myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hi
Good maps of Tobago has always been a trouble as the general tourist roadmaps are´nt so good.
Today I was looking in Stockholm for a good map, and this year I found some good ones.

So far I have been using at least 2 maps every year as they get wet while walking around.The shop had three different maps over Trinidad & Tobago, two are in paper and one is laminated.

No 1_The biggest one whows many details but is 1x1m fully open! Not so good at all on a road walk.

No 2_The medium one also hade a lot of details, about the same size of Tobago compared with the general Road Map & Guide in Crown Point (unknown scale of that map)but still quite big to handle.

No 3_The third one is laminated, shows Trinidad in scale 1:281 00, Tobago1:140 000 and the Caribbean in scale 1:7 855 000. Very easy to handle.
When fully open the map is 68x44 cm, but it possible to only show Tobago and the size is then only 39x22 cm, very small and nice.

The laminated map also has information about places, streets, points of interest, public buildings, beaches, wildlife reserves and scuba diving. There are also informations type Facts for the Visitor and 10 sights you shouldn´t miss.

AS far I can see, all the major roads are shown, but mostly without their name, the new road on between L´Anse Fourmi is also shown! In my opinion, this map show the roads and their junctions in a better way compared with the general Road Map & Guide.

The information on the map say it´s distributed by:
GeoCenter International Ltd, The Viables Centre, Harrow Way
Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4BJ
Fax: (44) 1256-827988

The ISBN NO is: ISBN#9-8123-4911-1
The map was prized in the shop in GBP, USD and SEK
UK £4.99; US $7.95
But of course, I don´t know if the prize is old or not.

Ronald

Hi Ronald

The map you are referring to is the Insight 'FlexiMap' map of Trinidad & Tobago. Being laminated, it is tough and durable and works well as a pocket map. It is just a pity that the map of Tobago is so small.

Anyway, the main point of responding to your praise of the map is to say that that map uses the same cartography as we use on this site. Have a look at our enlargements in menu:Tobago/Maps and you will see that they are identical. As I have been licenced to use this by the original cartographers, I may well try to use this by updating and re-drawing the roads where inaccurate or updated. Its a lot of work, but I will only get stung if I try to arrange a licence elsewhere.

Hi Steve

Yes, I´ve seen that, but as I´m walking around a lot, the paper maps always sooner or later get destroyed, so I was happy to see a laminated map, even a small one.

It´s true that the map is so small so it doesn´t have much space for a lot of informations, but we cant get everything we ant, can we?

Normally I use to have a bigger map to look at before I leave, sometimes I make a copy of a section, put it into a transparent plastic folder and, when walking, using a the smaller map together with the copied section. I don´t need to see every roads name or every track name all over Tobago when taking a walk.

The biggest map show a lot but, it´s nearly impossible to use as I would slowly destroy the map because I only want to see a small section of it. Now I at least have a map which doesn´t care if I sometimes walk into hard rain.
Ronald

Steve,
I know of a cartographic surveyor locally willing to give time and assisstance, give me a call if you need his contact details !
Kevin.

Hi Kevin

Yes, I suspect I know the same guy. Trouble is, I have a feeling he's the person responsible for all thes sat-nav errors that sends trucks down narrow lanes and cars through deep fords, etc.

Seriously, though - we're due for a curry and should get together and give me the benefit of your wisdom (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt).

Hi Steve,

I make maps not sat navs, think you've been reading The Mail too much! Mind you I am amazed how many people get into trouble with these sat navs, why do they do exactly as the machine says and take no notice of the road signs etc? Don't get me started it's Sunday I should be relaxing......

Anyway, look forward to the curry, email or ring.

Cheers.

kevin.

Thanks Kevin - you've given me two huge laughs and cheered this miserable grey morning.

Glad I've cheered your morning up, its bright and sunny here I'll send some over!