Mediocre media

Ahem: nope. We visited three cities in ten days and not once did we feel anything other than REALLY welcome

Don\’t go; they said, the crime rate is so high and you won\’t be safe

Nah! Ok we probably lived in the World Cup bubble, and succeeded in our strategy of staying with the \”herd\”. And, in hindsight, that show of police force in Fortaleza, may have meant there was more to worry about than we knew. But not once in ten days and three cities did we feel threatened 

Don\’t go; they said, prices are outrageous and you\’ll get ripped off. 

Nope. Food, drink, taxi\’s, hotels, even stadium tickets (if you could get them) were all very reasonable. We did consider flying to Salvador for USA Belgium. Match tickets were available at face value. But as with airlines everwhere, the ticket from Rio to Salvador inexplicably doubled over night. Go figure!

Don\’t go; they said, the construction\’s not finished. The airport\’s will be a mess, and the stadiums will be a safety hazard.

Not true either. The airports were updated and very efficient. They even thought to leave space for an indoor footie match as we left last night. 

And, apart from a few missing facias in Manaus (which if you recall is in the middle of a jungle) the stadiums weren\’t only safe, but quite beautiful.

Perhaps we\’re just exceptional travelers, adept at missing the problems. Or perhaps we just got lucky. But, comparing notes with the many other fans we met along the way, I don\’t think so. We accept such a mediocre media, always looking for the negative story. Disappointingly sad when this was such a good news experience.