Avoiding the PITS* – A Handy Guide to Avoiding the Blues after the Green
Okay, so you’ve just returned from your dream holiday in Ireland. The flight was long, you’ve wrestled the luggage in (including the bag purchased on the last day to hold all the sweaters), tossed your carry-on on the kitchen chair, and flopped down in the living room, contemplating unpacking. “What a trip!” you think, followed closely by “Man, that’s a lot of luggage,” and ending with “I need a [insert favorite beverage].”
Gerry on his latest trip to Ireland in August
This is the crucial moment of your trip. And it is definitely part of your trip. For here is where you may succumb to a common holiday pitfall; the post-vacation blues. It’s a rotten feeling after any vacation. But it’s especially sharp when the blues come after all the greens of Ireland. Not to mention the whites of the smiles, the reds of the trim on the pub windows, and the yellow of the County Clare hurlers’ jerseys.
Which is why I’ve put together, after many years of experience, a handy Guide to Avoiding the PITS*:
*Post-Ireland Travel Syndrome
Tip #1
'they have the best bags' Shopping in Avoca
Just the name “Tip #1” is enough to make any one smile, because it’s so true. But here it is: unpack slowly. It’s a practical instruction, to keep from breaking the turf Christmas ornament, , , 4-pack of Guinness pint glasses, seashells, and snow globe.
It’s also a nice recap of your journey. Unfold all the new t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, caps, scarves, and jackets. That little shop in comes to mind, the one with the old gent who told you where to find the best trad session that night, where you learned the bodhran without embarrassment and drank in the craic along with the dark foamy stuff. Look at the postcards in the bag (Irish shops have great bags, don’t they?) that you forgot to send, including (breathtaking!), Slea Head (and you thought nothing could top Killarney)… (Maybe you’ll win the solstice draw)…Grafton Street (Ah, that Dublin humor)!
Tip #2
Gather all the paper. Nothing works better as a travelogue. Look at your passport stamp and remember the feeling when you first landed. I’m here. I’m finally here. Gaze at the car rental receipt: your first real encounter with a real, live Irish person…and a real, live Irish accent, when your first words were “Good morning, I have a reservation” and your next were “I’m sorry, what?” Or possibly your first real encounter with an Eastern European-Dublin accent, in which case you just nodded politely, signed where you were told, and read all the papers in the shuttle van. In either case it will bring a smile.
Unfold the map and pat yourself on the back. You really did okay with the whole sit-on-the-right, drive-on-the-left thing after all. Sure, the first few roundabouts were an adventure—especially taking the third exit (what do the parentheses mean, again? Is this the N21? Wait…)—and you forgot to pay the M50 toll for two days, costing you an extra few Euro, but you remembered to move over for the natives and keep to the left on the highway—er, motorway (let’s see…sixth-tenths of a mile per kilometer, carry the decimal…). And the parking discs were fascinating, we should have those here!
The English Market, Cork: For all things tasty!
Here’s the business card from the B&B, where the phrase “You can settle up in the morning” introduced you to Irish ways, you enjoyed figuring out how to work the shower, and the conversation with the German couple at breakfast was fascinating. Receipts from (was that really Strongbow?) and the Viking bus (I can’t believe I wore that helmet), the tour and the cheese from the artisan market in Cork, and the and Belfast buses. Hey, here’s a bookmark from that place in , now where’s the book…here it is! Some Yeats before bed is perfect.
Tip #3
Upload the photos from the camera on to the laptop. No, do it now. Pile all the laundry while they load. Then click away while enjoying another glass of [insert favorite beverage here]. Doing this helps imprint the little things that happened in the midst of the big things. The pub after and the wits in the smoking area. Hey, here’s those crazy kids jumping into the Liffey. Oh my God, look at Inishmore, where you got that green sweater while your wife wasn’t looking. Notice the difference in your posture and smile as you fell into the Irish rhythm.
The Cliffs of Moher
By day two you understood that Irish friendliness and was not a Tourism Ireland promotion, it was a reality. By day three you knew that “the tour starts promptly at 4 o’clock” really meant “the tour will start when the guide gets back, he’ll be just a moment” and you just smiled and chatted with the family from Oregon in a voice that had lost its American volume and urgency.
Look at all the pictures with your entire party in them, captured by trading out cameras with travelers from all over the globe. Sometimes it was done by pantomime, offering your camera and gesturing to theirs. But the smiles of understanding and happy agreement made it easy. They’re not any different after all. The vistas of Ireland are stunning in any language. Thank you! Danke! Oh, Stockholm, I’d love to go there! Cheers! Yes, first time here, isn’t it beautiful? Where are you headed next? Doolin? It’s famous for the music, stop at .
Tip #4
Page through the travel book. Unless you booked a coach tour you’ll have a good laugh looking at your planned itinerary, especially your travel time. Smile, and remember next time to include the following in your driving calculations:
- Sheep that stop in the middle of the road and just… look at you
- Stopping at every picturesque little town and hamlet you drive into
- 20 minute roadside conversations with locals about directions (and the weather, hydrangeas, the state of the country, where you’re headed and why, where you’re coming from and why, how you’re enjoying your holiday, and their sister who’s been to Illinois) while they remain blithely unconcerned about the tractors hurtling by with swaying loads of hay piled impossibly high.
Sure, it was shame you couldn’t get to the but it couldn’t have topped watching the argument at the pub about the comparative merits of horse breeding in Kildare versus Tipperary. And you got your taste of Jameson anyway, when you got drawn into the talk and came in on the Kildare side: “Aha! Y’see, Declan! Even the Americans agree with me! Give the Yank here a drink; he’s obviously a man of great taste and refinement! Sláinte!” Besides, after you realize what you just couldn’t get to you have the greatest realization of all:
Tip #5:
You have to go back!
