As marvelous as today’s GPS is I would advise that you keep a map
handy. The GPS is modern technology at its best but it is not magic nor is it
infallible. You do realize it’s the old adage “Garbage In Garbage Out.” It was
explained to us on a trip to Tuscany by a very reputable guide that he had
escorted a passenger whose job it was to map the area for a GPS. In so doing
there was a lot of free reign exercised when it came to areas where it was
debatable which way was the correct way to go. At one point said passenger
could not make a decision so “went with their gut” and documented the
directions accordingly. I guess that’s how it is possible to hear the following
from your GPS, “When it is safe to do so, make a u-turn.” Immediately after
completing the maneuver you hear once again, “When it is safe to do so, make a
u-turn.” Now I’m no genius but if you follow these instructions you are right
back where you started and if you continue to obey you will forever travel in a
circle – well, a square.
In Europe the markings of
some city and rural streets are often not like anything we are accustomed to in
North America. There is very little evidence of traditional signage on posts at
intersections. If marked at all a street name may be on the side of a building.
And not on a plainly visible side either. It may be painted on the brickwork
and it may be a hundred years old. Even worse, that street name you are so
desperately seeking may be painted on a curb or on the street itself – right
under the car you are now sitting in cursing the situation.
We realized early that the
GPS was not performing well. Annoyingly, it TRIED to work, but gave false
information, so we hit the point where it did more harm than good. What are we
going to do now? Come on, surely you are not so entrenched in this electronic,
technical world. No, not yet! We turned the GPS off, bought a map, got off the
highway onto the secondary roads and got a good look at Western Europe.
On the way back to Frankfurt
the drive through the Dolomiti in Northern Italy was quite wonderful. Snow-covered
craggy peaks, blue skies and wonderful Italian mountain villages. The roads were
confusing as can be. Tell me how can you get lost on a road that goes into a
tiny town then comes out about 3 miles later? Lots of turn backs, asking
directions in whatever language seemed to work, and cursing – yeah, lots of
cursing.
When we got to Vienna we got
hopelessly lost again. I couldn’t tell you where the hotel was; somewhere near
the big Ferris wheel, but then looking for that nearly put us in Hungary; but
it was a quaint, beautiful hotel. Travel is not easy when you have no idea
where you are, where you want to be, or what you are looking at.
We left very early (6:30 AM)
as we anticipated hell on earth getting out of Vienna. Ironically, it was
easier than finding our hotel from the parking lot. We had Mapquest directions
(which got us started), the GPS (which pointed us in the right direction) and
only one stop to ask directions (which, for once, were bang on). Can it be that
this has just become so routine we’re getting better at it?
An overnight stay in
Frankfurt brought our European vacation to an end. Just so we would not finish
the trip with too much confidence, we got hopelessly lost trying to return the
car. We actually ended up back at the hotel we just left to ask directions for
the second time; all this because the GPS originally led us to a totally
different area with the same street name but in a different region, borough, or
whatever.
I guess we got to the
airport (we were on a shuttle, which is the only reason we didn’t get lost
again) just after 11 AM. By the time we checked our luggage, checked in, went
through security, and lined up for final documentation in the boarding area, it
was time to board. That’s the best part of cutting it really close. So, you
see, getting lost has its advantages and it certainly puts a laughable spin on
a fabulous 5,000 kilometer road trip.
for more information go to www.thatroadtripbook.com
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