点评:We were able to accomplish our three goals; find the family home, see beautiful parts of Ireland, and spend personal time with the local Irish. By having a small private tour we learned more in 48 hours with Ian than we ever would have on our own.
Through Sean’s research and Ian’s implementation, we were able to discover the place where my Irish ancestors farmed and eventually emigrated from in County Down in Northern Ireland. We experienced that “Aha” moment when we completed the circle and were able to pinpoint the exact spot where my Irish ancestors lived. Ian took the initiative to flag down a local asking him if he knew anyone with my family’s last name. Next thing we know, we’re being led into the driveway of a house and met the gentleman who is certainly my kin. I cannot imagine we would have had an experience like this on our own.
We enjoyed scouring multiple cemeteries for names, Ian searching along side of us, then a delicious meal where the local gather to drink and dine.
Our second goal was to see sites along the Northern Ireland coast. Ian showed us some spectacular scenery as he drove us down roads that I would never have ventured down on my own and no bus could ever have navigated.
Our third goal of meeting and talking to local Irishmen was accomplished as Ian was entertaining and enthusiastic and an absolute font of knowledge about culture, history, and politics. An American could not begin to understand The Troubles by merely reading books and watching movies and documentaries about this period - It took an Irishman who had experienced this personally and first hand.
We highly recommend My Ireland Heritage Tours and are looking forward to taking another tour of a different part of the Emerald Isle with Ian.
Tricia and Bob Sauer
翻译:我们实现了三个目标:找到家族故居、游览爱尔兰的秀丽风光,以及与当地爱尔兰人共度美好时光。通过伊恩的私人导览,我们在短短48小时内学到的东西,远比我们自己摸索要多得多。
在肖恩的研究和伊恩的协助下,我们找到了我的爱尔兰祖先在北爱尔兰唐郡耕作并最终移民的地方。当我们完成寻根之旅,能够精确定位祖先居住的地点时,那种“啊哈”的顿悟感油然而生。伊恩主动拦下一位当地人,询问他是否认识与我家族同姓的人。接下来,我们被引到一户人家的车道上,见到了那位先生,他肯定是我的亲戚。我无法想象我们自己能有这样的经历。
我们兴致勃勃地在多个墓地里寻找名字,伊恩一路陪伴着我们,之后我们享用了一顿当地人聚餐的美味佳肴。
我们的第二个目标是游览北爱尔兰沿海的景点。伊恩带我们沿着我从未想过要走的路线行驶,沿途风光令人叹为观止,而这些路线也绝非巴士能够通行。
我们的第三个目标是与当地爱尔兰人见面交流,伊恩也圆满完成了这个目标。他风趣幽默、热情洋溢,对爱尔兰的文化、历史和政治了如指掌。一个美国人仅仅通过阅读书籍、观看电影和纪录片是无法真正理解北爱尔兰冲突的——只有亲身经历过这一切的爱尔兰人才能真正理解。
我们强烈推荐“我的爱尔兰遗产之旅”(My Ireland Heritage Tours),并期待着再次与伊恩一起游览翡翠岛(爱尔兰)的其他地区。
特里西娅和鲍勃·绍尔