Disneyland & Rarotonga

Well the last on our trip, its hard to believe it's all over, 3 months of traveling, but it will be good to be home.
Disneyland:
We somehow managed to be Family of the day, which meant we got to walk the velvet rope with MIckey Mouse, to open the Park that day, ad sign the visitor's book, and get to do the most popular ride (Hollywood Terror Hotel) on our own.(Which we rode 7 times, it was a blast. The weather was always looking dodgy but never rained, and this was a miracle as their was so much rain due to a big low pressure causing lots of havoc on the west coast. On the first night, we got to see the fireworks (amazing), which had been unable to do for the 3 previous nights due to bad weather. It really is a magical place, and everything is done so well even if the rides aren't all thrill seeking, they are very well presented. Also put in the photo of Carmen and Johnny Depp, who dropped in for the day....... not really but a very good look a like, or very HOT look a like if I use the girls words.
Rarotonga.
It was 4 days of thawing out from the northern winter, and we did right from getting off the plane it was hot ad sweaty the first day, and really hot and muggy the last day / night. It is a paradise and very tropical rain forest all the way down to the road that rings the Island. We snorkeled and sipped coffee, and spent time with some friends who so wonderfully gave us the use of their beach side villa. Then it was onto the lane and back to AUckland.

Thus endeth 3 months of the most amazing experiences, sights and fun we could hope for.
Thanks to all those who helped make this such an great time for the Bohanes.

Chicago, New York and Las Vegas

Chicago:
A few more shots of Chicago at night including the snow falling piles of it too!
New York:
It was amazing, especially NYE in Times Square, well 7th Ave actually with another 1 million people. The girls had one f their friends there with us also to watch the ball drop which I don't think we saw, but hey it was an amazing experience. Shopping was amazing, the bags are full, SOHO district WOW!!!!
We wet to Ground Zero, still lots of mangled metal exposed as they still prep the ground for the next buildings to go up. The city skyline is amazing, we also went to Brooklyn Heights to et a great view of the city ad Staten Island.
Las Vegas:
Went to Cirque Du Soleil The Beatles Love... this was just outstanding, amazing and the list goes on and on. Then we walked the stripe so took a few shots, then one of our Hotel(inside) the Luxor. We are now sitting in Las Vegas Airport waiting for our flight to LA.

Chicago

We arrived 21Dec to what had been a fair amount of snow but it did not snow for the first few days. We have done lots of Church here, with Christmas etc, and John and Anna are involved with the main church and a new church plant in the central area of the Downtown, so we were back and forward doing these services. we have a few shots of their live manger animals, which were amazing as were their Productions.
We had Christmas day and a few other meals at Anna's parents place, we didn't get the expected white Christmas on that day, but we did today, a good few inched of snow. (see Picture).
Chicago is a nice city, very clean for the most part, has a great feel. We went to the the House of Blues as one of the guys from the Chuch was support act, and it is a legendary place for all things musical, but getting in was a mission.
We had -7 degrees one day, it was real cold we only have barely enough to keep us warm at those temps, but its still a great experience.
Lots of walking around town, and have a photo of a few of the only remaining old buildings that survived the great fire., one of them the Water Tower.
America does put o a good show at Christmas time. I would have some photos fo some cool homes lit up at night, but Im having problems with getting the shots right at night with lots of lights.

London

First Stop Abbey Road and we weren't the only ones, as the Beatles buff that I am, it was great to get there, and we went into Abbey Rd Studios even though they are still a functioning recording studio. Then we went onto Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes and Madam Tusseau's) it is also the Beatles Store, so I picked up a few items. Then off to Buckingham Palace, and Liz was in, but we couldn't get to have a cup of Tea, but it was nice to see it, we took a shot or two, one with Sharon in it looking at the horse and carriage leaving the grounds.
Tower of London and the Tower bridge were fascinating, we had the best Yeoman do our guided tour, a very funny Welshman, the Crown Jewels were mind boggling. and the gruesomeness of went on there was an eye opener. Lots of history though.
Went to Harrods, and the Egyptian Staircase was amazing, not to mention how awesome the whole store is.
Just for Crag & Annette, your old home, and a picture of Lorinda and Roderick who we stayed with in London, just great people.

Paris Part 3 & Londn Pt 1.

Gave Paris a good going over, the Louvre, up the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine for a night cruise, and funnily enough a trip to the shops again. We then took the Eurostar (hi speed) Train to London, negotiated the Underground, and the trains and stayed in Aldershot about 50 minutes train journey out of the city, staying with some good friends of some of our good friends..
We met up with Ange da Silva during the first day and Rachel Wallis, a couple of girls from CLCA now living in London, and we got to see lots that day and night.
You can see, Big Ben, which I discovered is the name of bell in the clock tower. Carnaby Street famous for the 60's revolution in all things fashion and style and pop culture. Downing Street, not so famous for anything that is fashionable or stylish. We then saw the Tiffany Christmas Tree in the open air Ice Rink at Somerset House, Awesome but heaps to come.

Paris Part 2

Today we visited Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, and back to shopping districts. It was -1 degrees when we got up this morning but clear blue skies awaited our sightseeing, so it was a beautiful day. It was the first time the girls had been in an old church or seen buildings this old, so was really a eyeful for them today.
The Champs-Elysees was packed as you could imagine for a sunny Saturday , but Sharon and I were a little disappointed not as ritzy or loaded with eating places as we thought it might be, but plenty of buzz going on.
We went back at night to shoot it all over again it was great. We have train'd and metro'd ourselves silly today, and are pretty tired, but its all fun.
Went to the shops again at Galleria La Fayette, but the crowds this close to Christmas were absolutely nuts. I was literally carried away in the crush, wild as stuff! I would to have had a car trying to drive anywhere in Paris today, it was wall to wall people.