I’ve been learning how to code things with google maps today, and came across the google maps api blog. A new feature lets you get mapping results with a preference to a certain country. They encourage you to play with the new service by typing in a country code and city name, which produces a map with a push-pin at the centre of that place. The pin is centred on some strange places though..
Typing in jp (Japan) and Tokyo gives the centre in Ginza, in the NTT building (National telephone company). Typing ie (Ireland) and Dublin puts the pin at what looks like an ordinary residential house in Sussex Road, near Leeson Street. London gives a traffic island just near Parliament square, close to the Westminster tube station.
To try it, just zoom in with the + sign and click the map button.
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2007/06/v282-set-countryviewport-restrictions.html
