Comments on: 10 Ways To Avoid Getting Lost In A New City http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Vera Marie Badertscher http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-94395 Vera Marie Badertscher Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:21:46 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-94395 On foot, staying lost in the daytime is a great idea. Not so sure about night time, when you can wander into a dicey area (all cities have them--not just Eastern). My favorite is #3. When in Athens--you can always see the Parthenon. Of course, if you did not follow the advice in #6 and look at the map in advance, you won't know where you are in relation to the Parthenon, so it won't help. I think Americans have the worst problems in old European cities that don't have street names on every corner (or any corner) and no grid system. Even with a map it can be confusing, so a compass, advance preparation, and memorizing route as you walk are all essential. On foot, staying lost in the daytime is a great idea. Not so sure about night time, when you can wander into a dicey area (all cities have them–not just Eastern). My favorite is #3. When in Athens–you can always see the Parthenon. Of course, if you did not follow the advice in #6 and look at the map in advance, you won’t know where you are in relation to the Parthenon, so it won’t help. I think Americans have the worst problems in old European cities that don’t have street names on every corner (or any corner) and no grid system. Even with a map it can be confusing, so a compass, advance preparation, and memorizing route as you walk are all essential.

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]]> By: Kevin Post http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-94388 Kevin Post Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:05:00 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-94388 Sure, being lost is exciting from time to time (in developed European countries where every other person speaks English). But try getting lost in the "comunas" of Medellín or taking a wrong turn in Diyarbak?r (where your Turkish is minimal and your Kurdish in non-existent). I can assure you that by the time you say "Stay lost" there are three guys whom have you at knife point. The majority of the people in the world are fantastic people but some of them have to eat and a white blond hair foreigner with a 55 liter pack is guaranteed to bring home some food. Sure, being lost is exciting from time to time (in developed European countries where every other person speaks English). But try getting lost in the “comunas” of Medellín or taking a wrong turn in Diyarbak?r (where your Turkish is minimal and your Kurdish in non-existent). I can assure you that by the time you say “Stay lost” there are three guys whom have you at knife point. The majority of the people in the world are fantastic people but some of them have to eat and a white blond hair foreigner with a 55 liter pack is guaranteed to bring home some food.

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]]> By: Alouise http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-94056 Alouise Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:50:21 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-94056 I got 'lost' several times in London. Of course usually after a few minutes of wandering I'd find a tube station and be able to get back to my hotel. It never bothered me. To me you're only lost when you can't find where you need to go to. I never had a set plan of where I should be so I never felt lost. I got ‘lost’ several times in London. Of course usually after a few minutes of wandering I’d find a tube station and be able to get back to my hotel. It never bothered me. To me you’re only lost when you can’t find where you need to go to. I never had a set plan of where I should be so I never felt lost.

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]]> By: Mad For Maps http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-71618 Mad For Maps Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:22:13 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-71618 [...] How to Find Your Way When You’re Lost; and Lisa Lubin recently wrote an article about how to avoid getting lost in [...] [...] How to Find Your Way When You’re Lost; and Lisa Lubin recently wrote an article about how to avoid getting lost in [...]

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]]> By: Budget European travel links for 20-May-2008 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-68041 Budget European travel links for 20-May-2008 Tue, 20 May 2008 10:51:03 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-68041 [...] 10 (well, 9) tips for not getting lost in a new city. [...] [...] 10 (well, 9) tips for not getting lost in a new city. [...]

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]]> By: Daniel Harbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-67367 Daniel Harbecke Wed, 14 May 2008 03:31:37 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-67367 Nothing makes you look like an out-of-towner more than carrying around a big sloppy map. If you can, get a smaller one to compliment whatever larger map you've got. With the smaller map: 1) fold it to show only your general area (it's all you need), and 2) fold it small enough to fit into a back pocket (otherwise empty, since you were smart enough to wear a money belt). If it fits in your hand so you can glance at it while you're walking, you're styling. If you really need to study it, duck into a doorway, sit on a bench, whatever - just get off the street. Travelers standing in the middle of the sidewalk with their swollen backpacks, blocking people from walking while they figure out where they are, suck. Plus, you look like a spectacular dork. Don't be that. Nothing makes you look like an out-of-towner more than carrying around a big sloppy map. If you can, get a smaller one to compliment whatever larger map you’ve got. With the smaller map:
1) fold it to show only your general area (it’s all you need), and
2) fold it small enough to fit into a back pocket (otherwise empty, since you were smart enough to wear a money belt).

