The Trip to Ireland

Not long ago, I decided to revisit Ireland. There were several places I missed on my last trip that I wanted to see. I also wanted to take a total immersion Gaelic course I’d heard about. Also, last time I decided I wanted to travel alone. I’m not sure I’m a good fit as a traveling companion. However, this decision disappointed a few friends who had wanted to see Ireland. I promised to take them next time.

I pride myself on keeping my word whenever possible. So, when I made my decision to go, I let my friends know to see who was interested. First one, then another and another expressed interest. Before I knew it there were 7 other people besides me going. Or at least, there were 7 people who said they wanted to go. So, I invited my brother and his wife. What’s two more?

I told everyone to get tour books, browse the web, whatever they’re comfortable with, and find out what places they wanted to see in Ireland, and send me a list. I gave what I felt were pretty good instructions: make a list of all of the places you want to see, then cut it in half and send it to me. From everyone’s list, I’ll compile a list of what everyone wants to see, and hopefully, you’ll get to see at least half of what’s on the list you send me. We always think we can do more than we really can.

But a few months went by, and I heard nothing. So, I sent an email outlining some dos and don’ts. For example, each was responsible to get their own tickets to things like planes and rail passes, if that’s what we decided to use. I told people Tuesdays were the best days to get airline deals I also told them if I found something, I’d let them know so that most of us, at least, could be on the same flight. 

I also said that if we, as a group, decided to do something that needed tickets, they were responsible to get their tickets. I would send websites necessary, but they needed to actually make their reservations because sometimes, especially in the summer, if you wait, you lose. Or, if you wait till you get there, the price is higher. Also Eurail passes can only be bought in the US.

From past experience, I’ve had people make decisions without bothering to tell me. “Oh, you know what you’re doing; you’ve been there before. Whatever you decide is fine,” I’m told, but secretly, the other person has decided on something not on the agenda. I can be as spontaneous as anyone, but when someone springs a “surprise” on me, especially when plans for something else have already been arranged, the plans go straight down the tubes. And then they wonder why we didn’t do something we were supposed to do.

I once went to Europe with a friend and had everything turned upside down.  I had wanted to see Ireland. She decided once we got there that she hated the place (because it was raining!  It was spring and Ireland. What did she expect?), so I got all of 2 days in the country I wanted to spend a week in, and we ended up going to another country, which was her unexpressed plan all along. We had planned to go there after Ireland, but her plans apparently didn’t include Ireland. She could’ve told me.

With a large group, there’s not a lot of room for spontaneity. I sent an email outlining what I would be asking people to do as far as letting me know what they wanted to do, and understanding that with such a large group, they might not get all of their wishes. 

I also said that if we have bus tours arranged, they leave when scheduled, so it’s important for everyone to be prompt arriving at a meeting place. If they were late, chances are, they’d be left on their own. I also told them that if part of the group wanted to do one thing and part wanted to do something else, we could split up and pursue separate activities – assuming we were all staying in roughly the same area. But I stressed that, since I’m not a travel agent, I was not responsible for anyone not bothering to get necessary tickets, etc.

One member of the group responded by saying this might not be the trip for her, since she’d never been overseas before. Fair enough. She was going to consider it if I could give her a ballpark idea of costs. I did.

But I heard nothing from anyone else. I had told them, for booking purposes, especially for B&Bs or hotels, which I could book because you pay when you get there, I needed to know by Christmas who was definitely going.

The weeks and months went by and I still had no word from anyone about what cities or towns they were interested in visiting. I collected data on my own and passed it along to help them with their ideas.

I suppose I’m one of the rare creatures in the world that likes to get my plans firmly set early. I absolutely hate waiting till the last minute to set things up because too often, plans are smashed by unavailability. I pack at least a week before I’m going somewhere.

Finally, the day after Cyber Monday, the day they were calling Travel Tuesday, I found some amazingly fantastic flight deals, and booked my flight. Yes, I’m going to Dublin by way of London (nearly as silly as going to Stockholm from New Jersey by way of Chicago), but it was far cheaper than a direct flight. (And that was before I got it free because I applied my miles from my Capital One card) So, I let everyone know that it was a good day to book a bargain.

Then the replies started trickling in. The friend who was on the fence about the trip felt it would be better if I took the trip with my brother and sister-in-law and made some good family memories. 

Another friend said she just didn’t think it was in her budget this year. One of my nieces said she couldn’t really afford it, since she’s in graduate school. 

But that’s where the responses ended.  There were still others who might potentially be going who had said not one word. There were a couple I assumed weren’t going due to university obligations. I emailed another to find out whether or not she was going, and she had decided not to go this time.

So, it was down to my brother, sister-in-law and me. I was going, even if I was the only one.

Blue Scream of Jeff, my other half, told me not to leave the trip open ended, asking people where they wanted to go. He suggested I pick what we were doing, and present it, then find out what they did and didn’t want to do based on that.

So, I put together two possible agendas, one going north, mainly Dublin, Belfast, Derry and Galway, with trips in and around each area, and one going south, Dublin to Cork to Galway, with trips in and around each area. Whatever they picked, if I wanted to see something they didn’t choose, I had 4 days between when they left and when I was due to take my Gaelic course when I could scurry off to seek out new life, new civilizations…. To boldly go where no one had gone before… Oh no, that was Star Trek. Anyway, I had 4 days of alone time for my own pursuits.

So, now all I need to do is wait for July, and find out where there are laundromats in Ireland so I don’t have to pack a month’s worth of clothes.