The Perils and Pitfalls of Utilizing the Local Knowledge Resource Base

It can often seem like a great idea to ask directions from locals. They do live here after all, so presumably know much more than you do, and are usually really keen to help out a bewildered traveller. But keep in mind that people can often be more eager than able to help, and combined with severe translation difficulties, the advice can sometimes be worse than useless.


As case in point I present: The Cautionary Tale of Fran's Latvian Bus Journey


- Step one was boarding the number 22 bus in downtown Riga to return to hotel.

- Worried that I would not be able to spot my stop in the rather faceless suburb and thinking it would be a relatively simple request, I ask the conductor to point out my stop.

- Great confusion and the combined English skills of four seperate passengers results in the information that I am going in the wrong direction.

- I know that this is not true.

- Am advised to get out immediately and cross the street to get the bus going in the opposite direction.

- As I can tell from my map that my stop is approaching, I thank my (wrong) advisors and prepare to descend.

- Immediate change in consensus on bus and am now advised to wait.

- I gesture frantically at them that I know that actually this is my stop. But I am unconcinving, having tacitly acknowledged by asking directions that I know nothing.

- Try again to descend at the next stop and walk back, but well-meaning passengers urge me to stay. To leave now, against their advice feels like it might discharging yourself from hospital AMA, it would be to disrecpect their weighty authority as locals.

- 3 stops later, after consulting my map, there is agreement that I have missed my stop.

- General merriment ensues at the expense of the lost tourist.

- I am now advised to wait on the bus until it finishes its route and comes back again in the opposite direction. This involves 10 more minutes on the bus, 10 minutes waiting at the terminus, and having to buy another ticket (!)

- The conductor kindly pats my arm and assures me she will tell me when to get off.

- Now realizing that she is pretty old and apprently a little bit batty, I place no faith in this.

- Spotting my stop 10 minutes later, I manage to slip unobserved from the bus while my 'helper' is deep in conversation with a passenger.

So, in conclusion, a good map and a modicum of common sense can sometimes be more valuable than local advice. Lesson well learnt.

Have now made it to Uzbekistan - more on that to follow.