Thanks to Google satellite view! Maybe you remember the old song The Wildwood Weed performed by Jim Stafford. (If not, follow the link. It's cute.) Well, I'm not talking about THAT kind of trip, but a DIFFERENT kind. I'm talking about the amazing ability to pick a place and view the streets as if you were there - a place you'd only get to see by planning a trip or vacation.
I'm really getting to appreciate Google satellite view. It can be helpful. I've been reading a book called Island Girls by Nancy Thayer. The story takes place in and around Nantucket, MA. She describes the homes and shops in the winding streets, and mentions street names. So I plunked in Nantucket, MA in Google, zoomed in, and clicked on satellite view. It's like I am there! I can see the overhead view, and see the streets, trees, pools, and beaches. If you click on the street level, you can jump ahead house by house. You see the people on bikes and walking by at the time the Google van went by taking photos. Real live images of the real thing, as if I captured it with my camera.
I wish my Grandpa was alive to see this technology. He would have thought it was fantastic! I know I do. It came in pretty handy a number of times. Being a visual person, it is helpful to see the building front, or surrounding area, when I am visiting a place for the first time. Once when we were on a Girls Weekend in Savannah, GA, we hit all the tourist-y shops. I was limiting myself and wouldn't allow myself to get a t-shirt. I had seen this one adorable one, it reminded me of my sister, but I was sticking to my limit and passed it by. After the fact, back at home, I kept thinking of that shirt and wouldn't let the idea go. I thought it would be nice to get it for her - and get one for myself as well. I thought of ordering it, but couldn't remember the name of the shop although I could see it in my memory. BINGO…Google satellite to the rescue. I searched the streets online, as if I was walking downtown, myself. I scanned storefront, by storefront and found it. With the name of the shop, I got the phone number online, and I called and ordered it.
Navigating the controls takes a little getting used to. You can zoom in or out, or click on a spot further down the street and the view will jump to that section of the street. It even allows you to turn a 360 degree angle. Obviously, travel and having the experience first hand is ideal, but when you can't, isn't it nice to have a 'virtual' trip - and never leave the farm?!
I'm really getting to appreciate Google satellite view. It can be helpful. I've been reading a book called Island Girls by Nancy Thayer. The story takes place in and around Nantucket, MA. She describes the homes and shops in the winding streets, and mentions street names. So I plunked in Nantucket, MA in Google, zoomed in, and clicked on satellite view. It's like I am there! I can see the overhead view, and see the streets, trees, pools, and beaches. If you click on the street level, you can jump ahead house by house. You see the people on bikes and walking by at the time the Google van went by taking photos. Real live images of the real thing, as if I captured it with my camera.
I wish my Grandpa was alive to see this technology. He would have thought it was fantastic! I know I do. It came in pretty handy a number of times. Being a visual person, it is helpful to see the building front, or surrounding area, when I am visiting a place for the first time. Once when we were on a Girls Weekend in Savannah, GA, we hit all the tourist-y shops. I was limiting myself and wouldn't allow myself to get a t-shirt. I had seen this one adorable one, it reminded me of my sister, but I was sticking to my limit and passed it by. After the fact, back at home, I kept thinking of that shirt and wouldn't let the idea go. I thought it would be nice to get it for her - and get one for myself as well. I thought of ordering it, but couldn't remember the name of the shop although I could see it in my memory. BINGO…Google satellite to the rescue. I searched the streets online, as if I was walking downtown, myself. I scanned storefront, by storefront and found it. With the name of the shop, I got the phone number online, and I called and ordered it.
Navigating the controls takes a little getting used to. You can zoom in or out, or click on a spot further down the street and the view will jump to that section of the street. It even allows you to turn a 360 degree angle. Obviously, travel and having the experience first hand is ideal, but when you can't, isn't it nice to have a 'virtual' trip - and never leave the farm?!
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