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Brazil World Cup Fever

Rio is soccer-crazed, about this there can be no question. The city is bedecked in Brazilian flags and ribbons and other decorations in one or another color of the Brazilian flag.

Signs on doors of stores catering to tourists explain that said stores will be closed during Brazil's upcoming World Cup matches. Said signs aren't posted on stores catering only to locals; presumably because certain things need not be articulated.

Even the demure employee at the Novo Desenho store adjacent to Rio's Museum of Modern Art made it clear that her store of carefully selected Brazilian design gems would not be open on June 13 after 4pm.

But Rio isn't excited solely by Brazil's upcoming games. Every match appears to be the focal point of mass interest. Televisions are plugged into outside outlets on street corners. Open-air restaurants along the Copacabana (and no doubt throughout Rio) have set up huge televisions to lure customers to their tables. Even the main restaurant at Sofitel is closed for lunch during the duration of the World Cup, as the hotel's bar has a television to accommodate soccer fans.

[Image via interludio/Flickr]