A Local Guide among guides:
Hey Local Guides around the world ?
I am an amateur local guide still testing waters. Becoming a local guide was almost an accident and happened with an interesting story. So whenever I get some time off from work, I randomly pick a location and get off on a trip and half a decade ago it was Sofia, Bulgaria. Everything was set up except I was not an expert in Slavic languages ?. As usual, Google came for help with “Google Translate with the camera” and “Maps” but still I needed more help in directions and wished that just like in India I could ask a street-side vendor about nearby locations that are not in the map. Thanks to the language barrier, there was no-one to the rescue and then I noticed contributions from local guides which saved the day got me hooked to this amazing programmed that crossed all boundaries. I loved every moment I spent there and promised myself that I will come back again but more prepared.
CUT and NEXT Scene: And there I am the picture below again back to Sofia but this time with a badge of Local Guide ? and power of “Maps” in my palm with determination to help the next first-time visitor like me. I had a blast meeting so many local guides ( the picture below ) and exploring new places and sharing meals and medicine after walking all day. Got to experience culture and tradition of and life long friendship. The high point of the trip was getting invited to a local wedding in the city called Blagoevgrad. You can see the amazing ancient church for a wedding in the pictures below and amazing streets of Blagoevgrad filled with colorful umbrella’s which was something I had never seen before.
So this was my story of becoming a local guide and finally, it means a great deal to be being a part of an amazing group of people that are constantly inspiring the world to go out and explore. meet, greet share and help people by using this amazing platform.
