My evening commute with a fellow cartophile (a fan of maps)

I love maps! It is not an exaggeration to say that I am obsessed with maps. Maps provide a distinct perspective on the world and transform ordinary locales into exquisite works of art. My favourite maps are the ones of my native country, Tanzania, the United States of America, Europe, Germany, Washington DC, and, of course, Dar es Salaam.

Although I enjoy maps, I have never encountered somebody who is as enthusiastic about them as I am until this week, when I was driven home by John, a fellow map aficionado. When I hire a bolt, I always know I'm in for a different individual every day, but I never expected to meet someone who enjoys maps as much as I do. This all changed on Wednesday when John arrived. 

John picked me up around 3:30 p.m., and while we were both tongue-tied at the start of the journey, things changed fast when John highlighted Tabata's sheer size. For those who don't know, Tabata is a neighbourhood in Dar es Salaam where I live. Tabata, on the other hand, is enormous, almost like its own district, although it is not. Tabata, according to John, was larger than the ordinary Dar neighbourhood. He stated that some districts, such as Mbezi Beach, can stretch for up to 10 kilometres while getting from one stop to another in Tabata can be much longer. I agreed, even though I've lived in Tabata my entire life. I never noticed how big it is.

The discussion of Tabata opened the floodgates, and John began to discuss Google Maps and how users abuse the application. He notes that some residents incorrectly locate specific locations, which presents issues for Bolt drivers like himself. He said he disliked people who do that and that he enjoys fixing those fraudulently pinned areas in his free time. John also discusses how he appreciates the "democracy" of Google Maps, noting that he and I and other regular people created the entire platform. He claims to assist in the pinning of some places of significance in his neighbourhood like stores and churches, but he has also argued in favour of some form of government regulation of online maps. He hates the misinformation in Google Maps and he believes the government should play a role in stopping it.

It became quiet again for a few minutes until he started talking about what map apps he likes. He thinks Google Maps is the best (something I agree with) and he thinks there is no competition for the app. He told me he loves satellite mode so much because it beautifully paints Dar es Salaam. I could see that he wanted to show me his favourite spots in satellite mode but he couldn’t because he had to pay attention on the road.

The 46-minute drive back home flew by really quickly and boom! I was at home. I enjoyed talking to John *and I was happy to meet someone who could talk about maps for 45 minutes straight just like me. The ride home with John was fun, informative and a pleasant surprise. Loved every moment of it.