Day 86 – Rio

I have absolutely no idea what a Sugar Loaf is but the Brazilian official in charge of naming mountains and other elevations of note obviously did, so keen was he on the mysterious Sugar Loaf that he named the most impressive mountain in Rio after it. A cable car runs from ground level to the top giving – as you may have guessed – splendid views of the city.

In the evening I visited the world famous Maracana football stadium to watch a South American Champions League game between Rio's top team Flamengo v University of Chile. The game started as any neutral would want, as in the first minute a University player received an outrageous elbow to the face prompting an almighty brawl before the offender got his marching orders for the earliest of early baths I have ever seen.

Unfortunately, the one man advantage made little difference as University were absolutely hopeless and what glimmer of a chance they did have evaporated with a goal for Flamengo then a red card of their own. Flamengo went on to win 2-0 but should have scored a hatful with their main striker being guilty of more misses than a Muslim bigamist. The striker in question Adriano is now twice the player he was whilst at Inter Milan, I don't mean he has improved beyond recognition, simply that he has clearly been enjoying the Pina Colada and fried chicken lifestyle – and what he lacks in pace he more than makes up for in girth.