GPS mix-up brings wrong turn and celebrity to American lost in Iceland

[webfact]

GPS mix-up brings wrong turn and celebrity to American lost in Iceland
Dan Bilefksy

London: When Noel Santillan typed the word Laugarvegur instead of Laugavegur into his rental car's GPS, the New Jersey resident couldn't have imagined that the extra "r" would make him something of a celebrity in Iceland.

Santillan, 28, arrived at Keflavik International Airport on Monday morning after a five-hour flight from New York and was eager to get to the Hotel Fron on Laugavegur, a main street in Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, local media reported. But the spelling error got in his way, according to Visir, an Icelandic news website.

While driving nearly six hours over icy roads, Santillan, who works in retail marketing, had an inkling that something might be wrong, local news reports said.

His suspicion was confirmed when he arrived in Siglufjordur, a remote fishing village in northern Iceland that is roughly 430 kilometers, or about 270 miles, from the airport and has a road named Laugarvegur.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/world/gps-mixup-brings-wrong-turn-and-celebrity-to-american-lost-in-iceland-20160205-gmmlh4.html

-- Sydney Morning Herald 2016-02-05

[Ulic]

Either really a smart tourist marketing ploy or a dummy. Not quite sure.

[Andaman Al]

And that is what happens when we rely on technology without a gross error check. There is an old adage "s**t in = s**t out". When he saw 430 kilometers to destination, did he not think something was wrong? Wonder if he got a bed for the night?

[Mr Money Bags]

What did Andy Warhol say about 15 minutes?

Rarely have statements proven to be much truer......

You're Welcome!!

[bendejo]

Good anecdote. Remember this if you ever go to Argentina, where they use the same names over again for towns, streets, etc.