Whilst running this morning in Belfast, I thought how it’s a tale of two cities in so many ways. Aside from the politics, I was again amazed at how quiet Belfast is in the morning, and how quickly the neighborhoods change from affluent, to middle class, to working class. Here’s a link to a 30-second video I took along the Peace Wall yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zwAiteSrg
We made our way back to Dublin, and the students are on their own today and tomorrow since it’s a Bank Holiday here on Monday (akin to a 3-day weekend to start the summer).
I went for a long walk this evening, and the picture in this blog is part of a sculpture I’ve run past many mornings here. It’s quite striking as it depicts the Irish people forced to emigrate during the 19th century Irish Famine. It certainly puts our First World problems into perspective.
I have been entertaining creating a similar trip to Ireland next year exclusively for business leaders. Listed below is the back of the napkin itinerary I’ve mapped out. Please feel free to comment – especially if this would be of interest!
Recommended Itinerary:
Day 1: Travel from US
Day 2: Kilmainham Jail & Guiness tours, welcome dinner with guest speaker
Day 3: Company tours with speakers from business, government (EI & IDA) and start-up organizations
3 nights in Dublin
Day 4: Tour Iveagh House (Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade) & The Dail (legislative house) & afternoon travel
1 night in Galway
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher tour & afternoon travel
Day 6: Belfast – Northern Ireland Science Center – business and start-up speakers
2 nights in Belfast
Day 7: Belfast Black Cab tour & afternoon travel to Dublin with farewell dinner
1 night in Dublin
Day 8: Travel back to US (or extend vacation to Europe)
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Jan, thanks for pointing out more fascinating facts about the city I was born in. It would be wonderful to see those physical walls in Belfast come down in my lifetime, along with the internal walls of fear and mistrust. It’s hard to believe a modern day city in the western most part of Europe actually has so many walls. Of course the people who live along the interface would need mechanisms to help them cope with their fears, if and when they do come down. I like your exclusive business leader idea for next year. I’d be interested in that.