The flight from LAX to Sao Paolo was long and uneventful....everyone on the plane was going to the World Cup, lots of Mexicans who cheered loudly when we landed.

The usual FIFA admin when we arrived, pick up game tickets (but machine didn't work), long line for Forex, etc but this is Brazil and we need to get into its rhythm.

We caught the Garucoop taxi to our hotel in Jardins - a leafy part of central Sao Paolo. The traffic wasn't as dreadful as expected and at every intersection there was someone selling Brazil flags for the big opening match. After settling in, James, Spencer and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood. Jardins is clearly a wealthy part of SP and it has a feel of Ginza in Tokyo and 5th Ave in Manhattan. We lucked onto a loud cafe that was showing football highlights to a predominately local crowd. Some chope (draft beer) and fried chicken later and we felt we were getting in the swing of things.

The next day was bright and sunny and it seemed that everyone woke up with the same realisation that the World Cup was finally here! A traditional Brazilian breakfast awaiting - (Spencer was delighted to see that the Brazilians like cake with their breakfast and there was delicous Brazilian cheese and fruit)

We walked around toward the Parc Trianon (a lovely verdant forest set amongst the skyscrapers) and then onto the MASP (Modern Art Museum of Sao Paolo). Housed in a spectacular building which "floats" above the ground, the collection was excellent and contained the usual masters (Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Chagall) as well as some interested Brazilian artist I'd not heard of. Suitably filled with our dose of culture it was then on to Rue Oscar Frere for a refreshing fruit juice (Maca (apple), for Spencer, Watermelon for James and Pineapple and Lemongrass for me). Rue Oscar Frere is where the beautiful people of Sao Paolo shop and the Nike shop was doing a brisk trade in Brazil jerseys as you would expect. Spencer and I were wearing our Socceroo jersey green and gold and I think many of the locals were surprised to learn we share the same national football colours as many would start to speak to us in Portugese only to be told "Eh sou Australiano!"

It was getting warm now so we walked up Rua Augusta to Fogo de Chao for lunch. Fogo de Chao started in the south of Brazil (in Gaucho country) and now there are restaurants in Brazil and the States. The food is all you can eat Churrasco (BBQ steak of all descriptions, lamb, chicken, sausages). Suffice to say it was delicious and we ate our fill.

Post lunch food baby required a rest so we headed back to the hotel for break to get ready for the opening game. We walked back to the cafe where we ate the previous night however they were charging R$100 (A$50) just to get in so we headed back to the hotel to watch it on the big screen with the hotel staff. It was like a Melbourne Cup vibe as everything stopped for the game. I did not see one car go past the hotel the entire game which in Sao Paolo is unheard of!. The Brazilian's were a little shocked with the first own goal for Croatia, but when Neymar scored his first goal, the place basically exploded! A dubious penalty (one of many in the tournament I expect) for Brazil and late Oscar goal and Brazil coasted to a 3:1 win.

After our huge lunch we decided on a small dinner at a local pizza place which was packed with loud and well inebriated Brazilians. It's clear from talking to the locals that Brazilians have a soft spot for Australia, most seem to know someone living in Manly!

Back to the hotel and bed as tomorrow would be our early flight to Cuiaba and our game against Chile!