The Scots warm things up on January 25th by celebrating the birthday of their favorite son, poet Robert Burns.

Folk singer Jim Malcolm recommends going to a Burns Night Supper if you're invited.

It's just all the good stuff. People wear the kilt, play bagpipes, people drink

lots of whiskey, they eat haggis, the dance, they sing, they tell jokes. For the Irish, this June's a big anniversary of one of their literary great, W. B. Yates.

He kind of reinvented Ireland almost at a time when we were in a very down time, like just after the famine,

William Butler Yates gave us a pride back.

And explored the places that inspired Mystery writer Agathichristian southern England,

in time for her 125th birthday anniversary at Torqui.

Not only being a best-selling author, but having so many accomplishments as well,

one of which incidentally was being a very charming, accommodating and loving grandmother. Meet Agatha Christie's grandson and celebrate the Bard's of Ireland and Scotland.

It's coming right up on Travel with Rick Steves.

The people of Ireland and Great Britain hold a special place in their hearts for the great poets and authors who tell their stories.

Today on Travel with Rick Steeves, we'll get in the spirit of Robert Burns Day, like they do in Scotland.

And the grandson of Mystery Writer Agatha Christie

takes us into her world in the south of England

and takes your calls at 877333 Rick.

For such a small country, the literary impact of Ireland has been profound,

and 150 years ago the poet W. B. Yates was born.

He was the first Irishman to win the Nobel Prize in literature, that was in

1923, and he helped set the stage for poetry to help to find the Irish nation.

The only place I've ever seen a poet working as a street busker was in Dublin.

I'll never forget this guy.

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