Photos are the things i share the most on google maps. photos of food to be specific. sometimes a photo of a restaurants interior or its entrance sneaks in, but overwhelmingly it is food. but it didn’t start with one of those. the first few images i put on google maps were hotel rooms and sightseeing shots on a trip to japan my wife and i took. but it was this trip that made it clear to me how wonderfully helpful pictures of food in a restaurant can be. Especially for a traveller who is not able to read the menu in a foreign language. Especially when the pictures are tagged. Instantly you get an idea of what awaits you in a restaurant you found on maps. Is it mainly seafood? fried? fast food or fine dining? Reviews might give you some insight on the quality, but seeing the actual food served somewhere offers a very special kind of insight. Ever since that journey i make a point of photographing my dishes (and i try to tag them even though i tend to forget) so others get some more information if the food at a place might be to their liking.
Not so long ago, it came full circle. My wife and i were at our favourite restaurant where the menu changes often and we are able to share pictures of new dishes nearly each time we visit. At the neighbouring table two travellers from japan were on their phones, comparing pictures of dishes on google maps with the menu. Many of those pictures were shared by me. It was a great feeling to see that i was able to give back to this wonderful community and help others as i was helped before.
So, thanks everyone for sharing your reviews and pictures. it does matter and it does help!
PS: a small side “thing” concerning my pictures on maps is that my wife and i have a friendly competition going on whose pictures get more exposure. for us it’s a fun “contest” (which she is currently winning) but the real winner, i think, are those locals and tourists who get a better idea of a restaurant thanks to our pictures
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