Futebol de areia means sand football in Portuguese. Not long ago you could see people playing everywhere in Rio’s beaches but things are changing. There are new spots to play in the beach now, and whoever plays outside this spot will be fined. That works for our sand racquetball (frescobol) as well. That’s only because it’s something that can be very annoying when you are lying down and get a ball in your head or in your stomach.
Even though I’m happy that some things are changing in Rio, and people are starting to be a little bit more conscious about others (forcefully), I have to admit that I’ll miss playing fotebol de areia near the water.
© 2010 Willie Runte
