Embracing the Joy of Touristy Things
Kissing the Blarney Stone, Drinking Guinness, Snapping Selfies on the Cliffs of Moher, and Adding Puffin to My Life List
To Travel or To Vacation? That Is the Question
Tourist traps, gift shops, and selfies—oh my. Somewhere between kissing the Blarney Stone and waiting for cows to cross the road, I started wondering: Are we actually traveling… or just on vacation?
A vacation, I’ve decided, is a break from the daily grind. Think tourist maps, Haribo gummies, and maybe a souvenir or two. But traveling? That’s about leaning in—stepping into a new place with curiosity and maybe a little humility. And here we are, halfway through our grand tour of Ireland, wobbling somewhere in between the two.
Take Dingle or Kinsale, those sleepy little fishing villages hugging Ireland’s rugged west coast. They’re adorable, quaint, and absolutely bursting at the seams with tourists even during shoulder season. More than once, I thought, Did we just fly 3,500 miles to drink Guinness with other Americans? Not that that’s a bad thing. We’ve met some truly lovely people along the way. But the irony isn’t lost on me.
I keep thinking about
’s advice in her Substack newsletter, “Suck it up, you’re a tourist.” commented on Ange’s article, “As an avid traveler, I’ve often felt shame or even embarrassment when I’ve wanted to do touristy activities. I love this reminder that when you travel somewhere new, you’re not ever going to be a local — and that’s the entire point!”So with that in mind, I sucked it up, and have been enjoying the touristy things like kissing the Blarney Stone, Guinness Storehouse and Waterford tours, and snapping selfies on the Cliffs of Moher.
And then there was the cow crossing, a moment of pure Irish chaos and charm, like a rite of passage for tourists.
Chuck took leaning into traveling to a whole new level. The moment the ticket taker at the Prehistoric Beehive Huts said, “You can climb into the tunnel where they’d store their food,” I knew he’d make a beeline for it. Of course, he shimmied into the dark hole like Indiana Jones with a GoPro.
But it was the Cork Racecourse in Mallow where the trip took a delightful turn into the unexpected. Chuck, our trusty travel planner, suggested the races, and I was all in. “Sign me up,” I said, never one to turn down healthy gambling. We splurged for the premium tickets with a three-course meal and dress code (no T-shirts allowed). People were dressed to the nines.
We didn’t win big, but it felt like a jackpot anyway. While I’m sure a few Americans were tucked into corners, we weren’t rubbing shoulders with them. We chatted with Irish families who welcomed us like neighbors. It was real, warm, and wonderfully tourist free. Exactly what I had been hoping for.
Another surprise? My travel companions’ reactions when I broke out my scrapbooking supplies, just a few days in.
The double-sided tape took up barely any space in my overstuffed bag, unlike the extra pair of shoes, heavy t-shirt, and stretchy pants I brought. None of which I actually needed (but all of which I justified at the time). Packing light remains a goal.
Amidst all the selfies and race day excitement, I found something else.
I’m not a practicing Catholic, but every now and then I’ll skim Vatican headlines like a curious bystander at a parade. One clickbait article led me to a quote by Pope Leo that was like an earworm I couldn’t shake:
“But then I discovered something: God doesn’t shout. God whispers.”
Like a catchy tune stuck playing on repeat in my head, I thought about Pope Leo’s quote during our visit to the Great Blasket Island. No pints, no bets, no tour buses, just sheep, birds, seals, and a lovely tour guide. He was a serious chap, extremely soft spoken, with a gentle disposition. His delivery reminded me of a priest. Maybe that’s why Pope Leo’s quote kept looping in my head.
That experience? Definitely a “traveling” moment.
But the Blasket Island tour wasn’t over.
I found myself shouting, “There’s one!” Then, I added Puffin to my life list, which I wasn’t aware I had. Hundreds were nesting on the outer Blasket Islands. Did you know Puffins live in colonies called puffinaries?
So maybe the question isn’t whether this trip is a vacation or a journey. Maybe it’s both. Because sometimes the joy is in raising a pint with fellow Americans in a cozy Irish pub. And sometimes it’s in the whisper of the wind while hiking on the shore, dodging sheep, or shouting when you’ve spied a Puffin for the first time.
Life In Michigan Updates
The latest Life Michigan Podcast episode is out!
Uncovering Kalamazoo’s Colorful Past with Dianna Higgs Stampfler
In this episode of Life In Michigan, we sit down with Dianna Higgs Stampfler, author of Kalamazoo County Characters, to explore the curious and sometimes downright bizarre history of Kalamazoo County.
If you have an idea for a guest, email me (info@lifeinmichigan.com). We are looking for anyone who is creative, passionate, and has a story to share about their Life In Michigan. Don’t be shy.
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Chuck squeaked out an article just before leaving for Ireland. Click on the picture to read the article.
If you are a Sunday Sip regular, you know Chuck loves curating an events listing. Our new events listing is finding its legs.
So we created a public Google Events calendar you can subscribe to and have the coolest events in Michigan land right in the palm of your hand. Too high-tech? No worries—you can scroll through the full list of events Chuck has curated on our website, old-school style.
https://lifeinmichigan.com/events/
After you click “Click here,” the Google Calendar will open. Just hit “Add to Google Calendar” and voilà!—the Life In Michigan Events calendar is synced up and ready to roll right alongside yours.
We are still working out the kinks, but please poke around and let us know what you think.
Be safe, my friends!
Love this! There truly is nothing, at all, ever, like a Guinness poured for you in Ireland! (and yes, I too kissed that rock and am not ashamed to say so!) As an Ex-pat in 3 different countries, we'd still put on our tourist hats on the regular to try and soak up as much as possible while we were there!
Puffins! So awesome.