Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

I need to start writing about my wonderful time in London and Wales before my vacation glow becomes, um, a vacation glower, which is not the comparative form.

So I'll begin with a few UK signs. Ever since a long ago trip to Japan, where a friendly little carp icon meant "EARTHQUAKE!"--something, quite honestly, I never would have translated correctly because there's no hope for anyone if fish aren't safe from land tremors--I have paid attention to signs when traveling.

Misfortune Awaits
I loved this unambiguous little guy, telling me that if I continued on (or actually off) my Welsh hiking trail, misfortune awaited. I really like the fact that he so clearly has five fingers on each hand.














The Polite Ashtray
For some reason, this seemed so British, compared to our dirty lumps of sand.




















Restaurant Dumpster
Alas, you can't really tell from the photo, but this sign reminding patrons to choose this pasta eatery was pasted on the side of a dumpster. And I think we all know why the pasta is brown . . .















The Powerful Construction Lobby
Don't you love the idea of a "Considerate Constructors Scheme"? It sounds like something from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.















Sign of the Times
What could be sadder? (If I didn't bring you something from London, now you know why.)

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Two Days Ago, There Was a Little Incident Involving Flip-flops and 3 Miles

I am going to write about my own stellar trip to England and Wales soon, but first, I want to share a few details coming in from the Chocolates, currently in France after a sojourn in Italy.

The title of this blog comes from a postcard that Cupcake of the Chocolate family sent me. I must wait for details of the "incident," but the postcard otherwise tells me that pastries and art are the order of the day.

I also have a postcard of Louis XIV that Rat of the Chocolate family sent me. He has been given big red lips, fishnet stockings, and eyelashes because Rat admired this painting until she discovered it was actually supposed to be a painting of a man.

Sacher Mom of the Chocolate family tells me details of the eclair tasting that the family conducted in the heart of Paris. Or the heat of Paris.

It's good to be related to the Chocolate family.