The Details are the Picture

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The Details are the Picture
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Picture provided by National Park Service
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Example View 1 A dusty desert byway with a
yellow-and-black road marker and a cattle pen on
one side.

• Wardley OK, right away Im thinking American
  Southwest, probably like Texas, New Mexico,
  Arizona. Just mostly because of the dryness of
  the landscape. And then cattle are clearly a big
  industry in that part of the U.S. But I also know
  its a big industry in Australia.Jim Yeah, why
  couldnt this be Australia?Wardley I guess it
  could be. But Im going to go with my original
  gut instinct. It feels more familiar than
  Australia.
• Wardleys guess Western New MexicoActual
  location Southeastern Arizona

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Example View 2 A modern, urban plaza studded
with men dressed in suits and a sculpture that
looks like a giant swirl of purple frozen yogurt.

• Wardley You can quickly tell this is Asia, just
  based on the inhabitants and the language on the
  buildings.Jim Yeah. But wait, what does that
  awning say? Bennigans? And that one says
  Texas Western Ice Bar!Wardley Ha! Im
  thinking that this has to be in Korea.
• Wardleys guess Daegu, South KoreaActual
  location Seoul, South Korea

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Example View 3 A two-lane road flanked by leafy,
rolling countryside on one side and a palatial
estate on the other.

• Wardley Automatically, thats Europe. And
  theyre driving on the same side of the road as
  us, so its not England. It almost looks a little
  like Versailles.Jim Could it actually be
  Versailles?Wardley No, no. Too small to be
  Versailles. Im thinking Italy. Clearly the
  season is fall, so its a place with four
  seasons. There are hills, but its not in the
  Alps. Im going with Italy.
• Wardleys guess Northwestern Italy, near
  TurinActual location Northeastern Italy, near
  Padua

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Example View 4  A dirt roadway through scrubby
vegetation, with no signs or people in sight.

• Jim Oh man, this could be anywhere.Wardley Yeah
  , but it looks beachy. (She notes the
  sandy-looking soil, which I hadnt noticed, and
  the wind-gnarled vegetation.) Maybe the Bahamas?
  But wait, the vegetation really isnt that
  tropical. And its too dry. Im changing my
  answer. Its Australia.
• Wardleys guess South Australia, near
  AdelaideActual location Kangaroo Island, South
  Australia, near Adelaide

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Takeaway

•  Language can be a good tip-off, but dont assume
  a place is English-speaking just because it has
  terrible American chain restaurants.
• Cultural cues tell you the continent vegetation
  tells you the altitude and latitude. But
  longitude can be trickier.
• When there are no signs to read, read the plants
  and the dirt.

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Be Careful, you might be fooled.