Arrived in Rio yesterday, no issues in catching taxi from the airport to accommodation, nor in travelling on metro. The area I’m staying in, Copacabana, pulses with people into the wee hours of the morning, so while always on the alert, feel safe when returning home from matches.

Met up with volley baller friend Liz for from Melbourne, we had lunch and caught up on her travels to date. Discovered that for the match we were going to see together, we had tickets within 5 seats of each other in the same row. Figure the chances of that given we had booked independently.!

We travelled again on the very safe metro to the spiritual home of volleyball in Brazil, the Maracanazinho stadium.

Saw the quarter finals match where USA defeated Japan – much stronger attack and greater height!

Next match, Serbia defeated Russia 3:0; better spiking, blocking, back court defence and serves. So I’ll be seeing them again on Thursday playing USA in semi finals. 

On TV in my apartment late at night, watched China’s womens team narrowly defeat Brazil….fab game to watch and a very emotional ending to the host nation’s ( and crowd’s) quest for gold for indoor volleyball, beach is yet to be determined.