I have been promising this for a bit, so here it is. We actually got the idea from your partially absent Baghdad blogger. Yep, Shaffer suggested that when we swung through Belfast, we make sure to see the Europa. It was a fantastic time for me, since I heard and studied the unrest in Northern Ireland as a kid. I can still remember my school teachers mentioning the story from time to time. Of course in fourth grade, it’s tough to get a handle on the story. Belfast is booming and while the tension hasn’t left, prosperity is winning. Nice to see.

done

You hear that said all the time, “It’s a small world.”

But really, I have never felt it so much.

Lately in airports I have bumped into a few friends, former teammates and even a high school alum. But nothing compares to the luck (pun intended) of my job. Yes we get to see history in the front row, but just as important are the amazing people we get to meet and even get to know. Such is the case of Patrick Lane, who runs an Irish pub in New York where we like to hang.

During my time here at a Fox he always has a great welcome and makes you feel at home, even when you are missing holidays, birthdays and reunions. Every time he reminds me….”If you go to Ireland, you have to meet my family.” So, Tamera and I made the run out to Galway and are so glad we did. The area is stunning and I wish we had more time to explore it, it would take days. This slideshow comes from the drive to Galway from Dublin and then the area around Clarinbridge.

We are off to London next (we’ll see Max) and I have been told we’ve had a Shaffer sighting! I am told he is embedding next and I look forward to his stories. Also, I will explain the bombed hotel and some of the locations in these pictures.

Just a few short years ago, our trip through this land would have been a treacherous one. Catholics and Protestants were at war and for TV viewers across the globe, each night meant a report about a bombing on unrest amongst the sides.

The pictures in my mind are now replaced by a stunning, much more peaceful portrait. Belfast is a city on the rise, it’s downtown is spectacular and growth and advancement is everywhere. The buildings sparkle and the mix of new and old makes this city so much more desirable than I had ever imagined. We visited the most bomber hotel in the world, or so some claim. The Europa has undergone a huge transformation, much like the city itself. Yes there are still tensions here, but the peace seems to be so prosperous, that once bitter enemies can somehow get along.

Throughout our drive through the countryside, it is very evident that Northern Ireland is building. New homes shoot out of the rolling green landscape. Along the Causeway Coast, homes and businesses thrive. We had an absolute blast and the people were most welcoming. If you come to Ireland, you cannot miss the North!

So….it took a whole day and more great travel stories. That I’ll save for a later time, I am on vacation you know. Meantime, I am told Shaffer has written and should post any time. He’s got to get there safely and get situated….then watch out!  So, this is my first trip to Ireland and I do have a tad bit of Irish blood. We go here Sunday evening and hit the streets on this beautiful sunny day to see the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. How cool! This is a 4 minute video highlight of what it’s like to watch the parade (about 2 hours long), and like parade’s, it gets better as it moves along. There are tons of American bands here and all doing us proud. We saw the University of Illinois Marching Band, Auburn University Marching Band and high school bands from places like West Bend, Wisconsin. You can see some of them on this video also. The Irish were great hosts and they let me in the media area to get some of this video…they like Sky News.