Judging by some of your past links, I assume you get a bit of a hardon for this google maps shit.
:D

Du hast recht, mein guter Mann.

I have a long and illicit love affair with cartographic instruments. My grandfather was a map maker with Rand McNally, and he showed me the beauty in maps when I was just a kid. From simple road maps and atlases to globes and topographic maps, I've always loved them. I've amassed quite a collection over the years, and I break them out from time to time to remind me of the places I've been or wish to go. Sometimes they just remind me of good times with my grandpa. They comfort me, fill me with hope for the future, and serve testiment to my meandering travels.

They're magic.

Pretty slick. Pop on 3D buildings and fly through NYC. whoopi

is there a way to get images clearer when you are zoomed in?

I have been forever fascinated by maps, look at 'em for hours. This allowed me to clear up some mysteries of my history in my dazed and confused days. Very navigable, wish it had a little bit better rez zoomed in. Nice find Clavis.