Signs from all over the world

Strasbourg Cathedral

2011-12-27T21:48:00.001+01:00

Alsace-84, originally uploaded by gugs.

Spotted in France, when entering the cathedral, you see that you have to be silent, don't smoke, don't use a phone, don't bring food, a pet and don't wear a hat.

Another no picture sign

2011-12-27T21:43:00.001+01:00

Alsace-60, originally uploaded by gugs.

... same story as the previous one. Always funny to see how quickly those signs are getting outdated.

No pictures (1)

2011-12-27T21:42:00.001+01:00

Alsace-61, originally uploaded by gugs.

Just another sign to show that taking pictures and filming are prohibited.

Left or right

2011-12-27T21:41:00.001+01:00

Alsace-44, originally uploaded by gugs.

Signs in Colmar, France, to indicate the Christmas Market. All directions were in fact possible since the shops were all over the city, hence the confusing directions.

Watch the gap ?

2011-05-29T23:25:00.001+02:00

nyc-15, originally uploaded by gugs.

Just another version of the numerous mind the gap signs, only this one was not exactly readable from a distance. Seen in the NY subway.

Logical

2011-05-29T23:23:00.001+02:00

nyc-22, originally uploaded by gugs.

Something very logical and already old in the USA, but almost never displayed in Europe even if most people will expect EVERYBODY to wash their hands...

Access forbidden ?

2010-11-14T20:50:00.001+01:00

mf-91, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a Polish sign. I would assume it means: no entry or don't walk here...

Crossing

2010-11-14T20:48:00.001+01:00

mf-92, originally uploaded by gugs.

Seen in Poland, I assume it means press the button before crossing...

Strange dog

2010-08-28T22:41:00.001+02:00

france 2010-26, originally uploaded by gugs.

Spotted in the Alps, France: something I had never seen before: "Chien Bizarre", meaning "Strange Dog" or "Weird Dog"

Laundry

2010-08-16T22:37:00.001+02:00

france 2010-144, originally uploaded by gugs.

Symbol of the laundry in a hotel resort, the symbol represents a washing machine...

No bicycle

2010-08-16T22:36:00.001+02:00

france 2010-145, originally uploaded by gugs.

relatively evident, a sign on the ground seen in France, bicycles not allowed here.

Letter box

2010-08-11T22:44:00.001+02:00

france 2010-108, originally uploaded by gugs.

Just in case nobody gets what the letter box is for...

Museum in florence

2010-05-08T23:37:00.001+02:00

firenze nikon-23, originally uploaded by gugs.

all the things you are not allowed to do or carry. The first one on the second row (the guitar) probably means "don't play music"

Warning

2010-05-04T00:08:00.001+02:00

DSC_5775, originally uploaded by gugs.

another warning sign on a plastic bag... keep away from babies.

Pregnant

2010-05-04T00:07:00.002+02:00

DSC_5777, originally uploaded by gugs.

The only bottle on which I have spotted such a sign: forbidden to pregnant women... seen on my favorite Whisky, the Laphroaig (next to the Lagavullin and the Bowmore, among others)

Fire again

2010-03-21T11:40:00.001+01:00

scotland -120, originally uploaded by gugs.

A dangerous fire extinguisher... would you have time to read the instructions and decide ?

Fire

2010-03-21T11:39:00.001+01:00

scotland -124, originally uploaded by gugs.

A classical sign

Expensive beer

2010-03-21T11:36:00.001+01:00

scotland -98, originally uploaded by gugs.

spotted in Scotland...

Antique

2010-03-16T21:18:00.001+01:00

IMG_0124, originally uploaded by gugs.

An envelope I recently found: funny isn't it ? many young computer specialists don't even know what it is... an 8" floppy disk, the standard low cost storage about 30 years ago... 100 to 500KBytes were typical capacities in those heroic times...

don't walk on the tracks

2010-02-14T19:13:00.001+01:00

BB8_7000, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a funny one, spotted in Namur, Belgium, around the railway station. The symbol means, don't walk on the tracks, nobody allowed from here. Did you ever see people walking with their arms like that ?

Non smoking

2010-02-14T19:11:00.001+01:00

VA3_8990, originally uploaded by gugs.

an original non smoking sign

Lifeboat

2009-11-01T19:52:00.001+01:00

scotland -89, originally uploaded by gugs.

picture taken on a ferryboat in Scotland.

Shark prevention

2009-10-17T22:08:00.001+02:00

HK3_3872, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen on an island in Hong Kong on the beach...

Escalator sign

2009-10-05T22:42:00.001+02:00

D2X_8197, originally uploaded by gugs.

a classical escalator warning sign, this version spotted in the Antalya airport in Turkey.

Don't jump

2009-10-05T22:20:00.001+02:00

D2X_8006, originally uploaded by gugs.

self-explanatory. Seen in Palmiye, Turkey.

Cliffs

2009-08-20T22:38:00.001+02:00

scotland -32, originally uploaded by gugs.

A normal warning sign: something interesting, it is much more common in English speaking countries to use text for warnings (assuming that everybody knows the language) or to combine text and symbols.

Dog 2

2009-08-20T22:36:00.001+02:00

scotland -24, originally uploaded by gugs.

another one (see previous post), same principle...

Dog

2009-08-20T22:35:00.002+02:00

scotland -28, originally uploaded by gugs.

this is a kind of sign you see a lot in the UK. Maybe a bit too explicit. Never seen often in other countries (there is an example in Hong Kong further in this blog)

Strange

2009-08-07T11:53:00.001+02:00

scotland -85, originally uploaded by gugs.

this is a funny combination. I found this one in Scotland, just before taking the ferry on the Isle of Skye.

Instructions for skiers

2009-07-23T07:51:00.001+02:00

VA3_9155, originally uploaded by gugs.

if you want to access any transportation facility for skiers, please take the stairs down, this passage is prohibited...

Gstaad

2009-07-23T07:48:00.001+02:00

VA3_9298, originally uploaded by gugs.

A residential/commercial area sign in Gstaad, Switzerland. Speed is limited to 20 km/h, a speed not so easy to stay under with a modern car...

No skis

2009-07-23T07:26:00.001+02:00

DSC_4096, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen in a hotel: don't enter here with skis or ski shoes...

Unique train

2009-07-23T07:25:00.001+02:00

DSC_4141, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a unique sign, it announces a railway station in a salt mine in Switzerland, the train itself is extremely small (about a meter high) to be able to move through the galleries in the mine.

Track

2009-07-23T07:23:00.001+02:00

DSC_4142, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't walk on the track. Shot in a very special place, a salt mine in Switzerland, more than 2.5 km inside the mountain.

Hong Kong boat

2009-05-16T22:56:00.001+02:00

HK3_3758, originally uploaded by gugs.

strange symbols... I didn't find them as clear as the usual icons being used...

Dog

2009-05-16T22:55:00.001+02:00

HK3_3685, originally uploaded by gugs.

clean up after your dog... self-explanatory
Seen in Hong-Kong

no fishing and climbing

2009-05-16T22:54:00.001+02:00

HK3_3617, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen in Hong Kong along the water

Smoking

2009-05-01T22:35:00.002+02:00

DSC_3615, originally uploaded by gugs.

An interesting combo, don't smoke and don't use matches (are lighters allowed ?)

Swimming pool

2009-05-01T22:34:00.001+02:00

DSC_3602, originally uploaded by gugs.

Next to a swimming pool, two signs, don't run and don't dive...

No food

2009-04-13T19:28:00.001+02:00

D2X_6809, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't bring food in there, the Belgian version: no fries, no ice cream...

Do not kill the animals

2009-04-13T19:27:00.001+02:00

D2X_6818, originally uploaded by gugs.

Seen in an animal park in Belgium. This sign is clear (at least if you speak one of the following languages: French, Dutch or English): don't feed the animals, this will kill them.

Airport

2009-03-13T12:35:00.001+01:00

DSC_3404, originally uploaded by gugs.

A sign indicating the airport in Cap Skirring, Casamance, Sénégal... the airport is as modern as the sign...

Birds

2009-02-02T09:35:00.001+01:00

canada 068, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't let the birds escape... seen in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Oxymoron

2009-01-08T16:05:00.001+01:00

HK3_4457, originally uploaded by gugs.

An oxymoron is a self-contradictory statement... This is a photographic oxymoron - this picture should not exist :D

Cable car

2009-01-05T20:20:00.001+01:00

HK3_4577, originally uploaded by gugs.

