iPad and street maps

I found using map apps incredibly useful when recently traveling with the iPad in tow.
The ability to zoom in and use maps to navigate in a foreign city is not only helpful, but if you happen to be connected to wifi, gps finds where you are anywhere on the map.
I've been to Venice many times but have always found new ways to get lost trying to navigate the serpentine streets in search of an obscure church or site. Twisting canals turn and lead the tourist in an unexpected direction where maps are helpful.
As luck would have it, we rarely are connected to wifi when really lost and most cities will not give you a constant nor reliable wifi for your iPad. I found downloading a few maps in advance of my daily walking tours was very useful. You can save a few snapshots of street maps in the Photos file and then zoom in when walking through unfamiliar streets.

The streetwise maps purchase for major cities worldwide is:

http://www.languagequest.com/traveler/home/publisher_maps.php?publisher=Streetwise&gclid=CPbsoMXJu7wCFW1nOgodxRQAAg

Perhaps the college can purchase the Florence streetwise map and share it with all of our Farmingdale Students studying abroad in Florence this summer? I'll be sure to mention it to Lorraine and Jessica. I'm more familiar with Florence but the map will be a great compendium for any study abroad class in an unfamiliar city.
-Thomas Germano
February 5 (+2), 2014