In Chile, we’ve got vandalism, and we’ve got signs. Two great tastes that go great together. I live in a world where people scratch letters off of signs (or insert extras) to make them say “funny” things. Funny where the word funny is a stand-in for childish, taunting, double-entrendrey, in a word, puerile.
Commonly scratched-off signs include:
ceda el paso (changed to read “ceda el as”, which means “give up the ace, but can be read to mean to give up something else, the original sign means, simply, “yeild.”)
cuidado con el peldaño (changed to read, “cuidado con el ano” which means, watch your um, excretory outgo, the original sign means, watch your step (sort of))
And then there are the famous signs that read “mariscos,” (seafood), which are changed to insert an n and remove the s, for an anti-gay epithet which I shall not repeat here.
So it was with great joy when I got to see how New Zealanders vandalize their signs.
It makes me want to go out with a bunch of triangles and a glue stick (and maybe a ladder) and see what I can make. Any ideas?
(this was outside of Auckland, and thanks to Shantiwallah for a) taking me there (we were on the way to Piha beach) and b) not laughing at me when I insisted she stop the car to let me take a picture and c) taking one, too.
I kind of like sign vandalism, childish and all because it is usually clever linguistically. I love the bronto-bi-ped!
RAWR! Love this.
Annje, I secretly love the language play as well, but wish it didn't always turn into the t and a variety! I love signs in general, and this one made me so happy.
Katie, I know, doesn't it make you want to go out and find a sign that needs some scales? And btw, when are you coming to Chile?
I love signs too and can't wait to see some Chilean signs for myself! I just went back through all of my Chinese sign pictures. No vandalism, just funny translations and awkward social messaging.
"May we remind you: Please be self-restraint and be a good tourist to mold a well-mannered imagination"
Sooo much fun!!!
Eileen, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you missed my Chilean debut! I was there three weeks ago with my stepdad and sister but for just one day. We did the lake crossing tour from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, and we stayed the night in P. Varas. One of these days I hope to make it to your neck of the woods!
I saw my favorite sign in a Brazilian airport bathroom. There was a stall (which was big like a handicapped stall) and the sign said "Short People's Bathroom". The toilet and paper dispenser were very close to the ground. I'm not sure if it was a bathroom for a child or for midgets/dwarfs/little people or what, but it was crazy!
Laughing at you? I'm glad you gave me the excuse to stop because I'd never hear the end of it if I made Phil stop at another goofy photo op. I mean, he likes goofy, but he doesn't like to make extra stops when there is a beach to get to.
Come over again and we'll do a two-island tour with triangles in hand.
Haaaah! That is awesome.