Couples are entitled to have different interests.....

Back in the early years we did everything together.  But now, joined at the hip for upwards of forty-five years, I no longer feign interest in the tank museum of Munster, Germany and he is no longer dragged to the opera.  The only positive thing my husband ever said about opera is that he recognized the overture from a Bugs Bunny cartoon.  I sensed a wasted cultural experience.

So a planetarium will always be sleep inducing for me, and an art museum visit, whether the Prado or Uffizi, will have a guide instructed to show us the highlights in less than two hours.  I can usually have my own individual visit later for more detail.

It came as no surprise that my idea of a St. Patrick’s Day trip to Ireland met with reduced enthusiasm.  The trifecta of early morning rushing, hopping on and off a bus onto cobblestones and high temperatures from 45 to 55 degrees would hardly appeal to my sweetheart.  He’s the one bundled up to the hilt when temperatures drop to 62 in sunny SoCal. But he’s a nice guy who honors my continued zest for travel.

So I’m going to Ireland solo.

Our retirement community in Georgetown, TX, my home for six months of the year, has a dedicated travel department offering a variety of options from trekking to cruising to land tours.  They always include airfare, transportation to Austin’s airport and the services of a community guide for the group.  This shepherd is meant to keep us out of scrapes with foreign governments and insure that there are no lost sheep.

I’m off with them to ring my way around the Emerald Isle for eleven days. I’ll be a single traveler and traveling light.  As an avid reader of the lifestyle and travel blog Une Femme d’un Certain Âge, my travel capsule wardrobe is organized, my Global Entry is renewed and tiny toiletries and makeup are already stowed in their pared down case.

 

Currently I am finishing my required reading on Ireland’s history, customs and lore.  I’ve never been on a Roads Scholar trip but their recommended readings are always my excellent go to lists.  I try not to start this task too early so everything will be in the forefront of my mind at travel time.  Alas, sometimes this is a very small space.

The itinerary is sufficiently packed that my goal is to post daily, WiFi permitting.  We are always grateful to have this record. Later, when I am back in Texas, we’ll relive the journey like an old Irish couple, over mugs of steaming tea.