Introduce Yourself — October 2025

Hi everyone! Welcome to Local Guides Connect. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to our community.

As “Introduce Yourself” threads can be lengthy, we start a new one each month and lock past threads. You can check previous threads, like September’s, to see who recently joined and where they’re from. We’ll merge any “I’m new” and “Hello world” posts we find elsewhere with this thread to keep things organized.

Do you want to be featured in our monthly Introduce Yourself posts? Share your introduction in the comments, following the five prompts below, and a horizontal photo of yourself (in landscape mode). The best introductions will be considered for future Introduce Yourself posts. *Please note: Your response may be edited for clarity. By taking part in this challenge, you agree to allow us to share your answers and photo(s) publicly here on Connect.*

This month, meet @Bapt! Bapt is a Local Guide Level 8, and here’s what he shared.

1. Name: Bapt (or full name: Baptiste)

2. Location: La Ciotat, France :clipperton_island::beach_with_umbrella:

3. What I love about being a Local Guide: There are two main things. First, the ability to describe a place, business, or service with the utmost authenticity. I especially love seeking out and highlighting the small details that make all the difference—that “little something extra” that sets a place apart from its competitors. Second, I am deeply aware of the impact a Local Guide can have on a business. Like many people, I use reviews to help me decide where to go. That’s why I strive to be as fair and honest as possible in every one of my comments. For me, it’s a significant responsibility to provide information that is both useful and balanced. Lately, I’ve joined the Francophone Local Guides community. It’s a new experience, and I’m still learning, but it’s already been a wonderful journey of exchange within a truly active community.

4. My favorite thing to explore: It’s capturing the soul of a place through my lens. Of course, I love discovering unique restaurants and spots, but what really drives me is capturing moments that words alone can’t describe. For me, a photo is more than just a simple image; it’s a way to share an emotion: the warmth of an atmosphere, the vibe of a street, or the pleasure of a dish. Through these shots, I try to convey the essence of the experience, going far beyond a simple review. That’s the power of the image.

5. Fun fact about me: I was an avid Google+ user well before I created a Facebook account. I haven’t yet had the chance to add a new road to Google Maps. But hey, who knows? Maybe one day I’ll stumble upon a path that doesn’t exist yet. On the other hand, in life, I know I’m already on the right track.

Nice to meet you, Bapt! Local Guides, don’t miss the chance to say hi to Bapt in the comments below and share your introduction, too.

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Welcome to Connect, @Bapt! :waving_hand: Congratulations on being featured this month :tada:. I truly enjoyed reading about your passion for capturing the soul of places through your lens and the authenticity you bring to your reviews. The way you notice and highlight those ‘little details’ is exactly what makes a Local Guide’s contribution so valuable :globe_showing_europe_africa::camera_with_flash:. Excited to follow your journey here and learn from your experiences. And thank you, @TsekoV, for sharing Baptiste’s inspiring story with us! :raising_hands::sparkles:

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:glowing_star: Hi @Aliqatea, @Tonny7crz, @Np45, @winnaungu.63, @blackred707, @HEEMO2009, @Nick.schenck16, @Macscloud, @Nikadmoradi, @AniG1, @ArielYu, @kurumipan, @mohame4, @SantoshPavan123, @CamilaCortez, @08101987, @mustangdrew4, @Lussyqueen87, @Ariapham, @SammyS1, @Ryujiro, @JapanTOwnlab, @Aidai1, @ostrich, @Prometeo1, @BVdBrande, @ian.cinti, @Valecaro, @ilyasmotivation, @naimhosain, @Valeriaaslan, @Affi, @Vanhai, @Irene1972, @Mirella, @sastikanila, @Damon_Field, @Ranaji, @Nati2, @LuisRamos, and @Peacepatriot7 warm welcome to Local Guides Connect! :glowing_star: :tada:

Congratulations to everyone on your badge reward! A special shoutout to , @Np45, @kurumipan, @CamilaCortez, @Ariapham, @JapanTOwnlab, @Vanhai, and @Irene1972 for the reward of 3 badges ‘New Friend’, ‘Newly Popular’ and New Writer*

Since January 2025, we have been celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Local Guides Program and the 20th anniversary of Google Maps. You have joined Connect at a significant milestone!

:small_blue_diamond: So let us celebrate together! Get started with these exciting activities:

:white_check_mark: Want to know how to write your post? Check out this helpful guide: New to Connect? Try Using # for Headings
:white_check_mark: Introduce yourself :backhand_index_pointing_right: I recommend reviewing the guidelines in the main ‘Introduce Yourself’ post if you’d like a chance to be featured in an upcoming months main post :backhand_index_pointing_right: Introduce Yourself — October 2025
:white_check_mark: Attend Meetups :backhand_index_pointing_right: Connect with fellow Local Guides
:white_check_mark: Take Part in Ongoing Activities :backhand_index_pointing_right: This Month's Challenges at a Glance

:pushpin: You’re welcome to explore the tutorial available on the tutorial on the Community Guidelines page.

