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Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick

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Video: Understanding and Empathy at a Northern Ireland Wall

We’ve been leading tours through Ireland for more than 20 years, and as a matter of principle, I’ve never had one of our Best of Ireland tours not include a trip through Northern Ireland. Ireland needs to be understood as a whole. And for our group, the last couple of days in Ulster has been an emotional highlight.

It’s a happy and hopeful time right now, as “The Troubles” that wracked the country in recent decades are essentially over. But there is still deep-seated tension ― as this so-called “Peace Wall” (built to separate the two sectarian communities) illustrates. Wherever travelers encounter walls ― whether between Palestine and Israel, San Diego and Tijuana, or Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in Belfast ― it’s a thought-provoking experience.

Our guide, Declan, made a point to stop at this wall, and he gave us all pens to leave our hopes and prayers for peace in Ireland. Our Rick Steves’ Europe Tours program, with the support of our tour guides, works to help our American travelers hear both narratives and gain empathy for societies where there is tension and strife.

This is Day 74 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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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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Video: Mr. Curran Shares the History of Curran’s Pub

For a good traveler, the best “sights” in a town like Dingle are its people. Tonight, our Best of Ireland in 14 Days tour group will gather in Curran’s Pub for a traditional music session. I popped in during the day to talk with Mr. Curran, learn the history of his place, and enjoy it when it’s sleepy. It’s fun that so many of the shops and pubs here are called the names of the people who run them today (often after many, many generations). Real people…you must connect with the people to experience Ireland. And in Ireland, that’s easy.

This is Day 72 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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Video: Exploring Dingle with a Local Craftsman

Seán Daly, the best crystal cutter in Dingle, took me on a walk through his town. (Our Best of Ireland in 14 Days tour group visited him this morning at his crystal workshop, and this afternoon, he grabbed a couple of hours to explore with me.) There’s something charming about small-town Ireland — where the people’s connection to their culture and to their town is so vivid. And get this: When you say Seán’s name, Seán Daly, you’re saying “chandelier” in French!

Sean Daly showing a crystal glass

Our tour group at Seán’s workshop this morning.

 

This is Day 71 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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Video: Blitzing Dingle’s Best Pubs — and Best Urinals

You gotta love keg urinals. Dingle’s Courthouse Pub is where the musicians go when their gigs are over. And Tommy O’Sullivan, the owner, innovated some interesting urinals I just had to share with you. From keg to keg…the cycle of life in Ireland.

Dingle is my favorite town in Ireland — and one of my favorite towns in all of Europe. It was pretty late. I was blitzing the best traditional music pubs in Dingle before heading back to our B&B. Walking around the block, I popped in on six pubs like this, each with a different personality and each with live music playing to an enthusiastic and fun-loving crowd. In the next edition of our Ireland guidebook, the character of each of these pubs will be clear to our travelers so they can settle in on just the right scene. That was my agenda…fun work.

This is Day 70 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.