Saturday, December 15, 2007

Lille Error, Wrong Border

Are You Sure We're In France?


Fifty British shoppers taking a coach trip to Lille in France ended up 100 miles away in Belgium in a tiny village of the same name, thanks to a blunder on the driver's satellite-navigation device. Furious trippers spent an extra four hours on the bus as the red-faced driver drove from the middle of Belgium to the French spot first intended. The day trippers paid nearly $400 each for the Christmas trip, but got fewer than two hours' shopping time.


FOOTNOTE: Big blunder, but at least they're not Down Under.

 

9 comments:

Les Becker said...

They could've saved the $400 and spent the 4 extra hours at home in their PJs at an e-party...

Likely intoxicated, to boot. Much better plan.

dalene said...

I could tell you stories...

Chertiozhnik said...

There was a nice Google Map a while ago showing motoring directions from Chicago to London. We have got as far as Boston...

19 Turn right at Long Wharf 0.1 mi

20 Swim across the Atlantic Ocean 3,462 mi

21 Slight right at E05 0.5 mi

22 At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto E05/Pont Vauban 0.1 mi

For us Englishmen, it was a bit annoying that you then drive straight from the French Coast to London ignoring the Channel altogether.

Sadly the bug is now fixed and transatlantic japes are no more.

But here is the evidence
http://consumerist.com/consumer/google/google-suggests-you-swim-across-the-atlantic-ocean-248199.php

The Egel Nest said...

Alternate Footnote:

Bus driver actually secret operative for Belgium chamber of commerce...navigation device is fine...


Bradley
The Egel Nest

Casdok said...

I had to laugh!

Melissa said...

Funny but sad story in my opinion that the driver couldn't figure out he was going the wrong way before they arrived in Belgium? Scary actually...

Amrita said...

They got an extra country to visit, altho wouldn 't be pleased at that time.

Unknown said...

The joys of modern technologies never fail to amaze me.

Angie said...

This reminds me of something that happened to friends of ours years ago.They moved house to Whitby,Ellesmere Port,Cheshire.Their furniture however ended up in Whitby, Yorkshire!