A Tourist in Ireland or An Idiot Abroad

[milemaker13]

Boker Plus Tactical Pen CID .45 CAL Bolt Action (Titanium Gray) 09BO086

Ha, obviously I thought this was a pen/zip gun. But after looking it up I see that it is a tactical pen. Pretty good idea. I've looked at several on Amazon for comparison. Some are definitely cheaper than others. This one is about $45.
I like the ones that have an LED light built in, but those all seem very cheaply made, poor reviews.

 

[milemaker13]

Yep, because THAT will help you get along with the nice folks of Ireland. It will also help reinforce the idea of the Ugly American........

OP - you're driving around without knowing anything about where you're going; or are you with family/friends or a tour group?

Not every place in the world is like the south side of Chicago.............

Driving ourselves around from Castle to Castle. Probably won't spend allot of time with her aunt, maybe just that one day I guess.

 

[AlexanderA]

The chances of being mugged in Ireland are pretty slim. It probably has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Must we always be obsessed with being armed?

 

[RAEIndustries]

It’s the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Never bring up any politics ours , theirs or anyone else’s

 

[George P]

The chances of being mugged in Ireland are pretty slim. It probably has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Must we always be obsessed with being armed?

Same for a few other countries in Europe - Spain and Switzerland come to mind

 

[hso]

A pocket knife? Pepper spray? Flashlight? Stun gun? Billy club? Whiskey bottle? Brass knuckles? Pointy umbrella?

Yes, but with limitations, no, yes, no, really?, kept full and unopened, really?, not pointy.

 

[ugaarguy]

The chances of being mugged in Ireland are pretty slim. It probably has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Must we always be obsessed with being armed?

Ireland has a very high homicide rate compared to the UK - https://www.independent.ie/irish-ne...h-and-british-isles-new-figures-34614775.html

However, the US State Dept. notes that crimes against US tourists and US citizens in Ireland for business or US government official duties are generally quite low. There's quite a bit of good information on the State Dept's website - https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=21110

Of particular note in the above State Dept. link is this bit:

"Emergency notification of the Garda or other emergency services (fire, ambulance, coast guard) can be made by calling 999 or 112 from any phone.

If you are an American citizen in need of emergency assistance outside of regular business hours (including weekends and holidays), please call the Embassy’s main number (01)630-6200 and follow the prompts to reach the operator. You will be connected to the U.S. Marine Security Guard on duty who will assist with directing your call."

 

[milemaker13]

Yes, but with limitations, no, yes, no, really?, kept full and unopened, really?, not pointy.

Lol, good answers. No not really on a couple of those.

 

[hso]

Never bring up any politics ours , theirs or anyone else’s

Polite conversation rules advise avoiding politics, religion and sports teams (perhaps barbeque if you're in the Southern US, but that's like all 3 combined).

 

[kBob]

hso,

One year my wife had a legal conference in Down town Chicago during the "A Taste of Chicago" Event. The Taxi drivers called it the great food fight so naturally I was interested. I walked from our hotel across from Opra's studio to the museum area everyday and back that week. The very first day a booth hawker held up a plate of what they were calling Bar-BQ and I walked over and gave it a try. The yasked what I thought and I pulled out my best F,G, &A drawl and pronounced it not bad for north Georgia Style food. There was great excitement that an actual Cracker had pronounced their product not bad for North Georgia Food and I was dragged to a few other booths and asked to give another glowing report. I ended up getting that food free and being given some to take back to the hotel.

I ended up eating various Chicago enturpetations of Bar-BQ all week with out paying for it as various venders competed for a real Southrons reviews. Between that and my discovery of chocolate dipped frozen cheese cake I gained four pounds that week despite putting in six or eight miles of brisk walking plus museum ambling every day.

Religious arguments CAN be a good thing you see. Especially if you take Brother Dave's attitude of "It's all good!"

Oh and to semi keep it on target, those of you familar with that walk and the areas one walked through in the 90s to do it might want to know I carried a happy face and confident walk while in Chi-town. Lawyer Wife had no desire to see me busted on weapons charges while she was a speaker at a conference in that strange and foreign land.

-kBob

 

[Sav .250]

The home work is on you. I`d be thinking about having a good time not what type of weapon(what ever that is) I could carry.

 

[JShirley]

A ready smile, and a willingness to use it ruthlessly.

 

[Old Guy]

Traveling anywhere, by plane, I take my City Stick. Irland/UK /Canada/Sacramento. This unbreakable cane is lightweight, very hard, never had to use it as a weapon.
My Liverpool accent blended in. The pub food was incredible, also pubs are open a lot longer time than restaurants, always can get a pint of Guinness too.
Bed and Breakfast places are everywhere. A vehicle? Stick shift is cheaper, mostly, get a deasil, not petrol.
We took our UK and US Passports. Coming home, a Yank, landing in London? A Brit.
We had no problems of any nature, we are always smiling, in Orlando, or Dublin! We always hold hands when walking anywhere. Empty backpack when shopping, stuff on your back, more convenient than in hands.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[Skoghund]

A good stout walking stick. After a session on the Guinness the stick will stop you falling over side ways.

 

[Fiv3r]

A good stout walking stick. After a session on the Guinness the stick will stop you falling over side ways.

I found that when I started to topple to one direction or another, enjoying another pint with my head cocked slightly in the opposite direction helped.

Stance wide, smile broad, mug high... you'll be fine

 

[George P]

The sad thing is too many Americans think that without a weapon 24/7, they will be harmed traveling outside the US. In Central America, Mexico and a few others? Very true......In most of Europe, not as much.

 

[bubba in ca]

Just got back from a great week vacation in Mexico City. I didn't want to fart with their repressive weapons laws so I went armed with my brain, a metal pen in my pocket, and jogging shoes. At night I had a yawara stick, I mean a maglight 3 aa flashlight.

I'd rather be better armed, but it is not worth the hassle. Did miss my SAK for utilitarian things.