Road to Rio | Road to Rio: Sand between toes and face paint after defeat by fierce foes
The beaches of Brazil finally emerge in Fortaleza where winding up friends makes the show all the more worthwhile
After almost a week in a land famed for its beaches, we still haven't felt the sand between our toes, so it's with an extra spring in our step we arrive in Fortaleza, a sun-drenched coastal city in the far northeast.
Most of Fortaleza's hotels are located along its northern coast, and the area has the feel of a seaside holiday town, with buzzing beachside bars, cafes and makeshift stalls selling souvenirs, ice creams and coconuts.
Our flight lands in time for the second half of Italy-Costa Rica, so we head straight for the nearest bar. Randy, Tom and Rob are still clinging to faint hopes that England will qualify, and there are plans afoot for an impromptu 4,000km round-trip to Belo Horizonte for the England-Costa Rica game, but a shock 1-0 win for the effervescent Central Americans puts paid to that.
As a Scot, I'm genetically disposed to supporting ABE [anyone but England]
As a Scot, I'm genetically disposed to supporting ABE (anyone but England) and avoiding the proposed detour was a financial and logistical boon, but I couldn't help feeling genuinely sorry for the lads as the final whistle confirmed England's meek elimination.
Opportunities for wind-ups are seldom passed up between the four of us, and I'd been merciless since England's loss to Uruguay, but I decide it's time to give them a break as we head for our hotel.
Our accommodation to date has been good to great, so we have high hopes of a pimped out suite with panoramic sea views.
What we get is a shabby 100 sq ft shoebox crammed with four single beds. To be fair, you can just about see the sea if you hang out the window and peer through the building site next door, but for around US$400 a night it's fair to say the owners are making the most of the World Cup.
It's the football we're here for though, and we decide to warm up for the Germany-Ghana match with a game of 5-a-side down on the beach against some German lads that Tom knows.
