The first time I walk around a city is usually a bit stressful. Traffic patterns are different, everyone else knows where they are going, and just a general unfamiliarity with an area isn't a comfortable feeling. Getting lost and then finding your way back can be an interesting way to get to know a city, but for me personally I don't enjoy the sensation of being lost. Also, if you are trying to get somewhere specific at a specific time (like the first day of class) the lost strategy doesn't work out so well.
When traveling with other people, I've noticed two situations that usually lead to arguments: getting lost, and being hungry. And if you are lost trying to find the restaurant... shiiiiit.
The first thing I do is locate the town square and determine how to get there from where I am staying. In Latin American countries there is almost always a central common location that everyone knows about. Common names include: Plaza Central, Plaza Mayor, or just the Plaza. There is usually some sort of park, fountain, or statue commemorating something important within the town and they serve as great meeting points if you are getting a group together. Because everyone knows the Plaza, just ask a local and you can always find your way back.
Sucre's plaza is a little tricky because it is a perfect square; the first time I walked around I couldn't remember exactly where I had entered. Now I orient myself with this clock tower, which is also the road that leads to my school.
I personally hate carrying a map when I walk around, it is obvious enough that I'm a tourist and I prefer not to further advertise that by staring at a map. If I'm carrying a backpack I'll leave one in there to use in case of emergencies, but most of the time I just take a look in my room beforehand and will write down a few instructions if I'm trying to get somewhere. Plus I'm incabable of folding maps properly and end up getting frustrated crumpling them.
If all else fails I make sure to have my address written down somewhere to give to a cab driver. Now even that doesn't always work if you live on an obscure street, which is exactly what happened to me the first night I spent on the square. My cab driver didn't know where to go and I had to hoof it home on foot. Fortunately it wasn't too late and I ended up finding my way back without stumbling into a sketchy neighborhood, but I made sure to figure out a place where all taxis would know so that didn't happen again.
When traveling with other people, I've noticed two situations that usually lead to arguments: getting lost, and being hungry. And if you are lost trying to find the restaurant... shiiiiit.
The first thing I do is locate the town square and determine how to get there from where I am staying. In Latin American countries there is almost always a central common location that everyone knows about. Common names include: Plaza Central, Plaza Mayor, or just the Plaza. There is usually some sort of park, fountain, or statue commemorating something important within the town and they serve as great meeting points if you are getting a group together. Because everyone knows the Plaza, just ask a local and you can always find your way back.
Plaza 25 de Mayo
One of four sides
A trusty guide
Hopeless
Plazuelo Treveris, where every cab knows where to go.
lolol these are awesome tips. the getting lost and hungry situations are sooo TRUE!! hahah
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