Another one in the Hong Kong cable car...

High speed cable car

2009-01-05T20:19:00.001+01:00

HK3_4660, originally uploaded by gugs.

This one is not too common. Spotted on the cable car in Hong Kong.... I liked the icon they use to show the "speed"

Painful

2008-12-15T18:53:00.001+01:00

DSC_2976, originally uploaded by gugs.

a special sign just to warn people to be careful and to take preventive measures to avoid back pain.

a few signs

2008-12-01T22:06:00.001+01:00

D2x -4, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen in an open air shopping mall... classical symbols.... with one difference: the cross should be red on a white background, here it looks like the swiss flag.... and the sign for kids games is also new to me...

Combination

2008-11-23T14:30:00.001+01:00

TU3_2490, originally uploaded by gugs.

Here an interesting combination of symbols, seen in a resort in Turkey...
Same directions to get to the photographer, the night clujb, the circus and the massage room ;-)

Strange sign

2008-09-22T17:06:00.001+02:00

DSC_2494, originally uploaded by gugs.

A slightly strange sign according to european norms. This one has been spotted in Mysuru, Karnataka, India. It means: no left turn, you have to stay on this road, while our interpretation could be: you are not allowed to either go ahead or turn left (which is impossible here, since there is no way to go to the right)

Bengaluru

2008-09-22T17:04:00.001+02:00

IN3_1912, originally uploaded by gugs.

Seen in the new Bengaluru International airport in India. The airport itself is just wonderful and state of the art.... a bit surprising in a chaotic country like India. Only small detail here, in a sea of perfection, the typo in one of the names (restro-bar).

Smoking zone

2008-09-07T00:52:00.001+02:00

AS3_1437, originally uploaded by gugs.

I love the instructions here... pretty difficult to comply with a large group of people

Smoking

2008-08-20T17:17:00.001+02:00

Asia, originally uploaded by gugs.

strange world where smoking is prohibited... there is a park in Hong Kong where smoking is allowed, almost encouraged...

Montreal Underground

2008-08-05T22:44:00.001+02:00

canada 022, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't try to open the doors - the fine is 150 Canadian dollars.

no ice creams

2008-07-13T06:32:00.001+02:00

canada 053, originally uploaded by gugs.

self explanatory but at the entrance of a museum building, why not forbid the other stuff (hamburgers, drinks etc...)

Waiting room

2008-05-10T00:40:00.001+02:00

various 2008 06, originally uploaded by gugs.

the waiting room in a railway station... separate room for ladies. Seen in Bangalore, India

No Spitting

2008-05-10T00:39:00.001+02:00

various 2008 05, originally uploaded by gugs.

a similar sign as in Hong Kong. This one however is less clear to me. I am not sure the pictogram is understood by everybody. Seen in Bangalore, India.

Brussels

2008-05-02T16:23:00.001+02:00

Nikkor 14-24 09, originally uploaded by gugs.

In a tourist location in Brussels, several things are forbidden: pets (that's how I would interpret the first one, skating, smoking and biking... and big brother is watching you.

Telephone

2008-04-25T22:52:00.001+02:00

sign 2, originally uploaded by gugs.

almost funny sign... a telephone room... there is nothing left behind the door, now that almost everybody has a mobile phone, there is no need anymore for a public phone inside buildings/hotels etc...

Instructions for use

2008-04-25T10:04:00.001+02:00

Leuven 19-April 042, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is not exactly a sign but a detailed explanation on how to use "pong bong" sticks, something you use during sports events for instance (just to make noise)... I always liked those graphical instructions.

Noise

2008-04-21T09:53:00.001+02:00

var 1, originally uploaded by gugs.

A funny one... the actual message is don't make noise, something like "quiet, please" and the symbol used is a radio playing music...
It depends of course on the kind of music, but I found interesting to associate noise with music.

Radars

2008-03-19T18:16:00.001+01:00

103_1307, originally uploaded by gugs.

this is a sign seen in Martinique (French island in the Antilles)... they are "controlling" your speed for your safety... hypocrisy at its best....

Moose hunting

2008-03-11T00:00:00.001+01:00

DSC_4583, originally uploaded by gugs.

Seen in the Quebec province, Canada... bullets impacts are visible...

