Cocktails and tapas, maybe with a nice Cuban cigar, would make getting lost even more funnerer.
I flew into Puerto Rico for a solo Caribbean cruise a day early so I could explore Old San Juan a bit. I began walking around, entering bars that were packed, then checking the upstairs of the bar and eventually exiting onto a different street after a drink or three. I eventually found myself extremely lost, drunk, high, and alone. My Spanish consisted of “hola”, "cerveza ", and “como tally vous” (which I eventually figured out was French).
I worried at one point that I would have to just sit down somewhere and wait for morning, but I eventually found my way back, albeit with blistered feet. It was, in retrospect, a cool adventure.
Every morning in Venice, I tried to walk from my hotel, near the train station, to St. Mark’s Square. And every morning I wound up 90 degrees from where I thought I was. It’s like the labyrinth has a space warp that pulls you - and your inner compass - in a totally different direction. The only thing is to give in to it and enjoy the journey. I had a much better time exploring the city while “lost” than if I’d been able to stick to a planned itinerary.
In a cave running low on light and knowing you’ll be headline news in a day or two is NOT it.
I’m a woman and I love getting lost. I love finding my way back.
I am really good at not getting lost, but when I do get lost in a local area I’m more like “I made a wrong turn but I know where I am” instead of “OMG I’m lost!” I’ve gotten turned around while by myself in different states plenty of times.
I agree.
We honeymooned in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It was 1996, before GPS and before cell phones were common. And no compass. All I had was a paper map, and it wasn’t all that great.
I remember one evening… we were on a bunch of gravel roads in the middle of nowhere. I had no idea where we were. It was getting dark, and I was actually starting to get concerned. I somehow found my way to a paved road, and then somehow found a town w/ a motel.
I am reminded of a song by The Bills. The lyrics are…
"I have no where to go, and all day to get there "
If you have time, getting lost is fun!
But ya gotta be prepared.
This did not seem like fun to me.
When my kids were young and gasoline was more reasonable, dropping the top of the Wrangler and exploring back roads, making random turns, was a popular Sunday activity. Occasionally saw amazing things, the conversation was fantastic, and we often were shocked by where we ended up.
I guess getting “lost” means different things. Not knowing exactly where you are and not knowing which way is out/home are two different things. The former can be anywhere from tolerable to exciting. The latter, not so much. I am reminded now, after reading several posts, that Daniel Boone was once asked if he’d ever been lost. He replied that he had not. He had been bewildered for a few days (a few days!) but that was all. Not lost. Tells me also that some people build a tolerance to the immediate lack of a sure exit strategy. Others are less secure in those times. Interesting food for thought here. Appreciate the views.
Said another way, you’re not “lost” until you’re low on supplies. Up to that point you’re simply unsure of your actual position. Someone like Boone who could live off the land didn’t much worry about being lost.
Driving around an unfamiliar part of suburbia in a reliable car with a pocket full of credit cards = not lost. Driving around unfamiliar dirt roads in the boonies with nightfall approaching and 15 miles to empty = lost.
I think it is a personality thing.
I’m one of those “love getting lost” people, assuming I don’t have to be anywhere at any particular time and I’m not in a place that feel actually unsafe. My favorite thing to do when traveling is just to wander around-- soaking in the atmosphere, poking my head into out-of-the-way shops and temples/churches, eating little local snacks and looking for excuses to talk to people. I could easily skip all of the tourist sites in a destination and just spend my whole trip exploring and observing. It probably helps that I’m an avid walker at home. so I’m not worried about my feet getting tired, I’m pretty tough to shake in general.
I’ve got a few epic getting lost stories. Once, I was stopping by a relative’s house otuside of Delhi to stay the night before flying out. In my infinite brilliance, I decided to take a bus there and save on taxi fare. I somehow lost the address, but he lived in a distinctive building that was visible from the highway, so I figured I’d just recognize it. Well, the bus got packed to the point that I couldn’t see anything, and I was eventually let off at what I was assured was the right place. I stepped out and the bus rumbled off…leaving me in the middle of a dusty field. TO the side of the road was a sleeping rickshaw driver who didn’t speak a word of English. Nothing else was in sight.
