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AFTER 18 MONTHS grounded, Ireland’s beloved adventurer Hector Ó hEochagáin is returning to his travels — and to the small screen. Hector: Balkans go Baltics, Hector’s latest season, airs on Thursday, October 27, at 9.30pm on TG4 or you can catch up on the player if you miss the main event.
Mark your calendars and make sure you’ve got the telly tuned and snacks at the ready as Hector sets off on a 3000km journey east from the Baltics of Eastern Europe to the Baltics of the north. The series kicks off in Istanbul, Turkey, and continues on through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Poland and Lithuania. The series finishes up in Riga, Latvia, after 3,000km of travel.
Whether you’re a fan of Hector’s previous travel programmes, or an avid fan of the Tommy, Hector & Laurita podcast, or even just love watching travel shows, Hector Balkans go Baltics will be must-watch TV.
As an experienced traveler and mischief-maker, Hector always manages to achieve peak banter with the people he meets along the way. He kicks off the series in Istanbul, where he immerses himself in the locals’ love for soccer, investigates the phenomenon of hair transplants in the city and wakes up at 4am to enjoy an unforgettable Turkish bath experience. He heads out on a boat trip along Bosphorus before heading to Gallipoli to reflect on the Irish lives lost during the Battle of Gallipoli.
In the second episode, Hector makes his way to the oldest country in Europe: Bulgaria. Hector visits one of the world’s best preserved ancient Roman theatres, witnesses Nestinari dancing, fire jugglers, bagpipe music and a performance by local band The Cosmonauts. Hector reflects on Bulgaria’s communist history at Buzludja Monument and explores the natural treasure that is the Seven Rila Lakes.
In episode three, Hector visits Serbia, starting with a stop in Belgrade at a local sheep farm. He meets comic writer Marko and tastes Rosti meat in a traditional Serbian restaurant. He also reflects on the effect Covid-19 has had on Serbia, tastes some famous Donkey cheese and joins in on a clean-up of the Danube River, the most contaminated river in Europe.
Episode four sees Hector visiting Bucharest, Romania, where he meets modern witches, stops by the Palace of Parliament, and learns more about the country’s Eastern Orthodox religion. He also visits a Roma community, witnesses the life and work of one of Romania’s largest minorities and even gets a chance to speak to the King of the Romas along the way.
Through the rest of series, Hector attends an ice hockey match in Krakow, experiences Poland’s crisp, white winter, through skiing and ski jumping, and visits the hometown of Pope John Paul. In Lithuania, he learns about laser technology, takes a walking tour in total darkness, and tries his hand at ice fishing.
And finally, Hector’s travels finish in Latvia, where he experiences a one-of-a-kind sauna and fire ritual, and takes a survivalist crash course.
If you haven’t been able to hop on a plane, or if you simply enjoy seeing wild and wonderful adventures in new places, make sure you tune into Hector: Balkans go Baltics with Hector Ó hEochagáin Thursday evenings starting October 27th at 9.30pm on TG4 or catch up on the player.
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Is this the same Flanagan who’s lobbying the Egyptian authorities on behalf of Muslim Brotherhood extremists?
That would be the same guy alright! Pandering to extremists! The very people who want to change our laws to Sharia use them against us. Don’t get so tolerant that you tolerate intolerance.
The Irish citizen indefinitely interned without due process by a military dictatorship?
No it’s the same Charlie Flanagan who refused to expel the Israeli ambassador for murdering hundreds of children recently.
Do you mean the person who entered Egypt on an Egyptian passport ?
Still an Irish citizen, whether you believe with his opinions or not.
if we didn’t allow terrorists to refuel in shannon the threat would be nil
They weren’t terrorists, they were the Americans. Letting the Americans refuel there is why we might be a target. Try and keep up.
I should keep up? ))) keep reading it, the penny has to drop eventually )))))) Numpty
Now, now my child. Just because I corrected you, there is no need to resort to name calling. I was only doing it to clear up your confusion.
Terror threat to Ireland is low ! , well if the number of Muslims continue to grow that “low ” might change
Only 2% of EU terror attacks since 2010 were Islamic, ther dont report lone wolfs, seperatisis and nationalist attacks cos theyre not as sexy.
Same in the US their biggest threat remains right wing extremists
That statistic is completely misleading
140, 000 murders in the USA since 9/11 fewer than 100 with any fundamentalist connection. Sharia law? The mind boggles. Who/what system benefits from keeping people churned up about this while they steal kids’ patrimonies?
There is a cowardice that responds to this in the West.
It might be an idea to look around the Parnell Square area.
Or Dame Street, Solny?
Tap, that’s where I live.
Thanks for the heads up Comrade Shinnerbot.
Keep your eyes peeled Prov, rumour has it that there are some suspicious characters hanging around that area.
All I see are freedom fighting patriots, but don’t worry, if I see any terrorists I’ll be quick to deflect.
the south circular road, post office on leopards corner on dole day etc etc, w.union shoo hooo.
“policy of integration” haven’t ye tried that already? best of luck with trying what’s not possible. Don’t let them return here, home? this is not their home.
Meanwhile in Australia… https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/26035713/call-for-muslim-army-in-australia/
It’s well known by the man on the street that jihadists are hiding out in Ireland. What’s not well known is the Americans and Britain is watching very carefully and they will take action if necessary.
Not to mention G2 and Garda Special Branch who have a long track record of nearly unbroken success w terrorism si
The article mentions integration, something that will never ever happen. Multiculturism does not work and there is zero evidence that it does. On a side note has any other Irish person given any type of vote on mass immigration or integration or is this forced integration? by the way the U.N convention on human rights states that forced integration is genocide, under article 2 i think.
no we were not given vote cos they’d know the outcome, so forced it, and the UK now says they should have put it to the people.
the cartoons should be published here in solidarity with freedom of speech. if they think theres no threat here, then theres one way to find out, or would they be not so sure? they’re not sure, they’re here too and lots and lots of sympathisers hiding behind face.
Be alert, your country needs lerts
I can’t believe the comments painting all Muslims with the same brush. Just as the KKK does not represent all Christians, fundamental terrorists such as those in France do no represent all Muslims.
Why is it low???
Because we have such a small Muslim population.
Ireland on high alert. Keep that one eye open paudge
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