I
recently planned a sightseeing tour for a friend who was visiting Athens. We
had less than a day in our hands, that’s why we tried to make the most of it.
How
we did it? Well, I decided to think like a geographer. And it worked: my friend
was able to enjoy some of the most important sights and to appreciate the
unique flavour of the city, something that is not obvious at first sight. In
other words, even if we had such a little time available, the choice of sights
was to the point, insofar as my friend got a true sense of place regarding
Athens.
Are
you planning a trip or a short holiday? These three tips will help you make the
most of it:
#1 PLAN AHEAD
I totally
recommend planning ahead. For instance, if you are travelling in the summer, note
on the map the places you would like to visit taking into account that it would
be better to visit the western places in the morning and the eastern places in
the afternoon. This way you avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun.
While
some travellers prefer to be spontaneous and discover the place on the spot,
without any planning whatsoever, I personally believe that when you have a good
idea of the place beforehand you can enjoy the place more. When you are more in
control of your trip you feel more relaxed and less tired, and what’s more:
when you avoid fretting over details such as finding the correct bus, you can appreciate
your surroundings and focus on your immediate experience.
#2 USE PRINTED-OUT MAPS
While
it’s becoming more common to use maps on our smartphones, printing them out has
its own advantages. For once, you save battery. Then, it’s safer when you ask
passers-by for directions – if they want to run away with your printed map, let
them! Besides, with a printed-out map you can navigate and talk on the phone
simultaneously. Finally, it’s easier to take notes directly on the map, mark
places for future reference etc.
Don’t
worry about the lack of a GPS – you are a geographer now! Look for the place of
the sun, and according to whether it’s morning or afternoon you will be able to
locate the East and the West respectively.
#3 LOOK FOR THE SENSE OF THE PLACE
Geographers
are not tourists; they do not wish to accumulate encyclopedic knowledge about
places. Rather, they are looking for
the sense of the place, the connections
and the relationships that create and constitute that place. That’s why me
and my friend, when we visited a location, we tried to reflect upon it and upon
the feelings it gave us, while me, as a local, brought up some background
stories of these locations. This was not done in a tourist-guide fashion, but in
a way that made the place alive and meaningful to my friend who was not an
Athens native.
Geography
is not just locations, coordinates and historical sights; besides, too much
information can be rather. But, when everything else about a place is forgotten,
its sense will remain. Wherever you travel, try to discover the sense of the
place.
Thanks
for reading and enjoy your trip!
