Travel TECH

It's been a minute. Actually, it's been over six months since I last wrote! During that time, I have gone through an incredible personal journey that started with self-reflection and ended with a job (a unique Venture Capital firm called Vested). A job makes the discovery process that much harder, given my responsibilities and time constraints. Nonetheless, I have a desire (need?) to connect with my fellow Loupers. As such, I have toned down my ambition a bit and am comfortable offering up one, maybe two, possibly more finds in a single Newsletter.

This week I am thinking about my upcoming travel. Another significant change in my life is that I have become an official empty nester. Two kids in college, two kids out of college, and a house that is generally void of them. Therefore, I have adapted my travel habits in some notable and interesting ways. Broadly, I want to be around (the hoop) in the off chance that any of my kids want to hang with me. Therefore, I make fewer plans to be out of town and generally don't make them too far in advance. Sure, some things require planning and access, but for the most part, I am not booking exotic travel 15 months out. This Winter Break, my family is headed to Rome so we can be together, without others, for maximum bonding. In preparation for this trip, I am excited for the following Finds!

VoiceMap
App, Travel

The best way to get acquainted/acclimated with a city is a tour. An engaging tour guide will bring a city to life through a combination of historical and current landmarks and stories that reveal the core of what makes that place special. However, I have unfortunately experienced the gamut of tour guides; ones who don't speak English well (enough), are new guides and haven't mastered the storytelling, and even ones who get lost! VoiceMap is an app that you can download that has some of the best tour guides in most cities. They have created location-enabled, individualized tours that start and stop based on where you are. You can choose from a variety of tours and guides, listen to samples, and read other users' reviews. I recently visited Savannah, Georgia, did a walking tour, and learned so much about this historic city that was hidden (to me) just below the surface. I did it at the end of my days there, wish I had done it upfront, as it allowed me to understand the city and directed me to some fantastic meals and activities. I recommend this app for wherever you are going, assuming it's not a beach!

MetaxRayBan Glasses
Accessories, Technology

I have recommended many listening devices, and I would add these glasses to the list. The reason I am calling them out here is that they may be helpful in concert with the VoiceMap App, and here is why. The speakers are in the arms of the glasses, so you aren't 100% immersed in what you are listening to and can take in other noises, like a bicycle bell or car horn, when you are in harm's way on your tour. These glasses have the added benefit of taking videos & pictures, as well as tapping into the Meta AI app; however, this isn't a significant improvement over Siri or the Google Assistant. These make a nice present; they're a nice-to-have, not a must-have.

Good to be back in touch, enjoy your holiday travel, get to know where you are on a deeper level, and consider VoiceMap and MetaxRayBan Glasses Found!