Maps of our lives
Been cleaning up at home. I have a few atlases –and maps- every normal person would trash. I don’t even consider it. Some of these maps & atlases I bought myself, like the official Atlas of the Netherlands. We had to buy that one while in college (studying cartography, so it made some sense). Others were given to me on special occasions. In a way they all describe my life.
After working with maps, geography and information systems these many years, I still can’t explain the magical dimension of maps and atlases. Is it just the yearning for lands and seas far beyond the horizon or understanding spatial phenomena? There has to be more to it: I remember observing how no single participant of a geo-conference dared to step on a map, which was put on the exhibition floor. What is the secret or sacred of geography? Well, I still have time to find (a direction to) an answer.
Bit of a goofy, soft blog entry? Well, heck, it is weekend and vacation time! What do you expect? At least I did start a new category : me, myself and I.