Tales from the Man who would be King

Rex Jaeschke's Personal Blog

Signs of Life: Part 29

© 2022 Rex Jaeschke. All rights reserved.

From time to time during my travels, I come across signs that I find interesting for one reason or another. Sometimes, they contain clever writing, are humorous, or remind me of some place or event. Here are some from Germany and England.

 

From the instant I saw this postcard, I knew I just had to buy it for myself! For the past four years, it's been sitting on my work desk.

The translation is, "I will grow up next week!" Now that said, I can't promise I will actually do that. In fact, I often ask people I meet, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" If they ask me the same question, I usually reply, "It's a moot point, as I don't plan on growing up!"

 

Shoes change your life, ask Cinderella!

 

Well, that seems pretty clear!

Sometimes when I'm cooking, I announce that, "You can order anything you like, but you'll eat what I serve!"

 

A supermarket sign; obviously, as the terrier is carrying the groceries home!

According to Wikipedia, "Netto is a Danish discount supermarket operating in Denmark, Germany, Poland, and [other places]."

 

"Here, there is no sex, no drugs, and no rock-n-roll; just coffee." And at very good prices, too!

 

What caught my eye was the second sign from the top: Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela 3,400 kms (2,125 miles).

This pilgrimage walk—Camino de Santiago—is very popular, and ends in Galicia, northern Spain. It is the subject of The Way, a 2010 movie directed and written by Emilio Estevez and starring his father, Martin Sheen.

 

Given the love affair many people have with their mobile phone, this phone store's name seems appropriate: "Your phone and you!"

 

Ladies, have you never lusted after a particular handbag? Yes, it's the same word in German!

 

No dancing on the train platform! Or, perhaps I'm misunderstanding.

 

High-tech weapon? Rivet gun? No, this tool is used to break a window of the train carriage to get out in an emergency! What will those Germans think of next!

 

Now I'm all for having "Quite Cars" when riding on a long-distance train. However, it's not clear to me that "Psst" is the best indicator of one. According to Wiktionary, this word is used "to get someone's attention or to communicate with them" yet nowhere is there any symbol indicating to "keep quiet." It seems to me that the word "shush," written the same in English and German, would be better.

 

Don't you just hate that when a large boulder crashes through your windshield (AU: windscreen)!

Well if that happens, and you are anywhere near the German city of Apolda, "We can take care of your glass damage!"

 

Well, I've seen parking places reserved for people with disabilities, pregnant women and new mothers, military veterans, and "Employee of the Month," however, I'd never before seen any reserved just for women! I think it had to do with safety, as this spot was in a well-lit area near an exit and elevator (AU: lift).

Now it just so happens that the German equivalent of "parking" (Parken) also begins with the letter P, so the sign is instantly recognizable by English speakers. However, in Spanish-speaking countries, it's an E (estacionamiento).

 

There I was touring the main cathedral in Erfurt (the capital of the German state of Thuringia), and I came across this set of tourist prohibitions. And while I easily figured out the first five, all I could think of for the sixth one was being struck down by a bolt of lightning. (The wrath of God, perhaps?)

 

Now, if you were going to have a lower goat lane in your village, it seems entirely reasonable to also have an upper one! That said, when I walked said lanes, no goats were to be seen.

 

"Psst, want some quality white stuff?"

No, not that kind of white stuff! According to Wikipedia, "White Stuff is a British fashion and lifestyle brand that sells women's, men's and kids' clothing, accessories, homeware and gifts in over 120 shops in the United Kingdom, shops in Germany, via mail-order catalogues and through its website."

 

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