Sara, of HQ WordPress, takes the lead this time around with grammar and spell check in mind for the latest Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says.
For those of us who have traveled abroad, we’ve all come across a sign or two that have made us stop dead in our tracks. Take a gander at the signage I came across out front of a jewelry store in Singapore. Talk about LOST IN TRANSLATION. LOL!
Okay. Back to the here and now.
Living smack-dab in the middle of the Centro Storico (Historic Center) district of Vicenza, it’s a lot easier for me to get around on foot vice driving a car. From my vantage point, I can take in all the signage — read it word-for-word — that seems to occupy every nook and cranny without worrying about being sideswiped or rear-ended.
OOPS!
Streets are narrow, mostly one-way, sometimes pedestrian-only, and those that do allow cars, trucks, buses and Vespas are always congested during the morning and evening rush hours in and out of town.
Add to that, parking is always a problem in beautiful downtown Vicenza, and you never know when you’ll run into a deviation due to a work crew up ahead.
A quick stroll around town this morning, checking out what all the signs had to say, was like sensory overload.
Everywhere I looked there were symbols and block letters staring back at me demanding my attention: TURN RIGHT. TURN LEFT. DO NOT ENTER. YIELD. DO NOT PARK. DO NOT BREATH (I made that one up). TOWING ZONE. BICYCLES ONLY. TICKETS. MOVIE TIMES. GET A PEDICURE. STRAIGHT AHEAD. SLOW DOWN. DRINK THIS. EAT THAT. RENT HERE. BUY THERE. GAMBLE.
Why, I was even told by the city: DO NOT FEED THE PIGEONS.
Hey, it’s a real zoo out there and the signage is taking over. Don’t believe me? Take a look.
©The Palladian Traveler | ©Tom Palladio Images
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So does anyone ever check to see if “House of Hung Jewelers” is advertising truthfully?
Kilts on a windy day would help. 🙂
I’ll check! I am a strong advocate for truth in advertising. 🙂
Shame on you, Pat.
🙂
The jeweler’s sign was quite good, but you’ve one-upped us all with your sign video. I enjoyed it although by the end, I was ready to throw something at the music maker. 🙂
janet
The music was intended to be frenetic, annoying, just like all those fill-in-the-blank signs. 🙂
I know. Just letting you know it worked!!
😆 I’ve heard you had mentioned me here so I had to come ;). You have also answered my dilemma about parking in Vicenza. Thanks for a laugh, Tom :).
Sorry, Paula, but you were not mentioned in this post. Glad you enjoyed it just the same.
Never mind Tom .. it was a joke, hence the ;). I was referring to the name of my blog 😀
Ahh! U got me.