Chicago Wedding Films

Memoirs of a Videographer in Japan - Part 5

We took the "Nozomi" (bullet train) from Tokyo to Osaka.  The train reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.  It took us about 3 hours to arrive in Osaka (though we had several train stops along the way).   From this train station we took the JR train to another station.  The subway has over 7 acres of stores, restaurants, etc.  We ended up just walking about the subway - there was so much to see! 

We sat at a counter and ordered pizza.  It was made fresh right in front of our eyes.  It was very good!

 

Today, I am testing out everything before the seminar.  Yoshi has me wait out of eyesight before I speak as he wants my entrance to be more dramatic.  Just like in Tokyo, I entered the seminar room from the back with the spotlight following me up to the front.  Once more, I did my opening greeting in Japanese which they appreciated.

 

 

The Osaka Group!

Memoirs of a Videographer in Japan - Part 4

This is the site where I presented "The Power of Video" on Monday, July 15.  There is a beautiful Japanese garden in the center of this restaurant/wedding site.  There were 100 attendees at my two hour presentation.  After giving my opening greeting in Japanese, everyone clapped.  

 

 

  I am being interviewed by Misaki Maiya of the Bridal Spotlight magazine.  Yoshi acted as the translator.  She was very curious about "bridal preparaions" as Japanese brides don't have that part of the wedding day videotaped.

Yoshi Kohara & Kris pose for a picture in the news paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am with some familiar faces: Yoko, Michie, and Mami.  I met Michie & Mami previously at the U.S. ABC Conferences.

 

Memoirs of a Videographer in Japan - Part 3

Today (Sunday) I visited two bridal fairs with Yoshi.  One at the Grand Pacific Hotel, and the one at the QED Club.  Most Japanese get married in white wedding dresses now because they want the American style wedding.  Only a small percentage have a traditional (Shinto) wedding.  Here the "models" demonstrate a Sake ritual. They just finished breaking the lid with a big wooden hammer.  After taking the first sip, they ladel out the rest to their guests.   

Here's the view of the Tokyo Bay from the 29th floor of the Grand Pacific Hotel.  There are many banquet rooms on this floor and the view is stunning!

 

 

The kimono displayed to the right is available for the bride to rent for her wedding day.  Not many brides wear the traditional kimono anymore.

It was a very fascinating day seeing first-hand how the Japanese celebrate their weddings.

Afterwards, we ate a very traditional Tokyo dinner with Yoshi's family.  Instead of having people cook dinner for you, Yoshi cooked it!  You know this was for the locals if you're allowed to cook your own dinner.  I know I ate some octopus, tofu, seaweed and other things.  Believe it or not, it was delicious.

 

 

 

Kris' "Boiled in Boston" adventure!

Kris & Sheila on a wicked fun adventure in Boston

I was in Boston to speak at the NPVA Boston local videographers association meeting.  The next day I was able to spend some time with the wicked Sheila Orsi of Wedding Film Design. It's always a pleasure to hang with friends exploring their city before heading back to Chicago.  That's us on the left.  What can I say?  I love taking cheesy, touristy photos!

We spent the day walking the Freedom Trail. Boston is such a charming city.  I just love the Boston accent!   There were Boston Celtic signs everywhere!  As you know by now, they are the new 2008 NBA Champions.   There is so much rich, American history in Boston.  It was a fascinating walk, and we ended up at Faneuil Hall eating a Lobster salad sandwich and New England clam chowda (it was to die for!).  Thank you Sheila for being such a great host and friend!

My European Vacation from June 2-19, 2007

(click on photos to view a larger image) 

   I will warn you now, this is going to be one very LONG post instead of many short ones.  If you want to know more keep reading, or check back daily as I'll be updating with pictures on the many ports we visited.  I took over 1000 pictures on this trip!

Our family just returned from a trip that we had been planning for over a decade or more!  We had always talked about taking our three boys to Italy so they could meet their distant relatives (great aunts and uncles, second and third cousins, etc.).    We wanted to do it when they would be old enough to really remember and appreciate it.   We took a 12-day Mediterranean cruise on the new Carnival Freedom.   This vacation was better then I could have imagined!  Cruising was the perfect way to visit Italy.  We visited Rome, Naples, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Venice, Sicily, Barcelona (Spain), Cannes/Monte Carlo/Nice (France) and Pisa & Florence (Livorno).   We arrived in Rome and spent three days pre-cruise visiting family which included seeing the house where Bob was born (that's right - we are talking a tiny hilltop village south of Rome).  Bob moved to the States when he was 21 months old so that's why he doesn't have an accent.

Here I am with the Cruise Director of the Carnival Freedom, John Heald.  Turns out he also started a blog in 2007.  There was a blogger's group meeting on board.  You can read John's blog here.   Now I know why everybody loves John - he's so friendly and open, and talks to you like a friend even though you just met him.

