Friday, April 25, 2008

Photo Hunt--Theme: Unique/Funny Signs



You can find out all about Photo Hunt at TnChick.
Last week I walked around the block to find thirteen. I traveled halfway around the world for this one. The trip took place in June-July of 1998. We found this sign in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia, and I have no idea what it was about.

Signs were a challenge on our Russia trip, but mostly because, by the time you sounded out things like where that bus is going in the Cyrillic alphabet, the bus was on down the road.

~

We were in Russia for four weeks. We spent the first day in Moscow. We walked all day; we didn't dare try to get on a bus or subway as we had no idea where we would end up or how to get back.

~

When we returned to Moscow for a few days near the end of our trip, we were a little more confidant. We did have one scary adventure, though. You see, although both my husband and my son could identify a few things in Russian, such as PECTOPAN ( It says restaurant. A P sounds like an R and C is always S.) that was about the extent of their liguistic ability. Besides that they are both extremely directionally challenged (Read that as "How do I get out of this paper bag?")

~

We had planned out our route to somewhere on the subway, and I had it firmly in my mind and they would follow me. So the train comes and I get on and the doors close and I turn around and look out in horror as there stand my husband and son on the platform with the same look of horror on their faces. Frantic hand motions hopefully communicate as the train pulls out of the station. I say a quick prayer and get out at the next station and wait.

~

Fortunately, son's logic prevailed and he convinced his father that if they took the next train in the same direction, I would be waiting for them on the next platform and we could regroup from there. Hubby just figured I would come back for them. (In order to do that, I would have had to get to a different platform, figure out a new set of trains, make sure I didn't get on an express to the edge of town, and so forth.) They would be there still, watching and waiting.

~

I posted some funny signs a couple of weeks ago, too. You will find them here if you are interested.

32 comments:

CRIZ LAI said...

It is always a challenge to be in a foreign land and yet you do not understand a word.

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

TorAa said...

I think this is a sign for "Danger" - what else?

dixymiss said...

It looks like an eXclamation point (my fave)! Is it mounted on a tripod? Perhaps it's a "shutterbug" crossing? ;-) You've been on some eXciting adventures, Miss Katney.

mrsnesbitt said...

LOL!

Check mine out!
A scream

Dxx

eastcoastlife said...

I'm scratching my head as to what that sign means. Moscow should be fun, I want to go too!

Hootin Anni said...

Good one....and I like your others you shared last week too.

Mine's posted...stop by and see if you can figure it all out!!

Carver said...

Good post for the theme. I checked out your other signs too and they were great too.

Colin Campbell said...

There are so many funny signs around. I think that we get used to them and they blend into the background.

Anonymous said...

Lol... I don't know what the sign is for but I think your son may be one of the last born with common sense ;-)

Terrific story!

Yoshi said...

Definitely would be thinking "alarm alarm!" lol I'm sure you'd see the sign just too late to respond to it.

imac said...

Well done in finding that sign even if it took you to far off places.lol.


come see my sign hehe.

Anonymous said...

It seems the Russians are as practical as the Maltese; I could imagine finding similar props in Malta! The story is hilarious - with hindsight obviously!

Love the 'Bucket List'. If I ever find the time, I'll do one before it's too late!! ;)

Anonymous said...

Maybe the sign was just to make you think something important was going on -- great ambiguous sign anyway LOL

Dragonstar said...

Well, it's definitely warning about something - at least, I think so!

I love what you say about son and husband being "directionally challenged"!

Anonymous said...

I'd like a sign like that for my wall.
Just an exclamation point and no explanation.
Thanks for stopping in
Have a marvelous day.

Anonymous said...

Nice sign. I had wondered too if it was mounted to a tripod. hehe.

I don't have a picture of one of the funniest signs I've seen. It was before I had my digital camera and never thought of taking a picture of it with my film camera.

Anyway, it said 'sidewalk ends' and it was posted at the end of the sidewalk. Like, duh, I think we could have figured that one out. Oh the tax dollars at work there.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for anti-spam comment - and yes, the Wordpress plugin allows you to put any word in the list (8 characters max.) so I like to mix it up a bit just for fun.

Anonymous said...

very interesting..

Anonymous said...

Ok you continue to impress me with your hikes and travels. I am Russian, I can speak some Russian, and I can read Russian but I'm not brave enough to go to Russia especailly for 4 weeks!! Lord only knows what that sign means. Maybe hey, watch out. Who knows with us crazy Russians...

Karen Coutu said...

That certainly is unique. I have no idea what it means though.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

JesieBlogJourney said...

I have never been to Russia. I would think the sign means caution placed higher up on a tripod so that it is easier to see.

Teena in Toronto said...

I'd be saying "Huh?" if I saw it.

Mine's up too :)

Anna said...

Oh this sign look like danger? Hhehehheh I'm just guessing.. Thanks for sharing..
Mine is up
Every Beat Of My Heart
A Little Bit Of Everything

sammawow said...

Great take on today's theme with your sign! I honestly don't know what that sign could possibly mean! But I do like to use "!" a lot!

Sarge Charlie said...

And I mean it.....smile

Leslie: said...

I, too, wonder what it meant. A good friend of mine has been to Russia several times and once she did get lost on the train or the bus (can't remember which). She was really scared because she didn't know the language either. But she survived to tell the story, as did you! :D

Anonymous said...

My father, your husband, jumped on the train and I saw the door closing quickly, which forced me to the split second decision as to whether to jump on or stay. The debate in my head went like this "Yes, No, Yes", except more akin to "YesNoYes". And thus I was on the subway, and you were not on the subway. I don't recall much of an argument about continuing or getting off at the next stop, but maybe that's just because my stance's logic was immediately recognizable as superior.

-- Justin

Deb @ Sugarfused said...

Having never traveled to a foreign country, I'd be very much out of my element for all you are describing. The sign looks to be mounted on a tripod. My first impression at the exclamation point was that it was saying "YIKES!!" ;~)

Thanks for visiting my Photo Hunt!

Barbara said...

How interesting to travel to Russia, looks like a danger sign I would think.

jams o donnell said...

Nice choice. I think the sign means Warning tripod in road"

Paulie said...

You are very brave to do this. I love exploring but not sure I would do it when it was a country with a language that I did not understand at least a little of it. Since you are together again, things turned out ok, I presume.

-tnchick- said...

I think it means watch out for my tripod!!