Navigation
I have a terrible sense of direction. If you show me a map of where we are and point out where my destination is, then take away the map and send me on my way, I am quite likely to set off 180 degrees off course. This has always felt odd, because I love maps, and the study of navigation; during my Day Skipper practical qualification (which consisted of a week sailing along Croatia) my instructor was puzzled by how much time I spent below deck working out our position on the chart. And my genetically poor natural navigation has been further eroded by daily use of GPS, one more example of ostensibly helpful technology sapping an experience of humanity.
So last week, when I had a meeting in the center of Helsinki (where I have now lived for five years!) and I had a little more time than needed to get from the metro stop to the destination, I decided to set myself the challenge of getting there without touching my phone. I knew my destination was South of my starting point, so I looked in the sky (helpfully clear) and set off in approximately that direction based on where the sun was. I used landmarks that I knew, and even with a mental 90 degree rotation of one main road, I managed to follow approximately the shortest possible route (and knew I was in the right place by the sighting of Runeberg, below, facing the rising sun).
It was a small, enjoyable puzzle to start the day. It made me recall friends (Amrys!) who are particularly good at 20th century style driving directions (go left at the big oak tree, then watch for a dilapidated gas station, and turn right). It was a joy to spend 15 minutes looking at the 3D world, engaging my brain like it was 1999.
