Dec 22nd, 2010 at 3:30PM: The BBC recently interviewed a cartographer for the Ordnance Survey. This government department is in charge of mapping the United Kingdom, except for Northern Ireland, which has its own agency.
If you like maps or plan to hike in the UK, the Ordnance Survey maps are simply amazing. They've been measuring and drawing this green and pleasant land since the eighteenth century and produce the best ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
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Ordnance Survey maps: sometimes government CAN do a great job
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 3:30PM: The BBC recently interviewed a cartographer for the Ordnance Survey. This government department is in charge of mapping the United Kingdom, except for Northern Ireland, which has its own agency.
If you like maps or plan to hike in the UK, the Ordnance Survey maps are simply amazing. They've been measuring and drawing this green and pleasant land since the eighteenth century and produce the best ...The world according to Facebook
Dec 14th, 2010 at 3:30PM:
Our lonely planet continues to become less and less lonely. Thanks to the advent of social networking sites like Facebook, users can connect far-flung parts of the world at the tap of a keyboard. This fascinating map (click to enlarge) created by Facebook intern Paul Butler charts the interactions between Facebook users from around the globe, and it shows the unbelievable extent to which ...Mystery hitchhiker becomes poster child for National Library of Wales
Oct 6th, 2010 at 9:30AM: Have you seen this man?
This is Islwyn Roberts, who was photographed in 1958 by Welsh newspaper Y Cymro as he set off to hitchhike around the world. It was a different world back then--flying was only for the rich, and many countries were sealed off behind the Iron Curtain. Mr. Roberts would have seen traditions and cultures that have all but died out today.
It must have been an amazing ...Hiking the East Highland Way--the practicalities
Aug 30th, 2010 at 9:30AM:
Hiking a brand-new trail has both advantages and challenges. The main plus to hiking the East Highland Way was that I had the trail all to myself. I never did meet that mysterious German who was a day ahead of me, and I met nobody else doing the trail. Hotel owners along the route do report a steady trickle of hikers, and that trickle will only increase. In the short term, however, you will get ...The East Highland Way day four: Pictish forts and empty wilderness
Aug 25th, 2010 at 9:30AM:
Views like this reassure me that I'm doing the right thing with my life.
It's day four of my trek along the East Highland Way in Scotland, and the terrain is getting increasingly rugged. My trip today will take me through the most remote part of my walk. But before I go, I have an archaeological wonder to see first.
I head to a hill overlooking the village of Laggan to visit Dun-Da-Lamh, a ...Map and highlighter are essential - Packing tip
Aug 10th, 2010 at 11:37PM: Wherever, however, you go traveling, there are two easy essentials you must pack:
The first is a map of the destination(s) you will be visiting. It's easy to feel disoriented on solo trips -- or even a guided tour!
The second essential item is a highlighter. A map that you can mark with a highlighter allows you to see exactly where in the world you are. Just mark the major cities or towns ...Making multiple stops? Get a map of the airport - Airplane tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 5:57PM: When your airline trip involves multiple stops, a little research before you leave will reduce frustration during the time you switch from one plane to the next.
Visit the website of the airport you will be changing planes at and print out a map of the terminal. When faced with a short time to get from one concourse to the next you will find a map to be very helpful.
In addition to your ...5 reasons to be a tourist
Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:30PM:
After three months living in Istanbul, I've gained a stable of a few dozen Turkish words to string into awkward sentences; learned some local intel on what soccer teams to root for, where to get the best mantı, and the best Turkish insults (maganda is the local equivalent of guido); and have come to avoid Sultanahmet with the same disdain I used to reserve for Times Square when I lived in New ...Two routes, one trip - Road trip tip
Jun 20th, 2010 at 5:28PM: Before embarking on a road trip, map out two different routes -- a slower, scenic route and a shorter, faster (less scenic) route.
In case you need to reach your destination sooner than planned, you'll have your faster route. However, try to take the more intriguing scenic route. Grab a camera, hop out, and snap some shots of the beautiful scenery you pass by. Discover the hottest eateries on ...Use a pocket-sized notebook for maps & notes - International travel tip
Mar 23rd, 2010 at 2:30PM: Don't want to look like a lost tourist, consulting a giant map in a public place?
