Mailbag

More mail! This time, a reader from Mooselookmeguntic, Maine writes in:

Dear Pat,

The wife and I are planning a trip to the Emerald Isle. We're going to rent a car to drive on the roads there you, and my priss panties are all bunched up in knots over it! Mon Dieu it sounds tres dangerous. I understand one drives on the other side of the road and also drives the car from the opposite side. I'm wondering, are the pedals set up the same?

Merci Buttercups,
Reader

Ah, driving in Ireland. Here is my response:

Dear Reader,

First of all, let me say that this is a rational bunching of panties. So far this year, this tiny island is averaging one road death every 24 hours. The vast majority of these occur at night, so my first advice to you is: get where you want to get during the daylight hours. It's significantly safer, both because you can see the unfamiliar road, but also because the "drink drivers," as there called here, have not left the pub yet.

Yes, you drive on the opposite side (left) and the driver is seated on the opposite side (right) too. In a way though, these two things combine to make it a bit easier. If you can just remember to keep your body to the middle of the road, just like at home (presuming they have roads in Mooselookmeguntic), you'll be fine.
Alternatively you could let your lovely spouse drive and you could sit in the lefthand seat just like at home. Maybe you could even bring one of those toy steering wheels like Maggie uses in the beginning of the Simpsons.

At any rate, the pedals are set up in the same order as at home, but the stick will be on your left. Not that stick. The manual gearshift. I mention this because the default when renting a car in the USA is automatic transmission; in Ireland it's manual. Trying to learn to drive stick here is not advised. I hear tell that you can request automatic if you need it. FYI, the "H" set up is the same (first gear in the upper left, etc.).

For what it's worth, as a way to see Ireland, driving yourself is highly recommended. It removes that lacquer that exists with a bus tour. Plus they only stop at touristy caricatures of what the country is really like. Almost essential for driving yourself is Ireland's Best-Loved Driving Tours, by the same people who do the Frommer's guides. It gives interesting detail about everything you pass, along with a rudimentary map. It's a great way to make sure you keep from getting lost, and you still feel like you got the guided tour without sitting in a bus full of people fighting for window seats.

Driving in Ireland is an experience you really should try if you have the fortitude. Like they say, try everything once, except incest and line dancing.

Good luck and bienvenue,
Pat

Don't forget readers, you too can email me at: dirtyoldtownblog (at) gmail (dot) com.