:light_bulb: Let’s get to know you! :light_bulb:

:loudspeaker: How did you discover Local Guides Connect?

  • After receiving an email
  • I discovered Local Guides Connect in a different way
0 voters

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Keep exploring, keep sharing, and keep guiding! :sparkles:

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:glowing_star: Welcome Back and Congratulations! :glowing_star:

Hello @Alpaca, @JulianBerlin, @Kustan, @Mhmofazzal and @christiansem a big shoutout to each of you for the reward of ‘New Friend’ badge on Local Guides Connect! :handshake::blue_heart:

Even if you’ve been part of Connect earlier, it’s always a joy to see you engaging—your first like is a small step that makes a big impact! :orange_heart:

Whether you’ve just returned after a break or are exploring Connect more deeply now, we’re glad to have you here. Connect is not just a platform—it’s a community, and every interaction counts.

Since 2025 marks a double celebration—:tada: 10 years of the Local Guides Program and 20 years of Google Maps :tada:—your renewed engagement couldn’t have come at a better time!

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Here are some ways to keep the momentum going:

  1. :small_blue_diamond: Introduce Yourself: If you haven’t introduced yourself yet, jump into the October, 2025 ‘Introduce Yourself’ thread.
  2. :small_blue_diamond: Attend Meetups: Find or host virtual/in-person events to connect with other LGs.
  3. :small_blue_diamond: Join Challenges: Check out This Month’s Challenges and take part in the celebration!

:megaphone: If you’re from India, don’t forget to subscribe to the Local Guides WhatsApp Channel—link in the post!

Welcome back, and here’s to more milestones ahead!
Let’s keep guiding, keep connecting, and keep the spirit alive! :globe_showing_europe_africa::sparkles:

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It’s great to see you featured in the introduction thread. A pleasure meeting you @Bapt —and Googler @TsekoV as well. Welcome to the Connect board!
Nice to meet you both
Thanks for introduce us @TsekoV :sparkles::handshake::sparkles:

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Hi @TsekoV, Thank you so much for informing us that @Bapt is the featured person for October 2025. Congratulations to him!

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Thank you @TsekoV for introducing @Bapt to us all. “Capturing moments that words alone can’t describe” Bapt is a beautiful and succinct way of explaining your favorite thing to explore.

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Herzlich Willkommen bei Connect und allen die sich im Oktober 2025 zu uns gesellen :blush::folded_hands:

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A very warm welcome @Bapt to this prestigious platform Local Guides Connect and many Congratulations for getting featured. :tada::confetti_ball::sparkles:

Welcome to the Connect platform everyone:

@Affi, @Vanhai, @Irene1972, @Mirella, @sastikanila, @Damon_Field, @Ranaji, @Nati2, @LuisRamos, @Peacepatriot7, @08101987, @mustangdrew4, @Lussyqueen87, @Ariapham, @SammyS1, @Ryujiro, @mohame4, @SantoshPavan123, @CamilaCortez, @Valecaro, @ilyasmotivation, @naimhosain, @Valeriaaslan, @JapanTOwnlab, @Aidai1, @ostrich, @Prometeo1, @BVdBrande, @ian.cinti, @Aliqatea, @Tonny7crz, @Np45, @winnaungu.63, @blackred707, @HEEMO2009, @Nick.schenck16, @Macscloud, @Nikadmoradi, @AniG1, @ArielYu, @kurumipan,

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Welcome to Connect, @Bapt .. Thanks for sharing @TsekoV

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Pleasure meeting you, dear @Bapt. Your words truly touched the hearts of the Local Guides community.

Thank you, @TsekoV, for introducing Baptiste to the community so concisely and thoughtfully.

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Nice to know about you, @Bapt.
Thanks for sharing @TsekoV.

Cheers!

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Congratulations on featuring @Bapt :bouquet:

Thank you for the numéro un post of the month and welcome back again @TsekoV :handshake:

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Congratulations @Bapt !

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Check out this review of Fords Pond on Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/ioRfwytpoxZZmaCG7

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That is great news @Hellvon74 :+1:
Did you visit the pond recently?

Connect is a place to get to know other Local Guides, plan activities, share your stories, give feedback, and more.

Since you’re new to the community, you might want to share a bit about yourself and get to know others in our monthly Introduce Yourself topic.

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t/introduce-yourself-october-2025/490642

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Congratulations @Bapt
Being featured on Connect. Great story
Thank you fr sharing @TsekoV

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Great initiative @TsekoV . Welcome @Bapt to this global platform :clap:

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Name: Mohammed Parvej Barejia
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India :india:

About Me:
I’m an IT Support Engineer and passionate Local Guide who loves exploring new places, sharing authentic reviews, and capturing the essence of experiences through photos. I believe every detail matters, and I aim to provide fair and useful information that helps people make better choices.

Favorite Exploration:
Discovering restaurants, cultural spots, and hidden gems—while capturing the vibe of each place beyond words.

Fun Fact:
I’ve always been curious about new paths and technologies. While I haven’t added a road yet, I’m excited about finding hidden spots that can make a difference on the map.

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Congratulations @Bapt

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