Happy St. Patrick's Day!

On March 17 every year many people celebrate St. Patrick's Day.


St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was an English priest who converted Irish people from paganism to Christianity in the 5th century. He is known for explaining the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) using the clover or shamrock.
Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world. In the United States, it is an important holiday for the 36.5 million Americans with Irish roots, but everyone is welcome to celebrate. There are big parades in many cities like New York and Boston, and in Chicago, they dye the river green!
Besides parades, adults celebrate by going to Irish pubs and drinking green beer. Some families eat corn beef and cabbage for dinner.

Hope today you find some of the luck of the Irish!
For more information, pictures and videos, check out www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

A Trip to the UK: Northern Ireland!

Image from www.lonelyplanet.com

During the long weekend for the Day of Andalucia (February 26th - March 1st), I went to Northern Ireland to visit my friend Nicole. She studies at the university in Belfast, the capital of N. Ireland, but she also took me to visit her family in Omagh and along the coast to do some sight-seeing.


Giant's Causeway, found along the northern coast. The rock formations have hexagonal faces. It's amazing!


Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, used by salmon fishermen in the past.


Loyalist mural, entering a Protestant area of the city of Belfast. The "Troubles" or violence between the Protestants and the Catholics in Northern Ireland lasted from 1963 to 1998. Belfast has many murals representing both sides of the struggle.


Peace Wall. During a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast, I stopped to sign the peace wall, wishing for continued peace in Northern Ireland and throughout the world.