My battery dead, I struggled to remember how to travel without a phone
I'm channelling Karl Marx as I step out of the Apple Store on London's busy Regent Street, though really I shouldn't be in such high spirits. On the first day of a six-week rail trip through Europe, with a Eurail pass loaded onto my phone, I've discovered its battery is dying. Hence, the dash to Regent Street aboard an iconic red double-decker bus, thanks to the directions provided by the phone's maps app.
'It'll take two to three hours to fit a new battery,' says an infeasibly young staff member, and then it hits me. Hours alone in London – without a phone.
But hang on. I spent decades of my adult life travelling without devices, and got along fine without them. How hard can it be? In fact, this could be a good thing, a rebirth of my ability to use my own wits on the road. And that starts with seeking advice from locals. Before my designated 'genius' disappears, I ask where I can find a good coffee around here. 'But not Costa Coffee,' I plead, referring to a popular nationwide chain.
He gets my drift, gives me brief directions to somewhere behind the building, then disappears. I'm on my own, sans phone. Outside on Regent Street, I take a left turn and head into terra incognita.
I'm given an instant reminder of London's endless capacity to surprise as I discover an attractive fenced park with an oval-shaped leafy interior. It's a warm sunny day around lunchtime, so its benches are dotted with office workers taking a break.
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Without my phone, I can't look up the square's name, but that's resolved by a large sign at the entrance. This is Hanover Square, laid out in 1717 and dedicated to King George I. The sign points out Georgian townhouses surviving around the perimeter, and mentions the park's statue of Pitt the Younger was almost pulled down by protesters in 1831. Good to know.
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Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
My battery dead, I struggled to remember how to travel without a phone
'Travellers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your phones!' I'm channelling Karl Marx as I step out of the Apple Store on London's busy Regent Street, though really I shouldn't be in such high spirits. On the first day of a six-week rail trip through Europe, with a Eurail pass loaded onto my phone, I've discovered its battery is dying. Hence, the dash to Regent Street aboard an iconic red double-decker bus, thanks to the directions provided by the phone's maps app. 'It'll take two to three hours to fit a new battery,' says an infeasibly young staff member, and then it hits me. Hours alone in London – without a phone. But hang on. I spent decades of my adult life travelling without devices, and got along fine without them. How hard can it be? In fact, this could be a good thing, a rebirth of my ability to use my own wits on the road. And that starts with seeking advice from locals. Before my designated 'genius' disappears, I ask where I can find a good coffee around here. 'But not Costa Coffee,' I plead, referring to a popular nationwide chain. He gets my drift, gives me brief directions to somewhere behind the building, then disappears. I'm on my own, sans phone. Outside on Regent Street, I take a left turn and head into terra incognita. I'm given an instant reminder of London's endless capacity to surprise as I discover an attractive fenced park with an oval-shaped leafy interior. It's a warm sunny day around lunchtime, so its benches are dotted with office workers taking a break. Loading Without my phone, I can't look up the square's name, but that's resolved by a large sign at the entrance. This is Hanover Square, laid out in 1717 and dedicated to King George I. The sign points out Georgian townhouses surviving around the perimeter, and mentions the park's statue of Pitt the Younger was almost pulled down by protesters in 1831. Good to know.
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
My battery dead, I (briefly) rediscovered the joy of phone-free travel
'Travellers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your phones!' I'm channelling Karl Marx as I step out of the Apple Store on London's busy Regent Street, though really I shouldn't be in such high spirits. On the first day of a six-week rail trip through Europe, with a Eurail pass loaded onto my phone, I've discovered its battery is dying. Hence, the dash to Regent Street aboard an iconic red double-decker bus, thanks to the directions provided by the phone's maps app. 'It'll take two to three hours to fit a new battery,' says an infeasibly young staff member, and then it hits me. Hours alone in London – without a phone. But hang on. I spent decades of my adult life travelling without devices, and got along fine without them. How hard can it be? In fact, this could be a good thing, a rebirth of my ability to use my own wits on the road. And that starts with seeking advice from locals. Before my designated 'genius' disappears, I ask where I can find a good coffee around here. 'But not Costa Coffee,' I plead, referring to a popular nationwide chain. He gets my drift, gives me brief directions to somewhere behind the building, then disappears. I'm on my own, sans phone. Outside on Regent Street, I take a left turn and head into terra incognita. I'm given an instant reminder of London's endless capacity to surprise as I discover an attractive fenced park with an oval-shaped leafy interior. It's a warm sunny day around lunchtime, so its benches are dotted with office workers taking a break. Loading Without my phone, I can't look up the square's name, but that's resolved by a large sign at the entrance. This is Hanover Square, laid out in 1717 and dedicated to King George I. The sign points out Georgian townhouses surviving around the perimeter, and mentions the park's statue of Pitt the Younger was almost pulled down by protesters in 1831. Good to know.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
My battery dead, I (briefly) rediscovered the joy of phone-free travel
'Travellers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your phones!' I'm channelling Karl Marx as I step out of the Apple Store on London's busy Regent Street, though really I shouldn't be in such high spirits. On the first day of a six-week rail trip through Europe, with a Eurail pass loaded onto my phone, I've discovered its battery is dying. Hence, the dash to Regent Street aboard an iconic red double-decker bus, thanks to the directions provided by the phone's maps app. 'It'll take two to three hours to fit a new battery,' says an infeasibly young staff member, and then it hits me. Hours alone in London – without a phone. But hang on. I spent decades of my adult life travelling without devices, and got along fine without them. How hard can it be? In fact, this could be a good thing, a rebirth of my ability to use my own wits on the road. And that starts with seeking advice from locals. Before my designated 'genius' disappears, I ask where I can find a good coffee around here. 'But not Costa Coffee,' I plead, referring to a popular nationwide chain. He gets my drift, gives me brief directions to somewhere behind the building, then disappears. I'm on my own, sans phone. Outside on Regent Street, I take a left turn and head into terra incognita. I'm given an instant reminder of London's endless capacity to surprise as I discover an attractive fenced park with an oval-shaped leafy interior. It's a warm sunny day around lunchtime, so its benches are dotted with office workers taking a break. Loading Without my phone, I can't look up the square's name, but that's resolved by a large sign at the entrance. This is Hanover Square, laid out in 1717 and dedicated to King George I. The sign points out Georgian townhouses surviving around the perimeter, and mentions the park's statue of Pitt the Younger was almost pulled down by protesters in 1831. Good to know.
