Lost. Again. Thanks, Google.

Go home Google, You're Drunk 

 I am so f--ing sick of being lost. Google Maps is an absolute shitshow. Thursday I tried to do a practice run to the Great Synagogue, which as far as I could tell was about a 15-minute walk. I followed Google's instructions even when they seemed to be taking me out of my way. I knew I was was backtracking but I figured I had taken a wrong turn somewhere. Google's measurements were all off--they would say that a certain cross street was 60 meters ahead when I was actually a few steps from the corner. Finally Google said I was almost at the synagogue. Five minutes away. Then three minutes. Then...eight minutes? ...10 minutes? A giant synagogue isn't the kind of thing you could walk past without noticing. Especially if you were looking for it. I eventually gave up and went home. 

Today I looked at the simple map they had you at the front desk and walked straight there. Fifteen minutes. Two turns.

I did manage to get slightly lost again on the way home, since I had gone in the front door but left by the back door after kiddush. 

More absolute insanity from Google:

This morning I thought I'd check again for straightforward directions to the synagogue. The route twisted around and doubled back on itself and made no sense. Estimated time was over half an hour. I almost wonder if they're trying to make sure no terrorists ever find the place.

Then I started over and managed to get "Your Location" in the From field and "ParkRoyal Hotel" in the To field. I was sitting in the restaurant of the hotel. Google said I could drive to the hotel in seven minutes. Or walk there in 20 minutes, if I preferred

Even more absolute insanity from Google:

On a cruise around Sydney Harbor, with a little pop-up map in the tour company app that offers to give you directions to the thing you're looking at. Apparently I could either walk or bike to Clark Island. From the boat to the island. Across the water. Jesus Christ!
Oh yeah, I could get him to take me.