I cheated! Not all of the reviews are completely mine, but they are written by my assistant. Very valuable almost 60-year-old associate - my dad!
My parents are wanderers, always in movement, climbing mountains, going to flea markets, eating in ethno villages, bathing in a spa. And my dad is someone that will take a ton of photos to show me later if I am not with them. Then he would explain to me even the single detail about the place or event, because I think that he wants to create, at least with the words, our common memory to share. Since I transferred to Italy to study three years ago, this small ritual is even more emphasized.
Caption: We in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, October 2019
Everything started with him teasing me why I picture all the food before I eat, why I have a lot of photos of restrooms or road signs. Then I explained to him that I am collecting information for this program that is called Local Guides, where you can actively contribute with your opinions and photos about any place on this Earth. He loved the idea.
I can get information from him about a price of each dish that they ate, how many kilometres north-west or south-east they drove between places (sometimes he has the skills like a commander of the army), names of the people they met and what they do, which words they use in that part of Serbia, what is the traditional dish there, and how was the music in the pub in the city centre. I am speaking about a very wide diversity of information. I am admiring to his memory, and patience, but mostly his passion. This is his escape from daily routine but probably he does not think it is whole if he does not share with me.
Most of the trips are through Serbia, he can tell you where you can buy the most quality earthen pot to cook “pasulj” (traditional Serbian dish, cooked beans), followed by a recipe, or where you can swim indoors. Other trips are abroad, mostly for summer vacation, where again he sees lengthwise and crosswise the whole place.
Caption: Dad is always with camera, April 2018
Since he is not into technology (still owns a numerical phone, watches Google maps at home, plans routes and itineraries, prints map, drives by heart, etc. - you got it), he got an idea that he can write and send me photos, and then I can post reviews. Most of the places I visited myself, before or later, but mostly we agree on everything that he writes. I am looking at the places as the parts of the map, as the information, as too much architect sometimes. He is looking at them from the position of tourist, of the man who seeks leisure time, who explores. He is interested in something that I am maybe not, and vice versa and this is a perfect combination of opinions. For example, I need fast Wi-Fi and USB socket, but he does not that much. On the other hand, I am fine with hostels and low-quality beds, but he likes to feel comfortable and have privacy. So we share these opinions and adjust post for two target groups.
Caption: My dad and I, after my Master thesis graduation, where I did a project about maps
That is why I want you to know how much I am proud to have a dad like this, and this is our mutual small project so we can do something together while we live 1071 km apart. With this, I want to encourage you also to ask for others’ opinions, maybe to have a project with your friend, family member or other Local Guide. It can be inspiring and different.
