Viva to Vuvezalas!!!

***Miles travelled today: 92

***Total Miles: 3450

***States travelled through: Illinois into Wisconsin

Not that we watched either the opening or the games thus far... but Jay got talking to a Mexican guy, at the bar, where we were having lunch, and he was raving about the game between SA and Mexico - and was singing the praises of the South African players... and also talking about 'that thing that sounds like a trumpet'... to those non South Africans - it's called a Vuvezela... and by the time the World Cup is over - everyone will be sick of hearing them!!!

Anyway - back to the road trip... today we have not travelled far... in fact in the last week we have travelled less than 250 miles... however we have had a relaxing time just taking a few days out last weekend, we have walked huge distances in Chicago... and today... we walked many miles - in a shopping mall... and have stopped at a place called Lake Geneva... in Wisconsin... and the joy of simply doing a road trip - was that on arriving we decided that it looked so absolutely lovely that we would stay another day!!!

We have been in America nearly 6 weeks, and although we have been in various shops, and outlets etc... we have not yet visited a MALL!!! Well - at least until today... But... that changed!!! I researched the malls around the greater Chicago area... and found one that was an hour away - kinda in the direction we were planning on going... and it is one of the largest in the country... Jay says that my plan was to "Mall-her-out!!!" (and make her carry all of the shopping bags...) So that we do not have to visit anymore shopping malls between now and when we return home!!! A mall the size of the one we did today - has to be done systematically... and it took nearly eight hours!!! But, we saw every shop... as my experience - over the years - has led me to know, that the one shop that we don't see in our travels is THE one that Jay wanted to see!!! So today - we saw them all!!! Jay, lost her steam by lunch time - but soon regained it after lunch...

So - it was nearly 5pm by the time we got back to the car - and we had nowhere to stay... and we really like to be booked in somewhere by 6pm!!! Which didn't give us much time...

Well... we entered a ZIP code into Tam Tam... for Lake Geneva... somewhere I had explored (on the internet... in my planning...) but I don't know why... maybe I just liked the sound of it... so we made our way here... rounded the corner into the town, and the hotel is right across from the lake and it is lovely... so although we had only planned to stay for one night... after getting to the room and unpacking... we simply decided to stay for a second night...

We went out for a walk along the lake shore... just as the sun was setting and it was absolutely lovely!!!

Suzi... you need to find LAKE GENEVA... (kind of North West of Chicago!!!)

Thanks once again to everyone for their continuing comments on the blog - we really enjoy reading them...

Mom, thanks for your e-mail... glad you liked the magazines... and yes... everywhere we go - we are picking up free mags and information... we will need another suitcase to bring them all home!!!