The Drip Dried Tourist is that silly American abroad, and particularly Ed and Claire Meadows who take their first trip to Europe on their silver anniversary, fulfilling a honeymoon promise. They're from Broken Gap, Montana, and with them are Buck and Marilyn. Buck is one of the woollier types who should be ""in a cage"" while Marilyn's more of a shopper than a tripper. There are reciprocal antagonisms all along the way; back home mother is minding the children and gets the mumps while Ed's business (cement) difficulties threaten him with none to return to; and no matter who guides them, they're usually being taken. Somehow all of this is as unsophisticated as Ed and Claire with a square smile per square mile. Try that middle aged spread from Ed Streeter to Emily Kimbrough.