Travel Tips

I've discovered one interesting thing about my travelling style. I love to take note of unusal signs in other countries - unusual to me, at least, and odd-looking at first glance. In this Album I'll feature some of the signs that I have seen in my travels. I'd love to hear about crazy notices that you've spotted, as well!

Send Photo to a Friend

Are those impact lines or broken toes?

Walkway Warning

Here's one from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Above each of those people-mover walkways, near the end, is this sign. It's a fair thing to warn about but I found the illustration highly amusing. It could have been the jet-lag, though. Worth a picture at the very least.

You'll have to click the pic to see the full image - it's too long for the preview.

Send Photo to a Friend

Dangerous Exit Route

Ever since my first trip to Ireland in 2003, I've been fascinated with the exit signs. To me they looked like the little stick man was about to run into a brick wall. This one, in the airport near Rome, Italy, was even better. Now the poor guy is falling into a pit! Watch out for that first step...

Send Photo to a Friend

Italian English Italian billboard...

Italian to English to Italian

This one I just tought was weird in context. It was located inside the underground parking lot by the Florence train station in Italy. The English product name is based on Italian - "That's Amore." The sign, being located in Italy, was naturally translated to Italian. But the product name was not, being a product name. And yet, it's mostly in Italian already. This one definitely fell in the "doubletake" category for me.

Send Photo to a Friend

*Probably* the best, but maybe Paddy's is better..

Humility in Advertising

Clifden, Ireland. You'd never see a sign like this in the states. It was the word "probably" that threw me. Not terribly strong marketing power, but a lot more truthful than the slogans you'd see in America.

A friend of mine in Ireland sends the following information: "What you missed is the Carlsberg advertising campaign, 'Probably the best lager in the world' is very big here and it is probably the most quoted and most tongue in cheek re-used one on the planet, probably even for jumpers in Connemara (nobody here really calls them sweaters). "

Send Photo to a Friend

Rather obvious road warning at Howth

Drive carefully...

Howth, near Dublin in Ireland. It's the first time I'd seen such a descriptive yellow car warning sign.

"Caution - do not drive over the edge or your vehicle is likely to plummet into several feet of water, and you will have a hard time describing that to the car hire agency."

Send Photo to a Friend

Humped Zebra Crossing

A dash of toilet humour...

This one was odd from a cultural standpoint, and it was actually used in a "Welcome to London" presentation that my university held as well. Every North American in the room burst into giggles when it was displayed on the main screen.

The problem is twofold - one, we use the term "crosswalk" instead of "zebra crossing", and two, "humped" is a slang verb for something you normally wouldn't associate with a zebra.

The combination was unexpected, and unexpected often equals 'funny'.

Send Photo to a Friend

Dozens of signposts

Clear and uncomplicated roadsigns?

How on earth is a driver supposed to read this sign? This was on the side of the road near Abruzzi, Italy. There were no other cars around so I asked my brother to stop for the photo. I quite like the bit in the lower left that reads "Loch Ness".