I like my gadgets. But I've always seen satellite navigation systems as an indulgence, except for professional drivers.
I'm prepared to think again after getting hopelessly lost in Belgium recently. We were heading for the German city of Aachen, after an overnight stop in Bruges. All was going well, as we followed the A3 motorway signs for Brussels and Liege. Suddenly, we saw traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Odd sort of motorway, we thought. Then we emerged in the heart of Brussels. No sign of Liege or the A3 motorway.
We finally realised that we had crossed Belgium's language line and all the French road signs were now in Flemish. We should have been looking for Luik not Liege, despite the fact that the city is overwhelmingly French speaking. Not hugely helpful - why can't they put the signs in both languages? I can imagine the fuss if signs on the M4 in Wales directed drivers to Llundain and Bryste rather than London and Bristol....
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