Map Acquisition Syndrome

Map Acquisition Syndrome - is there a cure? I have been given so many maps by people clearing out their apartments that it has overwhelmed my filing system. Many have been sitting in shopping bags for a year now while I figure out what to do with them. Here are some paper maps people have foisted on me knowing I can't say no. This is therapy-before I file them away I need to show off my bounty.

Insight FlexiMap of Budapest - so shiny it's hard to get a good picture.

For contrast here's the Budapest tourist agency map  

Details from the shiny flip side of the Insight map - the road to Lake Balaton and the Metro

 

Rand McNally map of Italy-an undated map from a Fodor's travel guide. The credits mention a Stuttgart office that no longer seems to exist. 

Here is a newer Fodor's map of Naples. This one produced by the British map company Lovell Johns.

Old Quebec - a nice pictorial map  

"Marco Polo" map of Russia. These maps come with stickers so you can mark places of personal interest. 

Same company-Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Note the delicate task of naming Saigon. 

Official City of Rome tourist map with pictorial details.

Monte Carlo tourist agency map

Bilbao Turismo

Bilbao Transportes 

AAA map of Tucson

Sorry for the poor quality of some of these pictures. I don't have a professional map photography setup. There are many more - stay tuned for another installment.

Bubble Wrap Map

I love the satisfying sensation of popping bubble wrap. Now you can pop with purpose - to show your travels through the world, or at least through Budapest.

Sator Space, designer of the previously featured Egg Map, is back with Pop Map.

From their press release:

PopMap is not only an unconventional, playful tourist guide, it also serves as a great tool to release nervous energy while exploring the world. Several studies have shown the stress-relieving effect of popping bubble wraps and the way it relaxes people. Plus Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is a REAL thing, celebrated around the world on the last Monday of January. So pop through the sights with your therapeutic map and leave not a bubble behind.

The map is nice and colorful. Here's a close up view.

and a view from underneath.

Here's a view showing part of the legend.

For now, they only have Budapest in stock but there other cities that will be pop-able soon.

For more info see their product page, to puchase see their web shop. The shop also features other cool products like the Metroshka, based on the Russian matryoshka (nesting dolls) -  nesting transit.

If you're Hungarian and want to read it in your native language go here.

Vidd magadal az utazásaidon és ne hagyj egy buborékot se érintetlenül ezen a terápiás térképen!

Egg Map

Dénes Sátor, a designer in Budapest created the Egg Map. Squeeze it and you zoom in for more detail.

From facebook:

EggMap by Budapest-based designer Dénes Sátor is a pocket-size tool for urban explorers to navigate the city and squeeze away the stress.

 The map has some nice details of Budapest. The districts are color coded and then each block shaded differently, probably at random to distinguish them. While not informative, it makes for a pretty map

The zoomed in look is a bit strange with its variously sized symbols and text  but that may be partially because it is meant to be looked at while squeezed.

There's even a legend - at least there's one on the Behance page.

Order details are on Facebook but when you go there it appears the "launch" hasn't happened yet - otherwise I would have ordered one just to play with. If you want an egg map of your city there is a Google Doc where you can request it. The time frame on any of this is quite unclear.