Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
Mrs. Mark and I are visiting the USA for a week, very soon. We are going to Boston, then New York. One of our daughters is in the former for a while, so we look forward to meeting her.
As Irish citizens, we can avail of the ESTA Visa Waiver Programme. With all the controversy around people’s rights to enter and to remain in the States, I can say that there is a huge amount of form-filling and disclosure of personal information, as well as assurances that one won’t engage in nefarious activities. Being admitted to the programme is no guarantee of entry, and one must still be subject to scrutiny by INS officials at the airport. At least we have pre-clearance facilities in the two airports with flights to America.
With TDS spinning out of control here, I have had strange reactions when I have told people about my plans. Some think I shouldn’t be “giving money to Trump”. Others warn me that my phone might be searched for anti-Trump or anti-semitic material - no fear on either count. Some ask if I am not afraid of being detained. All among the crazy conspiracy theories that are circulating here in Ireland and elsewhere. I remember total hysteria at the beginning of President Trump’s first term, when some Irish guy living in the USA was being deported, until it turned out that he had been convicted of a serious crime.
We will, of course, take the opportunity to visit Harvard. I might do a tour - I hear they could do with the money.
The centre-piece of our trip to the Big Apple was to be a Mets game, but it turns out that my beloved team is playing away while we are there. So I will have to settle for the Yankees. God help me!
Anyway, it’s our first visit in over 15 years, and my first time in Boston. Looking forward to it!
Discussion (18)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Yankees!!? Two words: Fenway Park.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Welcome back.
It is interesting to hear how the rest of the world views us. I imagine that the press in Europe is equally as anti-Trump biased as our own, with less center and alternate right leaning sites than we have.
On the flip side, based on what have heard about the Muslim takeover of Ireland, you may want to consider staying here !
I don't attend many sporting or arts events. They are great, but have become so expensive that I can no longer justify the entertainment vs value evaluation. That said, one of the most memorable events ever attended was a Yankees / Red Sox game at Fenway, many years ago. Not a Yankees batter was spared continuous and raucous "BOOOS" every time they were introduced for the batter's box. Awesome.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
You'll have a great time! Too bad you won't be in Florida.
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
We’re doing a tour of Fenway. I couldn’t inflict two baseball games on Mrs M, and we have more time in NY.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Why Florida? When you could be in (...wait for it...) Tennessee!
You're seeing five of 18 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.