Catch up....

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days, but we have been unable to update blogspot due to technical problems.

We have had a jam packed programme this week in and around St Louis.  Tuesday Robert went to Cahokia Mounds with his host family, while the rest of the group went shopping or spent some quality time with their host families.  Cahokia Mounds is a world heritage site relating to a Mississippian tribe. We then all met up at the Fairview Heights Rotary Club meeting for lunch and presented before undertaking individual vocational activities in the afternoon and exploring Lebanon main street.  We ended the day at Papa Vito's pizza restaurant where we had the best pepperoni pizza with around 80 Rotarians dropping in to see us!!

On Wednesday we had an EXTREMELY early start at the O'Fallon Sunrise Club which meets at 6.45am!!!  After our presentation we went to Grants Farm, the home of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses before eating at O'Connells which has the BEST beef burgers EVER!!!   This was followed by a trip up the 630 foot Jefferson Memorial Gateway Arch in the smallest 5 person capsule in the world.  Roberta conquered her fears and made it back down in one piece.  The sights were amazing at the top - we could see for miles including the Courthouse, Busch Stadium and the Edward Jones Dome.  Later, we went to the Anheuser Busch Brewery Tour and sampled some exceptional beers, including their famous Budweiser! We finished up the day at the Big Bang piano bar at Lacledes Landing where we sang and danced the night away to duelling pianos.  The team was also forced to undertake an X-rated version of heads, shoulders, knees and toes on stage in front of the entire audience.

On Thursday the majority of the girls attended the annual State of the City breakfast with the Mayor of O'Fallon before heading for some vocational activities.  Rob never made it back from Missouri and spent the day undertaking vocational activities in the Wild West.  After lunch the girls met with Richard Avdoian who gave us presentation tips.  The evening was spent presenting at the Lebanon Rotary Club, where they very kindly presented us with "Where in the Dickens is Lebanon, Illinois" T-shirts!!!

Today, the girls spent some time at the MS Society and Family Hospice before visiting Cahokia Mounds followed by a trip across the river to the Science Centre/Art Museum.  Rob visited a children's hospital before joining Louise and Ellen at the Science Centre.  Rob, Ellen and Louise then visited the Bailey's chocolate bar where they enjoyed some amazing chocolate martinis.

The team is now off for a goodbye meal in O'Fallon before finalising the packing and weighing of the bags before we head to the airport first thing in the morning.  Let's hope our suitcases haven't put on as much weight as the team!!!!

That's all folks!! Hope you have enjoyed our blog!  Thank you to everyone in Southern Illinois for your great hospitality.  The team have had an amazing time!!!

Thanks again.