also, remember that OOTS doesn´t have the internet, and google maps.
while nowadays its rather easy to know where in a country you are going, i'd say that back in the day, if you didn't like reading a map, then not knowing exactly where you are is not strange especially if you've delegated the duty to someone else.
at least, before i had unlimited access to the internet, i know i never knew were my parents took me on holidays. "mountains in France" is not specific enough, and though i looked at local maps for hiking, those weren't big enough to tell me where in France i was
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