ROME

On our first day we had to have gelato!  There is nothing like it.  We ate it practically everyday.  The kids learned quickly that in Italy you "eat, walk, eat, walk, shop". 

The famous Trevi Fountain - you are supposed to throw 3 coins in the fountain which means you will one day return to Rome. 

The Roman Coliseum.

The Pantheon.

Inside the Pantheon.

St. Peter's Square (the Vatican)

Michaelangelo's "The Pieta" is now behind glass in the Vatican since a madman took a sledgehammer to it in the 1970's.

Inside St. Peter's

This is the view you see after walking 360 steps to the top of St. Peter's coupala! 

The Spanish Steps

Pizza & Gelato  Did you know that pop is expensive in Europe?  A 20 oz. bottle of "Coke Light" (they don't use the word 'diet') costs about 2.5 Euros which is about $3.50 US Dollars.  Wine is cheaper than pop.  A delicious cappucino is only 1 euro (about $1.35).

NAPLES

Standing in the Forum of Pompei - Notice Mt. Vesuvius in the background.  The major eruption occured in 79 A.D.

If you look closely you can tell that this person was wearing a belt; that is a sign that he was a "servant."

Bob joked that this was the original "Wrigley Field"

Homes and storefronts were often side by side on the same street.

The Island of Capri

 This reminds me of Sausilito by San Francisco.

                                                                            VENICE

View of San Marco Square from the Carnival Freedom

  Street performers

The Rialto Bridge

             

The Power of Video in San Marco Square!   

                                                                                                                                                                                               CROATIA

 View through a portal.

 

Tourists walk the wall around the city, and people actually live inches from the wall.

Do you notice all the satellite dishes?

                                                                                    

                                                                            MESSINA(SICILY) TAORMINA

Notice the snow-capped Mt. Etna in the background...It last showed volanic activity in July 2001, but does continue to let off steam.

Our port was Messina, Sicility but we took a 45-minutes bus ride to the hilltop of Taormina.  Taormina is birthplace of the cannoli.  Of course we had them for breakfast.   

                        

   

Pizza is baked fresh in a stone-oven .                    

You must have gelato everyday when in Italy!

Later that evening, the Carnival Freedom cruised by Mt. Stromboli, another active volacano in the area.  This is the view we had from our dinner table as I sipped cappuccino. Can you see all the homes at the base of the mountain?  Do you think they can get homeowners insurance? LOL

BARCELONA

The Sagrada Familia (which means "Holy Family") Church.  You can read the very interesting history of the church by Gaudi. 

                                                   I didn't care for the Tapas food at all, but the Sangria was excellent!!               

This is the symbol for the "public restoom."  "wC" stands for "water closet".                   

Street performers are everywhere!

                                       

CANNES/MONTE CARLO/NICE (FRANCE)

This is the only port that we had tender in and out of.

View of Monte Carlo from a mountain top.

The Monaco Castle.   When the flag is flying, it means Prince Albert is in residence. Everyone is there for the changing of the guards which happens everyday at 12 noon.

We are standing in front of the Monte Carlo Casino.  The parking lot around the casino was full of very expensive cars! Many tourists (including us) were taking pics standing next to these $$$ cars.    For an early Saturday afternoon, there sure were lots of Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and more!

A Greek Orthodox Russian Church

Shopping at Villa DeFrance (walk, eat, walk, shop!)

  A wedding couple.                                                

                                                                                                                                     

PISA/FLORENCE

The Leaning Tower of Pisa which I'm holding up.

                        

More pizza and gelato!   

Smart cars and expensive cars.

                                                                                                                                                       

In Summary:  This was the best vacation ever!!  We chose the Carnival Freedom because of its itenerary.  We wanted to go to as many Italian cities as possible.  The Carnival Freedom cruise experience was awesome!   It was great to come back to your room after a long day touring, and find your room all made up.  Then you change and go eat a fabulous dinner with people giving you great service.  Many times we ordered several appetizers or desserts just to try them.  You could order whatever you wanted.  Our teenage boys ate like kings.  I told them to enjoy because you know I don't cook like that!   We saw several Las Vegas style shows after dinner. We did the Piano Bar several nights and the piano man, Ron Pass, even did  "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen just for me.    Our boys made many friends and had a great club in the O2 Club, doing volleyball, basketball and mini-golf.  Justin was happy to do Guitar Hero (a video game), and John came in first in a Texas-Hold em tournament.  Joe's first casino experience was on the ship, and he was the Black Jack champion winning $500 (we must have taught him well because he handed it over and asked us to put it in his IRA).   We met so many wonderful people while on the cruise from all over the world!  It's great fun just to strike up conversations with people.   Now, I will start making a Storybook so we can all relive the wonderful memories!