Stroll along the famed Copacabana Beach and you will understand why it's a must-see destination in Brazil. The 4-kilometre long stretch of sand and boardwalk attracts sunbathers, surfers, soccer fans, and of course, journalists.
We spent the morning out on the sand, producing some of the most picturesque live hits possible. The icing sugar-like sand, crashing waves bouncing surfers off their boards, and hundreds of locals in petite swim suits out jogging, doing yoga, or just sitting enjoying the sights.
But yesterday wasn't like any other day at the beach. It was game day for this country as the host nation Brazil took on Mexico.
Without even knowing the schedule, it was easy to tell something was up. Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, packed into transport vehicles rolled up just off the boardwalk. Police on foot were already out, making sure cars keep moving along.
All around us, it was work as usual for the city. Construction crews were madly building projects that should have been ready for the start of the event, restaurants and stores were open for business.
But then, almost precisely at the twelfth chime of noon, everything stopped. Stores closed, workers walked off their job sites, and the traffic began.
It was the busiest I had ever seen the city. Our translator explained everyone was heading for home for what was, effectively, a holiday for the entire country.
Of course, we were gathering for our story and as bad luck would have it, the interviews and shots we needed were in the same direction hundreds of thousands of Rio residents were heading.
We tip-toed through traffic until we finally got to where we were going.
After about an hour, we were back in the van, heading back to Copacabana Beach. As soon as we set out, we knew the game was on. There was no one on the roads, no cars, no buses, no taxis, no honking horns, not even any pedestrians. They were all gone. They were all watching their team.
Within minutes, we were back at the beach where approximately 200,000 fans had taken over the roadway. It looked like the soccer version of the UN. Everyone was represented. Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Holland, and of course Brazil fans, were all there.
A party atmosphere complete with fireworks, horns and singing. Oh yeah, the game was on too!
The thousands of Brazilian fans stared at the game on a massive screen, willing their team to score. Then, becoming more and more quiet as the game clock counted down.
With every chance, fans erupted with anticipation of a goal, then quickly went back to biting their nails when the ball sailed wide.
The game was still tied at zero with only minutes left when a feeling of doom crept over the crush of fans. "Don't lose! Don't lose!" many were muttering as the Mexicans took their last-minute chances against the Brazilian goalie.
Then it was over. A nil-nil game. Not the party most had expected, but not a loss.
Still, fans didn't seem to know what to do. Many just stood there. Do they cheer? Do they start partying?
Three minutes went by and they seemed to all snap out of it. Brazilian music started blaring over the loudspeakers and the dancing began.
They hugged, they cheered, they sang for hours on the sand and boardwalk of Copacabana Beach.
A party that lasted all night.
One that will start again Monday at the strike of twelve, when Brazil once again takes the pitch.
