The Beckoning Road

Call it my winter vacation or an anxiety-ridden exile, it all begins Sunday, 15 Jan. Over the course of the next five weeks, I will be posting regularly from the tip of Ireland's Beara peninsula in the southwest to the troubled streets of Belfast, where my itinerary includes a stay at the Europa Hotel, which has the distinction of being the most bombed hotel outside of the Mideast. During my travels, I'll also chronicle the gonzo exploits of my host and tour guide, Irish journalist and author Robert Allen.

Above is the starting point, my flat in the Irish-American neighborhood of Dogtown in St. Louis, Missouri.