Program 651: Inner Hebrides; Soul of the Family Tree; Ancient Ireland

What have you learned about your family history?  On the next Travel with Rick Steves, author Lori Erickson tells us what she discovered about her Norwegian ancestors, and how the spirit of the Vikings influences her own life today. 

Plus, guides from Scotland and Ireland recommend islands in the Inner Hebrides that promise to boost your spirit, and places where you can connect with ancient Celts of Ireland. 

• Elizabeth Lister, tour guide based in Fife, Scotland
• Colin Mairs, Scottish tour guide, based in Auckland, New Zealand
• Lori Erickson, author of "The Soul of the Family Tree" (Westminster John Knox Press)
• Joe Darcy, tour guide based in Dublin
• Stephen McPhilemy, tour guide based in Dingle, Ireland
• Ireland feature narrated by Sarah McCormic

• Liz Lister provides custom walking tours and transportation transfers in Edinburgh. Liz also co-hosts the Scottish Blethers podcast, with conversations about Scotland.
• Colin Mairs offers a seasonal ten-day whisky-themed tour of Scotland. He also guides tours in New Zealand and Australia.
• Lori Erickson writes about her travels to Norway to experience the world of her Viking ancestors, and what her genealogical research has taught her, in her latest book, "The Soul of the Family Tree." Lori also offers travel suggestions about travel to spiritually-important places around the world on her Spiritual Travels website. 
• Joe Darcy offers custom walking tours of Dublin.
• Stephen McPhilemy's tour guiding contact information is at Essential Ireland Tours.

• "We visited the Isle of Skye by renting a car from Inverness and driving there. The driving was quite an experience with not only driving on the left but also single-track roads and livestock encounters. It is a place that is really difficult to be on a time schedule — you have to allow a lot of time for getting around, even if the distances don't look very far on a map." (e-mail from Cindy in Cary, North Carolina)
• "I'm planning to visit Ireland and I'm interested in learning more about the beliefs in ancient fairies. I've heard many can be superstitious and may feel uncomfortable talking about it. How do you bring it up in a respectful way?" (Brent in Columbus, Ohio)

• St. Germain, "Pont des Arts," Tourist / Blue Note
• Capercaillie, "Keppelhall," Beautiful Wasteland / Ryko - Survival Records
• Bob Culbertson, "Skye Boat Song," Celtic Waters / (self-released: www.stickmusic.com)
• Cabar Feidh Pipe Band (Steve Stewart, Skyler Blakeslee), "Hector the Hero," Out of the Glen / (self-released)
• Catherine Ann MacPhee, "Canan Nan Gaidheal," Celtic Women from Scotland:  Songs of Love and Reflection (collection) / Greentrax
• * Keltik Elektrik, "Amazing Grace," Edinburgh Hogmanay Party Mix / Greentrax Records
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, cond., "Rustle of Spring (Christian Sinding, arr. Hans Sitt)," The Nordic Experience, CD1 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, cond., Harald Aadland, violin, Jon Sønsebø, viola, "Vision (from Suite No. 3, op. 19) (Kurt Atterberg)," The Nordic Experience, CD1 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Hege Rimestad, "Krishna's Kusine (Krishna's Cousin)," Wizard Women of the North (sampler) / Northside
• Richard Souther, "Awaken the Dawn, arr. for keyboards etc, (Hildegaard von Bingen)," Illumination / Sony Masterworks
• Oystein Sevag, "Reflection," In Search of Angels (collection) / Windham Hill
• Asne Sunni and Soreide, "Huldrelokk (Wood Nymph Call)," Wizard Women of the North (collection) / NorthSide
• Open the Door for Three, "Carrig River," The Joyful Hour / (self-released: www.openthedoorforthree.com ) 
• * The Chieftains, "Love Theme from 'Barry Lyndon'," Film Cuts / RCA Victor
• Cathie Ryan, "Óró, 'Sheanduine Dóite," Through Wind and Rain / Mo Leanbh
• Jordi Savall, Andrew Lawrence-King, "The Musical Priest," The Celtic Viol / Alia Vox
• John Doan, "Resting Upon Jacob's Pillow," Eire-Isle of the Saints (A Celtic Odyssey) / Hearts of Space
• Aine Minogue, "The Dove's Return," Celtic Dreamland (collection) / Putumayo
• Michael Grogan, "The Scholar," From Galway to Dublin: Early Recordings of Irish Traditional Music (collection) / Rounder
• Hen's Tooth Discs, "Cockles and Mussels (Molly Malone)," Authentic Music Box Arrangements, disc 2 / Hens Tooth Discs 

• In a reset at 26:43, Rick notes that we will re-air Lori Erickson's previous interview about "Near the Exit" in late October.
• At 28:03, Rick refers to how we will travel "post-Covid." Lori replies that she expects a boom in family research travel as people begin to travel again.
• At 31:39, Rick calls "The Soul of the Family Tree" Lori's "latest book."
• Joe Darcy describes the Winter Solstice function of Newgrange, starting at 52:30.