Giving Directions

Question

This link is a map

I was walking on the street today and when I was at Midland Ave. & Passmore Ave. (the red X on the map), a lady with her son walked up to me and asked me for directions. She wants to know how to get to Pacific Mall (the green X on the map). I explained to her and although she understood, I knew I wasn't saying it accurately. How would you describe it accurately?

Thanks a million!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Let's hear what you said, or what you remember saying, first, Jin.  And then we'll let you know what was accurate and what was not.

Anonymous · Answer

We were standing on Passmore so I said something like keep walking straight pass the sidestreets until you hit Kennedy. Make a right on Kennedy and keep walking until you reach Steeles.

I just have a feeling there's a better way of saying it lol.

Mister Micawber · Answer

That sounds just fine to me, Jin. I would probably have said: Go straight up Midland to the end, then turn left down Steeles Avenue and you'll see the mall on your right after a couple of blocks.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber,

I am sorry to interrupt. Sometimes I hear "go down..." Is "go down" same as "go straight up.." here in meaning? Because I looked at the other threads: I live down / up the block. They mean the same.

Thank you.

Tinanam

Mister Micawber · Answer

They mean the same.  In real life they are accompanied by a gesture of direction with the index finger.  Above, I said 'up' probably because I was looking at Jin's map, where the movement is up (north) on the map.

Anonymous · Answer

Is it ok or sound right to say: Go straight up Passmore to Kennedy, then turn right down Kennedy and you'll see the mall across the road.

I am a little confused about how to count blocks. Did you mean from Midland to Silver Stars Blvd is one block and from there to Kennedy is another block so it's a couple of blocks?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes, you can say that, too. There is no one right answer; different people use different phrases and suggest different landmarks, for instance.

Few real people are sure of the number of blocks or how to count them (for instance, when a street intersects from one side only), so usually just a general indication is given: 'a couple of' = 1 or 2 or 3.

A real set of directions by a local denizen who knows the area might sound like this:

Go straight up Passmore here to Kennedy, that's the first main cross street up there (pointing along Passmore toward Kennedy), then at Kennedy – there's a big Marlboro billboard at the corner, I think – turn right down Kennedy and go along for a while – you'll see the big Splendid China Tower off to your right – and then if you keep on a little more to the next intersection, to where Steeles Avenue crosses Kennedy, you'll see the mall right there across the road on your right. You can't miss it – it has a big, glass-fronted entrance.

Anonymous · Answer

thank you~

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I went to the Pacific Mall a few weeks ago. I drove up the Don Valley Parkway.

It always seems to me like visiting Hong Kong.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

I visited Hong Kong once when I was a kid (well I'm still a kid now, a bigger kid) just right before I immigrated to Canada. I could barely remember what it was like, but I loved it. The place was awesome. :]

Giving Directions

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