There's nothing like the promise of a map.
They imply that a trip, an exploration or the beginning of a dream is about to start.
After all, we don't buy maps for places we know well, or travel often. We buy maps to see what routes are available to get to our destination. Or, how to get someplace we've never been. Sometimes, we buy maps to dream about travel. Or to familiarize ourselves with a place we may soon be going to, or hope to go to.
Internet searches aren't the same, they don't really tell us what lies nearby, or that the longer route may be the best travel option. Internet searches keep us firmly in the fast lane of life, promising to get us to our destination quickly, efficiently, with minimal fuss.
But what if you don't want to travel the direct route? Or, if the whole point of traveling is to take the road least taken?
Planning by internet would have you believe that it's the destination, not the journey, that is important. And the directions are like trying to listen to a roomful of friends, all trying to be helpful, but not necessarily coherent. I think we have all tried to follow those instructions and found ourselves apparently lost, according to the directions, then magically back on track without having done anything different.
A map however, holds the promise of a cartographer's vision. One person, who has checked the data, who has traveled the road themselves, and spent time drawing it to scale, making certain that roads and junctions are where they are supposed to be.
There is something deeply satisfying about spreading open a map, and following the road with your finger. Seeing place names appear and disappear as you trace your way along the map from where you are to where you want to be.
You can't get that from internet directions.
No comments:
Post a Comment