I am not going to lie to you, the Local Guides program despite having significantly impacted my life and that I have been involved in it for more than five years, I have met few guides in my city, Barquisimeto. However, my way of seeing what surrounds me has gained a new dimension, when I see something new and / or interesting, my desire to register it in Google Maps so that others can know it and visit it.
I dream someday to hold a Meet ups in my locality to be able to gather other guides from my city in a great event so that we can get to know each other and improve our role as guides.
For me, being a Local Guides means learning, adventure, discovery, friendship, sharing and fun.
When I started using Google maps, in the distant 2005, I felt a fascination discovering places that I did not know and were close to me. I went through everything with satellite photos and this new visual perspective changed my life.
I wanted to be part of this, I wanted to register in google maps the things that I saw in my city and they were not registered. Thus, a few years later with my smart phone I began my adventures as Local Guides. I focused on the east of the city of Barquisimeto, which I consider to be my launch zone. I have registered in other areas of the city and even in other locations such as Guanare.
I have taken many photos that have had a significant impact, including a photo that has more than a million views. This is great for me since the Local Guides program has allowed me to apply my other passion, photography.
I have also discovered that my role as Local Guides allows me to help others, especially small local businesses that have little to invest in advertising. I add the location on the maps, take one or more photos and write a short review of the place. The most recent case I have had is a food and meeting place called Frida’s Café located in the C.C. Río Lama in Barquisimeto. There I had a delicious hamburger and had a good coffee. The place was nice to me and I wanted to share it with the world. The effect was immediate, after a few weeks the visits increased and the place expanded to receive more people. This is one of the joys of being a guide in my city.
In my beloved city of Barquisimeto I have discovered that there are other Local Guides but we don’t know each other. That is why I dream someday to be the organizer of a meet up here and that we can finally meet to get to know each other, share tips to improve our work as guides. I would very much like this to happen soon.
I also manage my company in Google Business, the company is called Magicsur Barquisimeto and I love everything the platform offers me. I have commented to other small entrepreneurs in my city so that they can use it and they can increase their visits and therefore sales.
A month ago I met a person to whom I commented that I was Local Guides and my surprise was great when that person told me that he was also. We started talking about our experiences, our medals and competing for who had the photo with the most views. It was very fun to have that talk and I imagine having it with many other guides in the city and I think it will be more spectacular with international guides.
It is true that I have not participated in any meet ups near my city and country. It is not easy for me to travel so far. But I dream of someday attending one of these or even organizing one. I want to take advantage of the local guides program to meet new friends locally and around the world. I have a lot to offer and I want you to get to know me.