Entrance

2008-03-04T23:19:00.001+01:00

mart 2008 10, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a funny sign spotted in Martinique. The text says: entrance reserved for public transportation

High tech

2008-03-02T22:25:00.001+01:00

mart 2008 11, originally uploaded by gugs.

spotted in a small village called St-Anne in Martinique, in the French Antilles

Emergency instructions

2008-02-24T15:48:00.001+01:00

103_0789, originally uploaded by gugs.

most of it is self-explanatory - interesting pictograms

Restaurant entrance

2008-02-24T15:41:00.001+01:00

103_0829, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen at the entrance of the restaurant Les Boucaniers in the Martinique. Pictograms to tell you that you cannot enter with bare feet and that a minimum of clothing is required... logical since the restaurant is close to the swimming pool

below the sea

2008-02-24T15:39:00.001+01:00

EUR_0705, originally uploaded by gugs.

a special one... seen in the Netherlands... part of the country is below sea level. This board is along the road to tell you that you are actually driving at sea level...

Dust bin

2008-02-24T15:36:00.001+01:00

IMG_0502, originally uploaded by gugs.

very strange... seen in the Netherlands: detailed instructions on how to use the dustbin... clear enough of course, but was this absolutely necessary ?

Falling coconuts

2008-02-24T15:26:00.001+01:00

103_0808, originally uploaded by gugs.

I found this one particularly funny... the pictogram, the message and the location. Seen in a resort in the Martinique in the French Antilles

No motor boats

2008-02-24T14:59:00.001+01:00

103_1077, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a sign I spotted on the beach on the Martinique Island...

Flushing

2008-02-16T22:33:00.001+01:00

DSC_1120, originally uploaded by gugs.

self-explanatory... seen in a Boeing 777 - Singapore Airlines flight
first time I saw this displayed as a pictogram

Singapore taxi

2008-02-14T00:10:00.001+01:00

sgp 2008 14, originally uploaded by gugs.

interesting pictograms used in the taxi to show useful information (the printing receipt one is unique, according to me...)

Don't sit here

2008-02-09T20:48:00.001+01:00

DSC_1123, originally uploaded by gugs.

displayed on the door of an airplane

Toilet instructions

2008-02-09T20:47:00.001+01:00

DSC_1119, originally uploaded by gugs.

instructions found in the toilet on a Singapore Airlines flight (Boeing 777)

Airport instructions

2008-02-09T20:37:00.001+01:00

DSC_1134, originally uploaded by gugs.

how to use a trolley on an escalator in Schiphol (Amsterdam's airport)

Construction

2008-02-09T13:46:00.001+01:00

sgp 2008 23, originally uploaded by gugs.

this is in Singapore, to indicate a construction site... (seen on Orchard road)

Umbrella

2008-01-30T15:45:00.001+01:00

sgp 2008 16, originally uploaded by gugs.

The image quality is terrible (I shot this from a taxi, and we were moving fast...) I really wonder what this is all about. Umbrella mandatory ? A place where you can find an umbrella ?

Anybody an idea ?

Singapore Clamp

2008-01-29T15:34:00.001+01:00

sgp 2008 10, originally uploaded by gugs.

this is self-explanatory. The fine (release fee) is very reasonable looking at the typical fines in Singapore ($1000 and up). Those are Sing Dollars, approximately half a Euro.

German dustbin

2008-01-17T21:29:00.001+01:00

Aachen 09, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a way to indicate a dustbin in Germany (in Aachen)

Bicycle

2008-01-17T07:43:00.001+01:00

DSCN2121, originally uploaded by gugs.

an interesting combination... you can go to the rest room and to the bicycle parking lot (the parking lot is guarded). This is something you'll probably only find in the Netherlands, very popular for the bicycles.

Radar

2008-01-10T21:48:00.001+01:00

DSCN2130, originally uploaded by gugs.

This is a sign you'll find in the Netherlands to announce a radar (with camera) installed close to traffic lights. The funny thing here is that the camera symbol is an old reflex camera (looks like a Nikon F type) which was already obsolete for a long time when that radar has been installed.

No dogs no trolleys

2008-01-10T21:40:00.002+01:00

DSCN2119, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen in a railway station. Self-explanatory. But the dog has a strange look. I have never seen a dog like that.

