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That's pretty much how directions work outside of major cities in the US too, except for a lack of train stations, and the more rural you get the more landmarks
by redwall_hp 2y ago
That's pretty much how directions work outside of major cities in the US too, except for a lack of train stations, and the more rural you get the more landmarks are replaced with shibboleths.
"Go about ten minutes that way until you see the old Smith farm. [The Smiths haven't lived there for three generations.] Then take a left and head five minutes down Mill Road. [It's actually called something else, has never had a mill on it in its entire history, but is called that by the locals nonetheless.]" Eventually you start wondering when you tripped and fell into a Discworld novel.
- jiveturkey 2y agoI even hear these kind of place names on fire/police radio.
- kalleboo 2y agoAs well characterized by Slim Dusty and Ernie Constance in "Just can't miss it, mate" https://archive.org/details/ka-you-just-cant-miss-it-mate https://archive.org/details/ka-you-just-cant-miss-it-mate
- inopinatus 2y agoIn the UK and Ireland you navigate by pubs, since it is topologically impossible to traverse any connected area without passing at least one pub. The granularity of directions is therefore highest in Dublin (c.f. Joyce, Ulysses, 1922)