Category Archives: Travel

June 27

World Cup Day 7: Recife Underwater and USA vs. Germany Recap

  Yesterday, flooding in Recife created an absurd World Cup pregame scene. Many of the fans didn’t even make it. The rain started over night and continued through the game. Luckily our bus was able to navigate through backstreets, through flooded intersections, and over curbs and we arrived with a few hours to spare. Our […]

June 26

World Cup Day 6: “I Believe” USA vs. Germany

Today it happens. My whole trip has been geared towards Team USA vs. Team Germany. My friends and I have our faces painted with Stars & Stripes, I have donned my Team USA jersey and California state flag, and I have my hopes high. Many of Team USA’s families, support staff, and extended members are […]

June 25

World Cup Day 5: An Evening Stroll in Porto de Galinhas

Tonight I took an evening stroll along the beach in Porto de Galinhas. I watched the lightening far out in the water and just appreciated the past few days. It was nice to be alone with the water, beach, and wind. Earlier in the day, I watched the Swiss vs. Honduras game. There was a […]

June 24

World Cup Day 4: A Rainy Day in Recife

A photo is worth a thousand words. This image captured yesterday. It poured in Porto de Galinhas. We spent the day poolside, hanging out in bungalows, and watching the Italy vs. Uruguay game in the resort lobby. The resort turned the night club into an impromptu World Cup game watching theater. Day turned into night […]

June 23

World Cup Day 3: Becoming a Fan for Life at the Mexico vs. Croatia Match

3 fist fights, 1 red card, and a fireworks show later the Mexico vs. Croatia game was over. But I start at the end, let’s go back to the beginning. Day 3 for us at the World Cup was phenomenal. Our group expanded to 12 including Croatian and Mexican fans we picked up in the […]

June 22

World Cup Day 2: USA vs. Portugal

Imagine. 400 Americans on a beach watching the USA vs. Portugal game on a flat screen on the beach. Now you get an idea of how World Cup Day 2 went. My friends and I spent the day in our hotel on the beach in Porto de Galinhas. A lazy day at the beach (and […]

June 21

World Cup Day 1: Arrival in Recife

We arrived late in Recife and took a 40 minute shuttle to our resort. The compound was right on the beach in Porto de Galinhas. Even though we got in during the middle of the night, the bar was still going and USA fans were drinking heavily. This post is going to be one of […]

June 20

World Cup Day 0: Innocents Abroad

When Mark Twain wrote “The Innocents Abroad”, he fashioned it a travel book which chronicled the adventures and misadventures of a group of Americans in 1867 on a ship. Flash forward 150 years, and I am on my own journey to World Cup. Today we headed out for Brazil in search of an American Victory […]

June 19

World Cup: “I Believe That We Will Win”

For the next 2 weeks, my blog is getting taken over as I head to the World Cup. Expectations are high as Team USA travels to Brazil to win. I will be joining them along with a group of my friends. When I first booked the trip, I didn’t get it. World Cup brings together […]

June 09

Inside U.S. Soccer’s March to Brazil and World Cup

ESPN films produced a fantastic in-depth look at the United States men’s football camp for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the first episode, ESPN covers the various players from the team and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a World Cup champion as a player and former coach of Germany’s national team. Subsequent episodes shadow the coaches and players […]