Defibrillator

2008-01-10T21:39:00.001+01:00

DSCN2117, originally uploaded by gugs.

A very serious one. This is used in the Netherlands for instance in railway stations to indicate the location of a defibrillator. This can save lives in case of a cardiac arrest. The symbol of the heart is clear enough.

No smoking, no gum

2008-01-06T21:59:00.001+01:00

Signs 10, originally uploaded by gugs.

seen in a movie theater in Belgium. Self-explanatory.

Toilet 2

2008-01-06T21:58:00.001+01:00

Signs 04, originally uploaded by gugs.

Also see the previous post (hereunder). Seen in the same location. An explanation for non-French people. This type of toilet is just a hole with two places for the feet. You need to be half-standing to use this. Only used in France and considered completely archaic for like 50 years... still they have installed one brand new one in that building along the highway. This is something I really cannot understand. This could be a unique sign in the world...

Toilet

2008-01-06T21:55:00.001+01:00

Signs 03, originally uploaded by gugs.

Very interesting one. Found on the highway from Paris to Brussels. They identify the toilets with that sticker on the door. First and only time in my life I have seen this... this should be compared with the similar sticker found in the next post above.

Evacuation

2008-01-06T21:37:00.001+01:00

Signs 02, originally uploaded by gugs.

Several steps instructions in case of evacuation in a French building (provided you have the time to read this or even to look at it).
1) keep calm when hearing the signal
2) follow instructions of the teams
3) go to the nearest exit
4) don't come back
5) don't use elevators
6) go to the meeting points

up to you to decide if you find the pictograms clear enough...

Don't clean

2008-01-06T21:33:00.001+01:00

Signs 05, originally uploaded by gugs.

Don't use high pressure cleaning... in fact looking at the vehicle on which this sticker was applied, they seem to never clean it in any way :D

Surveillance camera

2008-01-06T13:01:00.001+01:00

Signs 07, originally uploaded by gugs.

another funny one... the sign is there to warn you that there is a camera, just in case...

Hotel phone

2008-01-06T13:00:00.001+01:00

Signs 12, originally uploaded by gugs.

An interesting pictogram on the left. The reception is being identified by two persons on each side of a desk, and a key... in this hotel, they never used keys for at least the last 15 years...

Loot removed

2008-01-06T12:58:00.001+01:00

Signs 13, originally uploaded by gugs.

this sign can be found around parking lots in the Netherlands. I always found funny, that next to locking the doors, according to the pictogram, you are supposed to remove your reflex camera :-) !!!

One way - lights

2008-01-05T22:09:00.001+01:00

Panneau phares, originally uploaded by gugs.

This picture has been shot in Namur, Belgium and proposed by François Mertens, a fellow photographer from the Nikonpassion site. The sign says: "Switch on your headlights". This is amazing because 1) it is forbidden to enter the tunnel (one way road) and 2) the tunnel has been closed for the last 10 years.

parking in New York

2007-12-29T22:53:00.001+01:00

parking, originally uploaded by gugs.

I shot this one in Manhattan in September 2000... I found it particularly funny...

Don't gather flowers

2007-12-28T11:43:00.001+01:00

BE7_5170, originally uploaded by gugs.

self-explanatory ? those don't really look like flowers, more like candies...

No music

2007-12-28T11:40:00.001+01:00

BE7_5171, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't bring your radio... seen at the entrance of a nature park in Belgium

Notre-Dame II

2007-12-28T07:47:00.001+01:00

Paris-24, originally uploaded by gugs.

second part of the instructions (see previous post). The least followed instruction is no flash photography.... it seems that point&shoot camera users don't have a clue on how to switch off the flash and also do not understand that a flash is just ruining the picture when shooting from a distance...

Notre-Dame I

2007-12-28T07:44:00.001+01:00

Paris-25, originally uploaded by gugs.

instructions before you enter Notre-Dame (Cathedral) in Paris. This is just the first part.

No fire

2007-12-28T00:37:00.001+01:00

BE7_5172, originally uploaded by gugs.

don't use matches, don't smoke, basically no fire allowed - seen in a nature park in Belgium

feeding animals

2007-12-28T00:36:00.001+01:00

BE7_5169, originally uploaded by gugs.

Don't feed the animals - seen in a nature park in Belgium. The nimal in question here looks like a horse...