Google Street View car in action in Helsinki, Finland

Google’s Street View is a most wonderful tool for anyone who loves maps and travelling - which comprises if not most then at least millions of us! You get by fine with Google Maps alone, but the Street View really enhances the experience.

The article series Streets & Squares here in Journeys of Life has so far only had links to Google Maps, but we are gradually adding also the Street View feature in all of the cities and towns that we present in the series. It places you instantly in the area you are reading about, and whether you have been there for real, plan to be there, or just want to get the feeling of the surroundings, it does add the virtual touch that we are so used to in today’s world.

In the words of Google Maps, Street View is

“a virtual representation of our surroundings on Google Maps, consisting of millions of panoramic images. Street View’s content comes from two sources - Google and contributors. Through our collective efforts, we enable people everywhere to virtually explore the world.”

We hope that you may find Streets & Squares a useful tool to do just that - and at the same time finding out who gave the name to that street, park, bridge or square.