Of Traveling, Driving and Drinking

Finding compatible traveling companions is a roll of the dice. The so-called luck of the Irish was with me when I traveled to the Emerald Isle recently. Before I give examples of that, here's the type of traveler I would definitely NOT like to spend a week with:

The Non-Stop Chatterbox. This person starts talking upon arrival at airport security, keeps at it during the six-hour flight, and greets each new day with incessant and unending chatter. I don’t know about you, but I need downtime – during the flight I like to listen to music or watch the movie, or simply sit with my eyes closed. Don’t get me started about the overheard conversations among fellow passengers…or the screaming children.

The Complainer. This type is easy to recognize: they complain about everything. The security line isn’t moving fast enough at the airport. The food isn’t hot enough. The bed is lumpy. The rental car is too small. The weather sucks. This person is begging to be dropped off at the nearest bus terminal to find his own way home.

The Critic. To this person, everything’s always better somewhere else. “The souveniers here cost too much.” “Why don’t these people drive on the ‘right’ side of the road?” “I could make better scones than this.” “Customs moves faster in Italy.” “Why did you pick this hotel?” This is far worse than the complainer, because they’re a know-it-all, too.

The Clinger. I love a traveling companion that can entertain herself. The Clinger is the opposite of that. She’s the type who follows so closely behind that if you stop she’ll smack right into you. She depends on you for everything, and hasn’t had an original thought since 1981.

Lucky for me, my traveling pals on the Ireland trip were the antithesis of these stereotypes. In fact, the entire trip with Nancy and Rita was a joy from start to finish.

There were two examples of our striking compatibility - the driving and the drinking. Fairly soon after picking up the rental car, I inherited the role of designated driver. This had less to do with drinking that you might think. It had more to do with one of us, who shall remain nameless, cracking mirrors with a parked car as we wiggled our way down a narrow Irish street.

We were also quite compatible when it came to Guinness. And the pubs. And the drinking of Guinness every day in the pubs. Luckily, we three always agreed on just when and where to stop for the next pint. For instance, if we were caught in a downpour, we stopped for a Guinni. If our feet were tired from an afternoon of shopping, we made it Pint Time. From the first night when we stopped at the “Poet’s Corner” pub for dinner and ordered up half-pints, we were hooked on Ireland’s finest beer, as well as the easy sociability of the local pubs.

So, next time you’re traveling and you need a good Driver or a good Drinker, give one of us a yell. We promise not to complain or whine or cling - give us a Guinness and we're good to go.