I figured another bus had to show up at some point, so I stuck around. Eventually a car with a family in it drove by and offered a ride. They had kids and grandparents piled in the car, so I figured it was safe enough. They took me to their nice suburban house and fed me lots of food and showed me family photos. They even brought over one of the grandkids to meet me. Nobody spoke great English, but eventually I was able to communicate the situation. They actually found someone who lived in my relative’s building, and arranged a ride there. I feel bad for imposing on them, but I was amazed by their kindness, and I think I made their day a little more interesting.
Anyway, I enjoy happenstance and don’t get uncomfortable easily. But I completely understand people who have different comfort zones and prefer more structure and control.
Lost in an airplane gets real un-fun real quick.
Lost on a boat at sea in the dark is also attention getting.
Getting lost in anyway is not fun with a panicked person you are responsible for.
As I Z says, "I don’t know where I am at but I can tell you how fast I’m going. "
I would say that getting lost is what is the normal and allows wonderful things to happen, the good will extended by strangers is part of our cultural system. However it places us in a vulnerable position, and many people are uncomfortable with this and like security, like knowing and like not being dependent on others. To me this wanting security is contrary to the human spirit and blocks wonderful things.
It also goes into the issue of God, and is there someone looking over us and guiding us. If you structure your life so you always know then you don’t really get to experience the supernatural as there is no need. But if you venture forth and you do get into a tough spot, this is where one gets to experience fun things, from explanations of just happy coincidences, to even direct supernatural assistance. Even the former, happy coincidences happen so regularly in my experience that it is very hard to believe it is not planned.
There are differences between being lost as in “don’t know where I am and have nowhere special to be right now,” “don’t know where I am and there IS someplace I’m supposed to be” and “I don’t know how to get home.”
The first can be fun, the second is annoying, the third can be terrifying.
Been lost in the forest, not fun. Been lost in an unknown city, in a far land, while alone, with the sun setting. Not so much fun, but a heady challenge.
Being lost in broad daylight in an Asian metropolis, rich in wonders to see at almost every turn, annoying, but once you’ve cerimonially shredded the map and decided to just head off, turns into enormous fun and adventure!
Yeah, there’s lost, and there’s lost.
The best city to just wander around in without caring about where you are is probably Paris. Feeling lost? Simply find the nearest Metro station, and boom, you’re completely un-lost again. And the Metro is super dense in the central areas.
Well if you get lost in a city like Detroit then yes, it can get scary. Been there. Decided at one point the traffic lights were something of a suggested course of action and ignored them.
But out in the country it’s fun as hell. You get to see all kinds of stuff. Find a little town with a great restaurant or an antique store or a beautiful old barn… If the Sun’s out you always have some reference point as to the direction you’re going. And just a cursory look at a map and you know all the major roads in your state. You’ll cross one of them eventually.
I like to set a destination of interest and then meander my way to it. Start out early and look for a small restaurant to eat at. Make a day of it.
Tricks to make getting lost fun:
- Have a flexible schedule. If you know you have to catch a train in three hours, then getting lost is going to be stressful.
- Be prepared. If you’re lost in the wilderness without warm clothes, that’s scary. If you’re lost in a foreign city without any money, that’s scary. If you can handle a little adversity, then don’t worry so much.
- Push through your (mostly irrational) fears. Most of the world is a pretty safe place, and most people are very friendly and helpful. You’re going to be fine.
- Explore. Hey, what’s that cool looking thing over there? Let’s go check it out. We’ll figure out where we are later.
The sport of Orienteering is based around getting lost.
Nominally it’s about navigating around rough country while running as fast as you can. In reality it’s having the ability to realise you are hopelessly off course and figure out where the heck you are and do something about it.
Think of a wire coathanger. The long wire is what you are supposed to do. The next longer wires are what you actually did and the questionmark/hanger is the moment you realise you’ve screwed up and are lost and run around in circles trying desperately to work out where you are.
Compared to the usual rolled ankles, snakebites, heat-stroke, and puncturing by various vegetation and insects, the getting lost bit is really the most enjoyable part of the run.