FLANEUR

SOCIETY'S

GUIDE TO
GETTING
LOST

No.

/200

This special print run of The Guide to

Getting Lost was created in collaboration
with Carl Goes, the city guide publisher for
curious and creative people.
In the spirit of adventure we both urge you
to take this guide and go on an urban safari.
May your journey take you to unexpected
places resulting in inspiring discoveries.

FLANEUR
SOCIETY

HOW DO
YOU GET
FROM
POINT A
TO B?

WHAT IF
THERE
WAS NO
POINT B?

THE
CIT Y IS
YOUR
FOREST

The Flaneur Society was

created to encourage and
inspire the idea of the flneur;
the urban explorer.
Through the concept of the urban safari, the
Flaneur Society seeks out people who like to
explore the hidden crevices of cities. It is also
for those who might not naturally get off the
beaten path, but have an innate desire to do so.
We argue that what makes cities interesting
places to be is the unexpected. By deliberately
creating a space for idle wandering without destination, the chance of discovery is heightened.
The Flaneur Society is not about commerce. It's
about discovering what is right under your feet,
in front of you, above you and around you.
Ultimately, there are two rules of thumb that will
serve you well: take your time and embrace the
journey. The rest is up to serendipity and you.

Not to
find one's
way in a
city means
little

But
to lose
oneself in
a city as
one loses
oneself in
a forest
requires
practice

Then the street names

must call out to the lost
wanderer like the snapping
of dry twigs, and the small
streets of the city-centre
must reflect the time of
day as clearly as the
mountain hollow.
Walter Benjamin

GO ON AN

URBAN
SAFARI

OPTION 1

Urban safari

Head to the bus stop nearest your house.

Get on the next bus that arrives.
Get off after 15 stops.
When you step off the bus, take a left.
When you pass a person who looks interesting to you, turn around immediately
and take the next left.
Find the nearest newspaper stand, local
shop or caf.
Stop and observe your surroundings.

Head in the direction that looks most

interesting to you.
Turn into the next side street that you
come across and take a right when you
come out of it.
Reorientate yourself and look for the
nearest hill. Head towards it.
Look for a place to take a break (bench,
park, grass). Sit there for at least ten
minutes and see what unfolds.
EXPERT TIP
If at any point in your journey these
guidelines are not useful, head towards
something that interests you. Remember,
the urban safari is more about the joy of
discovering the unexpected than following
a set of instructions.

OPTION 2

Point of interest

Head to a neighbourhood you are

curious about.
As your starting point, pick a park or
another spot that attracted you to that
specific neighbourhood.
Once you've thoroughly explored this point
of interest, start walking.
Keep walking straight until you reach a red
traffic light. Change the direction you're
travelling in and walk towards the first
traffic light to turn green.
Turn left at the end of that street and head
towards the next junction.
Once there, head in the direction that
looks most interesting to you. Take a right
after two blocks.

Try to find a cyclist. If cyclists are too

easy, look for a dog. Head in the same
direction, walk for another three blocks
and then return to step four.
Follow these steps until youve seen
enough of this neighbourhood.
Once you've seen enough, get on a bus
heading somewhere unfamiliar. Go for a
ride. Look out of the window instead of on
your phone. Get off again when something catches your eye.
EXPERT TIP
Leave your phone at home. If you really
get lost and need assistance, just ask.
Someone will be able to help you find your
way and that interaction might just be the
most memorable part of your journey.

OPTION 3

The way you know (sort of)

Go to a familiar area of the city that still

requires more exploring. Hint: this could
be any neighbourhood, even your own.

And another.

Head in the general direction of a

landmark in your vicinity.

Et cetera.

En route, take a street you wouldn't

normally take (or better yet, have never
taken before).

And another.

Congratulations! You are a flneur.

New discoveries abound.

Take another street that you wouldn't

normally take.
And another.

EXPERT TIP
Dont be afraid to wander off the beaten
track. Side streets hold all sorts of subtle
treasures waiting to be discovered.

OPTION 4

Find your own way

The art of getting lost is a bit counter-intuitive.

In many ways we are suggesting retraining your
brain, which is generally used to having a point
B to rely on. Instead, we're asking you to try to
be OK with not having a point B.
Admittedly, there is comfort in knowing where
you are going. But adventure awaits in opening
yourself up to something unexpected.
Above all, the most useful guidelines are:

Here are some different approaches

to inspire you:
Draw what you see
Even if you aren't very skilled at drawing, documenting your experience in this way will be an
interesting reminder of what stood out to you.
Take a camera with you
This can help hone your ability to notice the
magic that can be easily overlooked when
moving too fast.

Take your time.

Embrace the journey.

Breathe deeply
Take in the scents of the city. This is especially
interesting in the spring or after a heavy rainfall.
Say hello
Talk to the people you encounter on the way.
People have vast landscapes within themselves
waiting to be discovered.

Notes + observations

Notes + observations

Notes + observations

Notes + observations

We dive
and
reappear
in new
places.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

GO
GET
LOST

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN

FLANEUR
SOCIETY