[arnvald]

Oh my, I find it so annoying when maps in public places don't have north up.

Usually when I'm in a new place, before leaving my hotel I look at the map and I remember where to go, which turn to take etc. There only problem is metro - I don't know which exit to take, so I always check the map of the area at the metro station. So I look at the map, I know the street I'm going to is in the south, but I cannot find it. Only then I remember to look around the corners of the map, and then I realize, that south is on the right!

I've been wondering why don't just all maps have north up, and I could never come with a very good explanation.

[oe]

Barcelona is one place where this happens. The coast goes SW - NE but many maps are aligned to make it look going north - south. We got lost once trying to navigate west :)

[lurquer]

Ha. Can't believe someone mentioned Barcelona. Went to London and a few other European cities and my cheapo-wrist compass made it so easy to navigate.

Then we reached Barcelona, where every damn road is at a 45 degree angle! Argh. It's not trivial -- at least when you've had several sangrias -- to stand at an intersection, facing NE, and then try to figure out whether to turn left or right to go SE. (Yes, yes... In sure someone here will reply as to how simple it all is... But, keep in mind the sangrias...)

[et-al]

Those maps are usually orientated so that the direction you're looking at them is how things are laid out.

From traveling in different countries, I've learned to first look for the compass rose before assuming north is up.