MARIA: THE COUNTDOWN IS ON TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
AND THIS YEAR, THERE’S A CHANGE TO THE ROUTE AGAIN FOR SOUTH BOSTON’S BIG PARADE WE HAVE A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT HERE ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND.
HE’S LIVE IN SOUTH BOSTON READY TO CELEBRATE.
WELCOME TO SOUTH BOSTON.
>> IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE.
WHAT AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN BOSTON.
IN YEARS GONE BY, UP TO ONE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE TURNED UP TO SEE THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE.
THEY HAVE HAD TO SHORTEN THE ROUTE, BUT THIS YEAR, SUNSHINE AND BACK TO THE FULL ROUTE.
ALREADY PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PREPARE.
>> WE HAVE THE CORNED BEEF, SMOKE SHOULDER, THE GRAY AND THE RED, FULL BREAKFAST.
>> EVERY ST. PATRICK’S DAY, THEY FEED THE CROWDS.
>> WE FILL UP THEIR BELLIES AND THEN WE FILL THEM UP AGAIN.
>> ON THE OFF CHANCE YOU MIGHT BE THURSDAY, BARS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE BEEN STOCKING UP.
HOW MUCH EXTRA BOOZE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN?
>> DOUBLE OR TRIPLE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE EMERALD ISLE IS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OVER WITH GREEN APPEARING EVERYWHERE.
>> THAT IS A SCARF MY DOCTOR GETS EVERY YEAR FOR THE ST.
PATRICK’S DAY.
WE ARE FROM SOUTH BOSTON.
WE ARE IRISH.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOREVER.
>> SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK THOUGH.
BARISTA NATALIE IS EXPECTING IT TO BE BUSY.
>> IT REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING.
I GET EXCITED.
>> FOR NATALIE, SUNDAY IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL FOR HER, AS HER FATHER WILL BE MARCHING RIGHT PAST AS PART OF THE POLICE BAND.
>> I AM PROUD OF HIM.
I’M EXCITED.
I WILL GET TO SEE HIM MARCHING ON.
>> WITH THE HUGE CROWDS, COME A LITTLE BIT OF ROWDINESS, AND SO, IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE.
YOU ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SHAMROCKS.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TO ST.
PATRICK’S DAY?
>> NO.
>> BUT EVEN THOSE FEW WHO SAY THEY DON’T LIKE ST. PATRICK’S DAY DEEP DOWN PROBABLY REALLY DO.
>> YOU ARE LIKE A GRANDSON.
>> A BIG KISS FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT.
MY NEW FRIEND WAS NOT SURE ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
I TALKED HER AROUND AND SHE WILL BE THERE SUNDAY.
IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE PARADE, THERE WILL BE ROAD CLOSURES AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SO THE ADVICE FROM THE CITY IS GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME.
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND, WHERE PLENTY OF GREEN.
MARIA: LET ME JUST SAY, WE LOVE YOUR NEW FRIEND.
YOU WILL HAVE TO VISIT HER BECAUSE SHE WILL BE OUT THERE ON SUNDAY, RIGHT?
>> SHE IS MY NEW BFF AND I WANT TO INTERVIEW HER LIVE ON AIR.
WE WILL BE BROADCASTING LIVE SUNDAY AND ON FACEBOOK.
SO I WANT TO PRESENT WITH HER.
MARIA: YOU WILL DO THAT RIGHT HERE.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
DID YOU HAVE ANY FOOD?
IT LOOKED AMAZING.
>> IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING READY.
THEY WILL HAVE BACON AND CABBAGE HERE.
WE HAD LOTS OF SHOTS OF THEM ROLLING KEGS OF BEER INTO THE BARS.
I KNOW ST. PATRICK’S DAY IS BIG ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT I DON’T THINK ANYWHERE DOESN’T LIKE YOU DO IT HERE IN BOSTON, SO I AM THRILLED.
THIS WILL BE AN EXCITING DAY.