Hi, my name is Christopher. I’m from San Jose, Costa Rica, but I’ve been living in San Diego, California since July 2015. Since the first day I arrived in San Diego, Google Maps was the most useful app I had on my phone - along with Gmail - because it helped me to get around in San Diego. At my arrival I wasn’t able to drive, I had to rely on public transportation - trolley and buses - when my wife couldn’t offer me a lift. Due to the bad public transportation infrastructure in Southern California, Google Maps was the best solution to check bus routes, stops, connections, hours, etc.
I got hooked to Local Guides when I was outside the house, I was hungry and was craving something yummy and affordable to eat, I noticed that Google Maps had an option to read reviews, ratings, check the menu, hours and other stuff along with the address. In the beginning, I got hooked just reading the comments and pictures, then, little by little I started to rate the different places I visited, and finally posting reviews and pictures. At some point, it became something addicting, thanks to the gamification practices within Local Guides. Even though the perks we got for our contributions are awesoooooome, for me, the biggest reward is giving other people tools and information to better explore a city, a place, a community. I hope my contributions encourage us all to spend more time outside, enjoying the things we like.