Visits from our Neighbours and Apple Maps

Our neighbours from Maui stopped by over lunch two days ago to visit us in Alcácer do Sal. They had been up north in Ericeira visiting their daughter’s family and were heading to the Algarve for a long weekend. Their visit was all too brief, but in their favour they managed to get lost coming into town, which negated us having to take them around town - they did the self-guided tour!

While we were sitting down having lunch at our favourite restaurant along the river front, I looked up and saw a white Apple Maps car drive by. Although Alcácer is on Apple Maps, it still felt unusual to me to see a big tech company driving through the small town. On the roof of the car was a camera that appeared to be looking in four directions at once. On the side I caught the words Apple Maps. Here is a not very clear photo of the car. By the time that I was able to get my phone out, read “camera,” the car had passed us by.

A white Apple Maps car drives along the river front of a small town. In the foreground are outside tables, chairs and umbrellas from a restaurant. In the background are buildings and trees on a hill. The ground is made up of cut stones. The sky is blue and the sun is out.

Perhaps Apple Maps is getting a facelift? It certainly needs one here in Portugal. Apple Maps is my go to GPS system for the aesthetics of its user interface. However, its directional knowledge is seriously lacking at times in Portugal. In various instances, it has,

  • directed me to turn into oncoming traffic;
  • sent me to the wrong place;
  • made me end up on a sandy ”road” that just came to an end;
  • sent me on what seem like very long routes;
  • said that I had to turn onto a street that said ”No Entry”.

I want to use Apple Maps, but the reality is that here in Portugal I just do not find it reliable. On this trip I am using Waze - thank you for the recommendation Maique.