diff --git a/src/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py b/src/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
index 69b21d346..5f2d609de 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
+++ b/src/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 from gen.ggettext import sgettext as _
 import os
+import sys
 import re
 from gi.repository import GObject
 import time
@@ -146,14 +147,19 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         self.place_list = []
         self.places_found = []
         self.select_fct = None
-        self.geo_mainmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(
-            os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
-                         ('gramps-geo-mainmap' + '.png' )))
-        self.geo_altmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(
-            os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
-                         ('gramps-geo-altmap' + '.png' )))
+        self.geo_mainmap = None
+        path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
+                            ('gramps-geo-mainmap' + '.png' ))
+        pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        self.geo_mainmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
+        path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
+                            ('gramps-geo-altmap' + '.png' ))
+        pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        self.geo_altmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
         if ( config.get('geography.map_service') in
-            ( constants.OPENSTREETMAP, constants.OPENSTREETMAP_RENDERER )):
+            ( constants.OPENSTREETMAP,
+              constants.OPENSTREETMAP_RENDERER
+             )):
             default_image = self.geo_mainmap
         else:
             default_image = self.geo_altmap
@@ -161,9 +167,10 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         for ident in ( gen.lib.EventType.BIRTH,
                     gen.lib.EventType.DEATH,
                     gen.lib.EventType.MARRIAGE ):
-            self.geo_othermap[ident] = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(
-                os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
-                    (constants.ICONS.get(int(ident), default_image) + '.png' )))
+            path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
+                                (constants.ICONS.get(int(ident), default_image) + '.png' ))
+            pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+            self.geo_othermap[ident] = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
 
     def change_page(self):
         """
diff --git a/src/plugins/lib/maps/markerlayer.py b/src/plugins/lib/maps/markerlayer.py
index dddc850c5..4cc33ffa4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lib/maps/markerlayer.py
+++ b/src/plugins/lib/maps/markerlayer.py
@@ -45,13 +45,14 @@ _LOG = logging.getLogger("maps.marker")
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 from gi.repository import Gtk
+import cairo
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Gramps Modules
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import cairo
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # set up logging
diff --git a/src/plugins/lib/maps/messagelayer.py b/src/plugins/lib/maps/messagelayer.py
index 0ff5434d6..5a0ef98ca 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lib/maps/messagelayer.py
+++ b/src/plugins/lib/maps/messagelayer.py
@@ -46,9 +46,7 @@ _LOG = logging.getLogger("maps.messagelayer")
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 from gi.repository import Gdk
-#from gi.repository import Cairo
 import cairo
-import pangocairo
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -128,19 +126,13 @@ class MessageLayer(GObject.GObject, osmgpsmap.MapLayer):
                             0.9) # transparency
         coord_x = 100
         coord_y = int(self.size) # Show the first line under the zoom button
-        #(d_width, d_height) = drawable.get_size()
-        pcr = pangocairo.CairoContext(ctx)
-        ctx_layout = pcr.create_layout()
-        (d_width, d_height) = ctx_layout.get_size()
-        print d_width, d_height
+        d_width = gpsmap.get_allocation().width
+        gpsmap.set_size_request(300,400)
         d_width -= 100
         for line in self.message:
             line_to_print = line
             (x_bearing, y_bearing, width, height, x_advance, y_advance) = ctx.text_extents(line_to_print)
-            #while ( width > d_width):
-            # BUG here d_with is negative
-            while ( width > 1000):
-                print width, " > ", d_width
+            while ( width > d_width ):
                 line_length = len(line_to_print)
                 character_length = int(width/line_length) + 1
                 max_length = int(d_width / character_length) - 5
diff --git a/src/plugins/view/geography.gpr.py b/src/plugins/view/geography.gpr.py
index 7522b020f..3c0e1109c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/view/geography.gpr.py
+++ b/src/plugins/view/geography.gpr.py
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ if repository.enumerate_versions("OsmGpsMap"):
         # current osmgpsmap support GTK3
         from gi.repository import OsmGpsMap as osmgpsmap
         OSMGPSMAP = True
-        if osmgpsmap._version < '1.0':
+        if osmgpsmap._version < '0.8':
             OSMGPSMAP = False
             _LOG.warning( _("WARNING: osmgpsmap module not loaded. "
-                               "osmgpsmap must be >= 1.0. yours is %s") %
+                               "osmgpsmap must be >= 0.8. yours is %s") %
                             osmgpsmap._version)
         else:
             _LOG.info("OsmGpsMap loaded, version : " +  osmgpsmap._version)
diff --git a/src/plugins/view/geoperson.py b/src/plugins/view/geoperson.py
index 432f8ce3b..8a05761da 100644
--- a/src/plugins/view/geoperson.py
+++ b/src/plugins/view/geoperson.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from gi.repository import Gdk
 KEY_TAB = Gdk.KEY_Tab
 import socket
 from gi.repository import Gtk
+from gi.repository import GObject
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #