A few tools of the trade.
Google My Maps
This is a fabulous free service. It has been a game changer.
It is a quick and easy way to record one's research quickly and then to plan efficacious travel routes. Further, one can use the maps for navigation when on the road.
I use Google My Maps to:
- mark the places I'd like to visit and add supplementary notes about those locations e.g. links to sources of detailed information, and personal comments
- have separate map layers e.g. one for accommodation, one for historical sites, restaurants etc.
- share itineraries with family and friends and seek advice from those who know the areas (you can forward maps to selected individuals or share them with the world at large - your choice)
- assist with navigation when I am underway
As I go about my research, I keep My Maps active in one window and then make additions to the map as I see fit.
Once I am ready to travel, I download the map to my iPad and use the map off-line for navigation. In Sicily, southern France, and the Carolinas, we found that the maps were superior to the on-board navigation systems in our rental cars.
General Guidebooks
I generally ignore them. For the most part, they are poorly written, characterless, and cover the obvious in light detail. Besides they are heavy and bulky. They are anachronisms in today's world of electronic communication.
I do read travel accounts by artists and authors with a special love of features such as mills, barns, landscape history, ancient forests ... in short, things which take time to understand which, coupled with a love of subject, enable authors to produce something which is unique and worthwhile e.g. The Shepperd's Life: Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape by James Rebanks. If ever you plan on visiting the Lake District in England, this is mandatory reading - in a small way it will help you to appreciate the grandeur of the place and the toil it takes to wrest a living from a sometimes unforgiving environment.
Ah ... the wisdom of crowds. This service is an excellent way to get a quick overview of the attractions in any area. I use it to make a preliminary list of potential spots to visit. It is far superior to most tourist guidebooks in that it is fast to use and always up to date.
It will not provide detailed information and may miss items of special interest to people like me e.g. field patterns and evolution of landscapes, geomorphological features (my wife has learned to tolerate these interests ... the product of my training as a geographer).
This is an excellent search engine which has opened new avenues of understanding for me. Nothing beats the insights provided by academics who have dedicated lifetimes of study in an effort to understand cherished interests. In many instances, the search engine directs you to abstracts in learned journals; however, there is often a charge to access the full articles. I have discovered a workaround to avoid the charges: simply Google the author and visit their web site. The articles listed in Google Scholar are posted there and are frequently free of charge. Even better, I have found that, when contacted, the authors are more than willing to provide advice on selected readings and places to visit/things to see. Most people are genetically predisposed to share ... and that's why knowledge has advanced so far and so quickly in western society.
Specialised Web Sites
Here is an extensive list of travel-related sites:
A few of my favourites include:
Guardian Travel - you can't go wrong with English newspaper travel sites
I love slowtravel. It is premised on the concept of remaining in one locale and savouring what it has to offer - this as opposed to scrambling about in an effort to "see it all" and, in the process, seeing very little. In addition to trip reports and information on interesting accommodation, it provides a wealth of advice about the practicalities of travelling in various areas of the world.
As to "foodie" websites - I ignore 'em. One of the joys of travel is the process of discovery and serendipity. The best way to find great food is to "ask".
On a recent trip to Sicily, I was almost tearful over a dish of rabbit. The process of discovery: while at a local bar, we asked the owner what wine he would serve to visiting relatives on a special occasion; we were amazed, and then asked him where he would take them to eat; we were directed down a dark alleyway to a pizza-style restaurant where I asked for the cook's speciality - what he was most proud to serve ... and then ... I had one of the best meals that I've ever eaten.
Another story, again in Sicily: we were caught out late with no place to stay and one of our travelling companions went into a local house with rooms to rent; it was a beautiful modern house owned by a doctor and lawyer; once we settled in we asked for the best place to eat local food; Francesca directed us to the local supermarket and told us to say that she recommended their platter for four; she said that we could repair to the local bar and that the platter would be delivered there in short order .... and it was ... washed down with local wine, it was a meal not soon to be forgotten. And then there were the desserts in the local bar ... at times thoughts of not loosening one's belt are best left behind ...
A Tip for Finding Accommodation - Just Ask
We learned this technique before the advent of the Internet. When staying at small hotels or B&B's, we got into the habit of asking the owners for advice on where to stay at our next destination. They were only too happy to oblige us and most often, they phoned ahead to make the reservations. We usually ended up getting the best rooms and a hearty welcome, the result of becoming embedded into the "system".
GPS Cameras
I always travel with a point and shoot compact camera with GPS capability in order to record the location of each shot. It is then possible to download the shots to software such as iPhoto and see their locations on Google Maps.
I don't have any reason to replace my five year old Panasonic Lumix, but if I were to buy a new machine, I'd look for the following traits:
- a compact camera that could be carried easily in a shirt pocket
- a screen that is usable in bright sunlight
- a CMOS sensor capable of recording scenes in low light
- a zoom lens with an optical magnification of at least 4X's and a digital magnification in the same range (a combined magnification of 20x's is even better)
- image stabilization
- excellent lens capable of supporting poster-sized prints
The following characteristics are desirable:
- shock proof
- water proof
- full range of manual adjustments to over-ride automatic settings for those special situations
- HD video
While smart phones have advanced tremendously in recent years, they have yet to match the picture quality of dedicated cameras.