Take Gerry’s advice and start planning your trip to Ireland.
Read about Gerry’s own adventures in Ireland.
I’m here in Northern Ireland almost to the halfway point of my ten week sojourn. I’m doing volunteer work but also get out a bit for the drives and some sightseeing. Lovely country. Love your tips. Will need them in December!!
Thanks for these tips’ Gerry – which I would deem as “pretty invaluable”
Myself and my children have indeed just returned from a completely enjoyable trip to the home of my ancestors… luckily for us, we plan to ” go back ” for Christmas , something I am undoubtedly looking forward to, that said , I appreciate it being more difficult for you in ” the states ” to come back and forth on a regular basis.
I have submitted an article on Irish Fireside’s blog entitled
” Returning to Ireland “which may interest you – meantime I have added your post to my favourites so that I am at liberty to access it as and when I choose….
Thank you again,
Deirdre.
Slan
Ummmm…all good advice but what do you do when the post-travel blues last for 10 years? Cant wait to go back someday
We were in Ireland in June of 2007 and June 2011 !! Wonderful country, Still having “post trip ” feelings! English Market in Cork, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney Nat. Park !! So many awesome things to do and see!
You’ve made me start my day with a chuckle … so very true. Trips in 2009 with my husband, and a return visit this sumer with my daughter – I know I’ll go back again.
Never a reservation for 3 weeks, just drive and find a B&B when you’re ready to stop. The stories told in pubs, the simple pleasure of breakfast in a warm kitchen at a slow pace, the challenge of realizing you can drive over there without killing someone, the color of Tidy Town villages, the logic of traffic circles, the conversations with locals who make it their passion to include you and make sure you feel a part of what is going on. Ireland is just amazing!
Just got back a month ago. still having post-trip blues. Third time of visiting my pen-pal of 54 yrs. Each time I see more and then come back and say, I should have taken more pictures, have to see more. Hope I get to go back. It’s great to see all the “touristy things” but also great to see what the natives get to see, too. And although I wasn’t able to find where my ancestors came from, she and her family are my family now.
I just enjoyed reading through your blogs so much, thank you! Am in Germany homesick wouldn’t you know, even though am back to the Green next week! Wish I’d known you were coming in August, I manage the Ireland Whiskey Trail, the free self touring guide to Ireland’s distilleries & best whiskey pubs..you wouldn’t have missed the Old Jameson Distillery with me & I’d have sent you to some cracking pubs! So my tip N.6 is do come back & make contact with me first, I’ll make sure your fields of green are tinged with some whiskey gold..!
Would you move to IRELAND???????
Thank you for this lovely guide. It’s been over two years, and I’m still not “over it”–and I hope I never will be! I look at my photos often, and my family and friends who were on the trip and I talk about it a lot. I love Tip #5: I am taking that to heart and researching!
I was in Ireland in May 2009 and June 2011. I still have not had enough of your beautiful country. I have my photos on my screen saver on the computer and I always get a beautiful feeling when ever I see them. I will be back!
Thank you all for the kind comments!
@Deirdre: yours was a touching article. it’s sad to remember how social ideals kept so many from the help they needed. i’m glad things turned ’round.
@Heidi: will do!
@Pat K: i’ve considered it!
We go to Ireland every year and spend 4-5 weeks “living” in one spot and doing day trips all over! We love Ireland and the peoples, not to mention the food, Jameson’s, Murphy’s, Guinness, more and more and more……….!!! Looking forward to our next trip in the spring. Slan!
Absolutely brilliant and very heart-warming.
After the first couple rounds of PITS I made the move from Maryland to Belfast a few years back. Thank you very much for reminding me of the love I have for every inch of this island! I think I’ll go for an explore this weekend
Your experiences, enthusiasm and expertise were a true pleasure to read. You have an absolute talent for writing!
I’m home for about 2 weeks after trip up the West Coast of Ireland. I think I did most of your steps to avoiding the blues after my return from Ireland……but my dreams are now in GREEN!! I have to go back some day. I think I left my heart there.
Great read. Wish we’d had you back in ’07!!!
Our trip was 16 days in length to my parent’s birthplace, NI, where I visited at the age of 10 (I’m 76). My husband fell in love, as I knew he would. We had the best time, visiting with family and touring on our own.
I have always had this connection to NI and can easily have my eyes fill at the sight of some glorious location or the sound of the pipes.
You see, I’m still having the post-trip blues and probably always will. While it could be helped by another visit that probably won’t happen, so we need folks like you to keep us in touch.
I’ve been to Ireland twice and planning a third trip next year with my sister–can’t wait! I’m not sure there is a cure for PITS, really and truly, but it is comforting to know that many of us suffer the same “disease” and will continue to dream of, re-visit, and re-live our memories of the times we did get to visit. Thank you for such an insightful blog. It was very well written.
Oh Gerry, I had a case of PITS when I thought we wouldn’t make it back this year for our 4th trip to Ireland. We’re going back this summer… Had to take a cat to the Vet today, and she made the mistake of asking what we liked most about Ireland. LOL Yes, very very slow un-packing and a journal helps for a while. I know my PITS starts for me in a cab on the way to Shannon to fly home
Ellen
I have visited Ireland every year since 2006. Twice in 2006. It is such a beautiful country and such warm and beautiful people. If I could find work there for part of the year I would move there in a heart beat. Every time I leave to go home I feel like I just left my home in Ireland. What a blessing it is to be there