[/av_textblock] [av_google_map zoom_control=’aviaTBzoom_control’ maptype_control=” streetview_control=’aviaTBstreetview_control’ zoom=’3′ maptype_id=’SATELLITE’ height=’600px’ saturation=’fill’ hue=” google_link=” confirm_button=’Click to load Google Maps’ page_link_text=’Open Google Maps in a new window’ google_fallback=” attachment=” attachment_size=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-l1p8xp5i’ sc_version=’1.0′] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Madalena’ state=” country=’Portugal’ long=’-8.6501117′ lat=’41.102569′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8u9eo’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Dakar’ state=” country=’Senegal’ long=’-17.4676861′ lat=’14.716677′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8un6p’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Accra’ state=” country=’Ghana’ long=’-0.1869644′ lat=’5.6037168′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8uzg4′ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Patras’ state=” country=’Greece’ long=’21.734574′ lat=’38.2466395′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8vdis’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Bari’ state=” country=’Italy’ long=’16.8718715′ lat=’41.1171432′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8vpar’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Bethlehem’ state=” country=’South Africa’ long=’28.3111262′ lat=’-28.2423025′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8w9au’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Bethlehem’ state=” country=’Wales’ long=’-3.910493′ lat=’51.910823′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8wl8q’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Mannheim’ state=” country=’Germany’ long=’8.466039499999999′ lat=’49.4874592′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8wwzk’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Stirling’ state=” country=’Scotland’ long=’-3.9369029′ lat=’56.1165227′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8x7vy’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [av_gmap_location address=” postcode=” city=’Hellissandur’ state=” country=’Iceland’ long=’-23.8756752′ lat=’64.9162886′ marker=’21573′ imagesize=’40’ av_uid=’av-l1p8xm5x’ sc_version=’1.0′ tooltip_display=”][/av_gmap_location] [/av_google_map] [/av_one_full][av_textblock textblock_styling_align=” textblock_styling=” textblock_styling_gap=” textblock_styling_mobile=” size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-l1p989qh’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”] This is a very interesting list. Some of these locations we have looked at before. Here are some things to know:
- Iceland as a whole remains an intriguing choice. We have deliberated over various locations in Iceland for years. Santa is very popular in Iceland and Christmas overall is widely celebrated. Our trouble has been finding a suitable location that has the Internet we need. We have focused mostly around the capitol city of Reykjavik in the past. Our scouts must have found something special in the little village of Hellissandur this year that we have not noticed before.
- Towns named Bethlehem are always a popular choice and our list this year has two – one in South Africa and one in Wales. Bethlehem, Wales actually hosted us a few years ago. But we were found out and large crowds gathered outside on Christmas Eve, making it noisy for us at times. We could go back there, for sure, but if we announce that is where we will be I worry the crowds might be bigger.
- Bari, Italy is a place of great interest for our Regional staff. The city there has on display some of the interred bones of the ancient Saint Nicholas. When I shared this list in the office here yesterday the team actually cheered when this one was announced.
In all, this is a very exciting list with lots of great possibilities.
I will let you know as soon as a final selection is made.
[/av_textblock]