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.

Lyon Dijon & Paris(Pt 1)

Lyon, Dijon and Paris Pt 1.
Lyon:
This is a place with a big University, so lots of young people. Not the most beautiful spots but some lovely buildings.
Dijon:
This was a surprise. It is not just the home of Dijon Mustard and its regional dish of Beef Bourginon, but a showcase of majestic old buildings, and a main street of shopping to rival most up-market destinations. They had a great little square with christmas stalls, and lights all down the streets. We stayed in a very authentic hotel close to the city centre, a very nice city.
The countryside outside Dijon is just beautiful, so all the way to Paris was very a pretty drive (see picture) They have little villages along the countryside, picture postcard stuff.
Paris:
Just the start of Photos here. Notre Dame was just outside the shopping we went to. The stores at night were really something else to see. While people aren't really into decorating for Christmas, the bigger shops are, and it's stunning.
Carmen and Danelle joined us today from Tanzania, its so good to see them again and be a family again
We also had to return our car today after 41 days driving around Europe, its goodbye to Lucy (the GPS Navigator) whom we could never have found our way to most places we have been. Its back to Trains and planes now.
In Paris for a few days then off to London.

Carcasonne, MIllau Viaduct, Pont du Gard & Nimes

Carcasonne:
This is an amazing Medieval town perched on a hill in the Provence area of France. Huge walled city, what a place for hide and seek! People still living there, hotels inside the walls very touristy in spots and had the worst coffee I have ever tasted..... But a beautiful place to experience.
MIllau Viaduct:
It just so happened I had seen this building being built on Mega-structures on Sky earlier this year, and while we were with the Pearsons, they mentioned about this massive bridge, and I said I think I saw something about it being built. It has the tallest pylons in the world, and they had to invent ways of building this, as there was such a long span over the valley below, it is over 2.4km's long, 750m high. The pictures don't really give you the scale of its size. Awesome.
Pont du Gard:
This was built by the Romans in 35AD to 52 AD by 1000 men. It was the main water viaduct they built to get spring fed water to all the towns and cities around the area, especially to Nimes, a large city founded by Augustus Caesar. An amazing feat in anyones day, especially back then, even more amazing to see it standing today.
NImes:
This is where the Romans built a 24,000 seat Colosseum, where they did the Gladiator thing and it is still used today for bullfights. Its a charming place, with lots of old buildings, and some great Architecture especially one or two churches.

Nearly finished our European tour!