Video: Feeding the Hawks at Ireland’s School of Falconry

This clip is a good example of why I’m so thankful there is a world of firsts still out there for me…like falconry. One of the top experiences so far on our Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour was today’s visit to Ireland’s School of Falconry, where a great guide took our tour group on a “Hawk Walk.” For about an hour, we wandered through the enchanting grounds of Ashford Castle (just outside of Cong, north of Galway). Our hawk enjoyed 50 nibbles, as each person in our group got two tosses and two catches. With each toss, the glove was rotated to the next tour member, our guide tucked a little chicken meat in the padded palm, and the hawk knew just where to return.

These are the kind of experiences and memories we organize many times every day on Rick Steves’ Europe Tours. That’s why most people in our group are return travelers…many of them on their fourth or fifth Rick Steves tour. And we leave a lot of very fat hawks in our wake.

This is Day 73 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

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