Tell everyone it’s your birthday

~ MaryG

What’s the best way to meet new people while traveling?

I wrote many posts about my trip to Ireland in 2025. I turned 60 on that trip and it was my first ever extended group tour. I think we had 28 people in all, including me and my husband. We were together for about a week.

I was nervous about how I’d like traveling with strangers, but wanted the ease of not driving or needing to book every attraction and meal myself. I researched a lot of tours and chose Rick Steves, largely for the price and the fact that Steves is a well known Trump-hating liberal. I figured the chances of me getting stuck making small talk with some Texan in a red hat were minimal.

It was great. I decided on Day One to be open and friendly and our group had great rapport. Our Irish guide Joe was a deeply intellectual and thoughtful artist type (bit of a tortured soul), but honestly, what better type of person to show you Ireland? When it rained, he played us haunting songs like Fairytale of New York by the Pogues and Grace by Rod Stewart on the bus’ sound system.

That’s Joe on the right paying our tab in a pub in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. The other man is the pub owner and son of the famous Irish playwright John B Keane (author of The Field)

I was not shy about jumping in with my questions (like is “paddy” a slur or not? Short answer: yes, but they can use it). Joe teased me—a lot—but that was OK. He needed someone to play off and help him lighten up at times. Plus, it was MY birthday, which I made clear.

Blowing out my 60th birthday candle in Dingle, Ireland

I’ve kept in touch with a few folks from the group, including two sisters from Minnesota who came to Boston, where I met up with them. They gave me credit for our group getting on so well. They said I just came in and announced “it’s my birthday this week and I want everyone to sing to me” and that broke the ice. It turns out there were two other birthday girls on our trip, so we celebrated them too.

So, I’d say go ahead and try a group tour on your next foreign excursion, but do your research about the company you choose. Make sure it matches your personality. And then, don’t be shy. Don’t be obnoxious, but don’t be shy.

Rick Steves Group Tour photo near Gallarus Oratory, Dingle Penninsula, County Kerry 🇮🇪

18 thoughts on “Tell everyone it’s your birthday”

  3. I didn’t realize the Rick Steves from public tv had a tour company, but it makes sense.
    Never done a guided tour as we like to take the road less traveled… but I can see the allure. Good on you for lightening the mood and putting the group at ease.

    Liked by 4 people

  4. Rick Steves is from Edmonds, right down the road, and has recently taken over the hygiene center that was about to close, as well as a small theater. He really loves his town, and the town itself has a great vibe, so I wonder if it’s chicken or egg. 😀 I sometimes think of taking a tour and hadn’t made the link that his was the tour company you chose, though I remembered your meeting people from the Edmonds UU!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. He seems like such a great guy…and I know he loves that town, where he lives now and also grew up. Yes, I remember those retired, swimming UU doctors! I think they live in Seattle itself though. (Your mention of outdoor swimmers made me think of them. They were intrepid. They brought bathing suits to Ireland.)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Made of strong stock, as they say. lol I saw a clip of Sandra Bullock ( I think ) describing looking for Nicole Kidman and she was out in the cold water first thing in the mornings. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.