First, Google's map imagery is essentially non-existant in Central America, so it's hard to really zoom in and pick the place you're looking for off the map.

Second, the Spanish weren't all that creative when they came up with place names for their new empire. This means that it's nearly impossible to look up a town called "Guadalajara" because there are 40 of them in our City list.

My advice would be to try to get as close as you can, and then bother me unrelentingly to put the towns you can't find onto the map in the correct place. I'm happy enough to do it, and it's really not that much work since there are only a few regions of the world where this is a problem.

Anyway, I know it's lame to blame our deficiencies on Google and the Spanish Empire, but hopefully this problem will go away in the near future (Google recently added road maps for Africa and Thailand. China and Central America are likely next on the list).

Hope you're having a great time in Costa Rica!

Jason

written by  Jason Kester on July 17, 2007

PS. It seems that you might not have to wait all that long after all. Google added China coverage to its map imagery just a few days ago (they should show up here in about a week). I wouldn't be surprised to see Costa Rican road maps showing up before you make it home.

Jason

written by  Jason Kester on July 17, 2007

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