I’ll start this post by asking you: How many connections did you make this year using Local Guides Connect?
(please, feel free to answer it in the comments below)
If you were in lockdown for some weeks, in some cases many weeks, like me, I am sure you did many virtual meet-ups. Am I wrong?
With so much time and people using Connect during 2020, we had the opportunity to virtually meet Local Guides from our own countries, even the same cities, that we didn’t know before.
That’s what happened with our Brazilian community #LocalGuidesBrasil
Since April, we decided to create monthly meetings to socialize and exchange tips for Google Maps. It’s weird how many friends we’ve made. But the best is next…
After a whole year in-home, I found an opportunity to travel to an isolated location in Brazil. During my web searching, I noticed that I had a Local Guide connection/friend ( @CSouza ) in the city. And why not contact him?
Imagine yourself planning a trip with a Local Guided you didn’t know in person. Yes, both of us did it. Maybe two weeks talking daily and booking hotels and guides.
We first met at the airport, and minutes later we were driving on an amazing trip to the Canyons. You can see some details about it in @CSouza 's post here.
We spent two days traveling together, driving, and having great conversations. We drove over the mountains. We took a trail, crossing rivers and the forest. We discovered many points and places using Maps. We almost got out of fuel, but we survived
And after this time, I had the privilege to met his family and stay with them for two days more.
I really appreciate the opportunity Connect gave to us, and many others, to literally connect. I hope to have another chance to meet friends from Brazil, Belgium, France, Suisse, Argentina, and many other countries, that I’ve made during this year.