CNN Interview

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I was up with the sun for a little photography on the resort grounds. The rock formation below is situated directly in front of the hotel and was one of my favorite subjects. For this image I used a very long exposure time to blur the motion of the water.

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Yesterday Nico received an interview request from a producer at CNN who learned about him through his work at Camp Coleman in Atlanta. While he slept in, exhausted from volleyball, I coordinated their request for a live interview with CNN Newsroom anchor, Brooke Baldwin, for later in the afternoon.  I looped in the Powerade PR team who then managed all of the logistics. Arriving just in time to escort us to the CNN “studio” overlooking the Maracana Stadium was Andra London, Senior Global Communications Manager for Coca-Cola. She has really been the point person for Nico’s involvement with the Powerade brand and one of the only people on the campaign who we had yet to meet.

The French National team, under intense security, is also staying at the Sheraton this evening. When Nico noticed Olivier Giroud in the lobby without an entourage, he introduced himself and asked for a picture together.  He is still (justifiably) mad at me for not taking a better photo for this one time only opportunity.

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Traffic was horrendous as we travelled by taxi to Maracana.  CNN has rented an apartment that overlooks the stadium and has converted it to a studio. We arrived with only moments to spare for the live to tape segment, Nico’s first remote interview (Brooke was in Atlanta).  We had time for a quick photo with Andra just as the sun was setting. The interview lasted all of five minutes and Nico did a great job.  We celebrated with a  fine dinner and really enjoyed getting to know Andra who is a remarkable woman and the friendliest person you will ever meet.
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We arrived back at the hotel just in time for a special presentation of Brazilian carnival music and dance by last year’s champions, Tijuca.  Many of my photos and all of the video I shot are not suitable for posting on this G-rated site but the one below should give you a flavor of the atmosphere.

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Sheraton Rio

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Despite having seemingly endless beaches, the Sheraton Rio is the city’s only resort actually situated on the water. Our home for the next five days could not be a more welcome sight after a sleepless night in the airplane.

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The view from our 11th floor window overlooks the resort grounds and Ipanema Beach to the north. Coca-Cola has literally taken over portions of the hotel where it is hosting guests from around the world for the duration of the World Cup. The entire fifth floor has been converted to a Coca-Cola guest exclusive lounge, discotheque, cafe, big screen viewing area and game arcade.  Facades have been built over every wall and decorated with a Brazilian/World Cup/Coca-Cola theme. Meals that would earn praise from Jeanine for their taste, variety and healthfulness are served buffet style in the cafe which easily accommodates the ~300 guests here this week.  These include consumer prize package winners from around the world as well as Coca-Cola employees who won internal prize packages.  Nico and I are special guests by virtue of his involvement with the Powerade World Cup media campaign and we see his commercials running everywhere from the lounge to the TVs on the buses.

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Our host for the week is Bachir Zeroual who we meet upon our arrival. He provides us with our photo credentials and orients us to the excitement that lies ahead.

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As soon as we are settled in and have had lunch, Nico makes a beeline for the beach and volleyball.  I opt for an afternoon tour to Sugarloaf Mountain.

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Situated at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain is a peak rising 1,299 ft above the harbor. Its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. The mountain is only one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water’s edge around Rio de Janeiro. A glass-walled cable car runs between the peaks of Morro da Urca and Pão de Açúcar from which visitors enjoy a spectacular 360 degree, panoramic view of Rio, the harbor, and the ocean. Unfortunately, hazy weather makes for poor photographs and I decide I will return with Nicolai on a clearer day.

Rio de Janeiro

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The Calabria’s departed Boston in opposite directions today.  Jeanine and Maya are headed to California where they will spend the balance of the week visiting Kyle.  Meanwhile, Nicolai and I are headed to Brazil where we will be the guests of the Coca-Cola company for the next five days enjoying a front-row seat to the World Cup quarterfinals.  We timed our arrival at the airport so that we could watch the USA vs. Belgium match after clearing security and before our red-eye flight to Rio de Janeiro.  Our disappointment over the loss was quickly replaced with excitement when we landed in Rio the following morning and were greeted at the airport by our “lollypop” bearing hosts.