Even for a shy person like me, speaking to people when traveling is always rewarding.

After touring the well-marked trails of the Connemara National Park, in Ireland, I stopped to chat with a Park Ranger. I was surprised to see how many of them were around to ensure that tourists would stay on the (short) trails and not wander around on the fragile ground. I asked her about going off-trail in more remote parts of the park: we would not have time during this trip, but I wanted to climb someday on top of one of those "Bens" (hills) to enjoy the view. Unexpectedly, she pointed me to a paved route, just next to the park limits, that goes to the top of a hill, where a telecommunication mast had been installed. There were a couple of fences, so even if I had known about and found the route I would not have driven there by myself, but she explained that everyone was free to go. I could then enjoy a bird view on the southern part of Connemara county with minimum effort.