Before you leave home, buy a small pocket- or purse-sized notebook. Copy maps of each destination (break a city into smaller areas) and reduce them down to notebook size; glue them into your notebook, folding out if needed. Highlight important places, like your hotel, and include directions to/from airports or ...Laminate maps and printed directions - Road trip tip
Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:14AM: Passengers eat, drink, and frequently move in and out of the car during a road trip. A paper map or set of printed directions easily gets shoved into a seat during a stop, or worse yet, ruined if food or drink is spilled on it. Upon arrival, directions and maps are even more likely to get misplaced or damaged. To keep maps and directions safe during the trip, laminate them.
For around $30, a ...Ask for a map of the ship - Cruise tip
Feb 24th, 2010 at 11:49AM: Most cruise ships have several floors with long hallways, multiple restaurants and rooms that look alike from the outside. Multiple levels and a variety of things to do means there's more to remember, including where your room is located. Ask for a map and mark the room's location as well as other areas you will be frequenting, such as the dining hall.
Make sure that everyone in your party has ...Know your destination - International travel tip
Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:10AM: Planning is half the fun of any trip, and the more you know about where you're going, the more flexible you can be with your plans.
Study local maps, get familiar with the main roads and how they intersect, and learn where your areas of interest can be found. Moreover, find out what public transportation is available and, if possible, download their routes and schedules. It's also helpful to ...International travel tip: get your hotel's phone number
Jan 17th, 2010 at 12:50PM: To make the most out of your international trip, whether business or pleasure, skip the bus and taxi. Sure, they make getting around easier, but you'll miss the flavor and excitement of your destination. Instead, ask your hotel concierge or front-desk clerk for a map and directions. Review them a few times to be sure you're clear, and highlight your route -- then hoof it.
But the most important ...Are fold-out maps obsolete? Not if you want to understand your destination
Jan 15th, 2010 at 11:30AM: Is the age of opening up a map to figure out where you are a thing of the past? According to a recent post on Bad Latitude, they're one of ten travel items that are now obsolete.
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/15/are-fold-out-maps-obsolete-not-if-you-want-to-know-your-destina/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
There's no doubt that technology such as Google Maps and GPS have ...Eight rules for renting a car in a foreign country
Jan 9th, 2010 at 9:30AM:
Renting a car can be a great way to see a foreign country. Having your own wheels allows you the freedom to take your time, to stop for long lunches in the countryside, to turn down that little lane that looks interesting, and to go where public transportation won't take you. But, renting a car comes with its own set of challenges and dangers. Here are eight road rules to remember when renting ...New state, new map - Road trip tip
Jan 9th, 2010 at 7:45AM: When road-tripping, pick up a fresh map every time you enter a new state.
In the United Sates, there are often welcome centers or rest stations that provide free state maps. When on the interstate, take the time to stretch your legs and pick up an official state map.
A state map from the state's Department of Transportation provides information and details not normally found on your national ...Use a map, find out what's nearby - Hotel tip
Jan 8th, 2010 at 8:54AM: When trying to find a nice hotel in an area you're not familiar with, go back to the basics and find the address on an online mapping service, like Google Maps.
Their satellite view will tell you a lot about where your hotel is located, what's around it, and -- potentially -- what to watch out for.
You may find a hotel that looks great on their website is actually in an area surrounded by ...Are you using a "socially conscious" world map?
Dec 6th, 2009 at 8:00AM: What's a "socially conscious" world map, you ask? Well, for starters, everyone knows that all world maps necessarily distort some regions of the Earth at the expense of others. The attempt to plot a 3-D shape onto a flat piece of paper makes such distortions unavoidable.
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/06/are-you-using-a-socially-conscious-world-map/'; tweetmeme_source = ...First map to name America goes on display at Library of Congress
Nov 2nd, 2009 at 9:30AM:
Visitors to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., have a rare opportunity to see the first map that used the name "America" for the New World.
The Library has the only surviving copy of the famous Waldseemüller map, created in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller, a German cartographer living in France. The map was a major departure from earlier maps in that it relied less on the ...
