationalities remained but OMG the beach front of Copacabana was packed with sadly mainly men wearing football shirts from all over the world!
When the Fan Fest was first invented in 2006 in Germany it seemed like the best Idea the football world had ever had (Iam sure the Germans will claim it though) but when you imagine a beach environment street party with football on big screens this is surely what everybody would have in mind when they think of a fan fest in Brazil.
The Fan Fest itself has become a small Fifa Theme Park with MEXICO! GO FIGURE !! As one of the sponsors, which is a little sad as you are brain washed by advertising but it dos´nt take away from the amazing location right on Copacabana beach and as the screens are so big you can literally stand on the waters edge drinking a cocktail, surrounded by girls in Bikinis (admittedly out numbered 20 to 1 by men) while baking in the sun. Football Fan Heaven.
My days have been spent waking up walking along the beach celebrity spotting and then getting in position for 2 games of football a day with the first Kick Off being 1pm.
People could have been worried about safety in Copacabana during the World Cup, as it´s not the safest place normally but that has been taken care of by heavily armed police in cars, on bikes, or on foot ready to quash any disturbance which dosn´t mean there hasn't been any with peaceful demonstrations against FIFA every time Brazil played and a mass stampede when Brazil conceded the 4th goal of there 7-1 thrashing by the Germany.
As the sunsets on another World Cup and the disappointment of the Brazil defeat and as far as the Brazilians are concerned the disappointment of an Argentina win many more Argentinians have arrived and more are expected for the Worlds Cup Final and the end of the biggest football party ever.
All above pics are from our Instagram account @simlewis
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