If it fits in your hand so you can glance at it while you’re walking, you’re styling. If you really need to study it, duck into a doorway, sit on a bench, whatever – just get off the street. Travelers standing in the middle of the sidewalk with their swollen backpacks, blocking people from walking while they figure out where they are, suck. Plus, you look like a spectacular dork. Don’t be that.

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]]> By: Loose Change - A round-up of recent travel tips from around the web (13th of May) « Oz Traveller http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-67307 Loose Change - A round-up of recent travel tips from around the web (13th of May) « Oz Traveller Tue, 13 May 2008 11:32:07 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-67307 [...] Bravenewtraveler has some suggestions for avoiding getting lost in a new city. [...] [...] Bravenewtraveler has some suggestions for avoiding getting lost in a new city. [...]

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]]> By: Turner Wright http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-67255 Turner Wright Tue, 13 May 2008 01:07:05 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-67255 Number 10 rings true. Number 10 rings true.

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]]> By: Bill Chapman http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-67218 Bill Chapman Mon, 12 May 2008 19:02:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-67218 What an interesting contribution! I am not sure that English is as widespread or useful as people claim. I would like to argue the case for Esperanto, the international language to make travel easier. It is a planned language which belongs to no one country or group of states. Take a look at www.esperanto.net Indeed, the language has some remarkable practical benefits. Personally, I've made friends around the world through Esperanto that I would never have been able to communicate with otherwise. And then there's the Pasporta Servo , which provides free lodging and local information to Esperanto-speaking travellers in over 90 countries. In the past year I have had guided tours of Berlin and Milan in the planned language. I have discussed philosophy with a Slovene poet, humour on television with a Bulgarian TV producer. I've discussed what life was like in East Berlin before the wall came down, how to cook perfect spaghetti, the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy, and so on. I recommend it, not just as an ideal but as a very practical way to overcome language barriers when away from English speaking countries. What an interesting contribution! I am not sure that English is as widespread or useful as people claim.

I would like to argue the case for Esperanto, the international language to make travel easier. It is a planned language which belongs to no one country or group of states. Take a look at http://www.esperanto.net

Indeed, the language has some remarkable practical benefits. Personally, I’ve made friends around the world through Esperanto that I would never have been able to communicate with otherwise. And then there’s the Pasporta Servo , which provides free lodging and local information to Esperanto-speaking travellers in over 90 countries. In the past year I have had guided tours of Berlin and Milan in the planned language. I have discussed philosophy with a Slovene poet, humour on television with a Bulgarian TV producer. I’ve discussed what life was like in East Berlin before the wall came down, how to cook perfect spaghetti, the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy, and so on. I recommend it, not just as an ideal but as a very practical way to overcome language barriers when away from English speaking countries.

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/05/12/10-ways-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-a-new-city/comment-page-1/#comment-67200 Eva Mon, 12 May 2008 16:33:35 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=556#comment-67200 Ha. Sounds like a good night, Ian. I know a diplomat who always takes a pack of matches or a card or something with him from his hotel when he goes out, to make sure he has the name and address on him. A few years back, he had to deal with the case of a Canadian in Athens who dropped off his stuff, put his passport and money in the safe, and went for a walk - got completely lost, forgot the name of his hotel, and wound up living on the streets for a matter of weeks before the Canadian embassy tracked him down. (The hotel had found the guy's passport and notified them...) Crazy! Ha. Sounds like a good night, Ian.

I know a diplomat who always takes a pack of matches or a card or something with him from his hotel when he goes out, to make sure he has the name and address on him. A few years back, he had to deal with the case of a Canadian in Athens who dropped off his stuff, put his passport and money in the safe, and went for a walk – got completely lost, forgot the name of his hotel, and wound up living on the streets for a matter of weeks before the Canadian embassy tracked him down. (The hotel had found the guy’s passport and notified them…) Crazy!

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