Monday, March 29, 2010

Signs of Man . . .

As this coming week is probably going to be another long and crazy stretch with little time left over for ye olde blog, I thought I'd just close out the weekend here with a couple of odd signs spotted while on vacation on the island of la Réunion in February, memories which are already slipping into the past, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. . .
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Who would have guessed that I'd have to take an eleven hour flight down into the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, to find Las Vegas Ice Cream, the number one American ice cream !
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This next one bears a little translation.
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In French : "Défense de déposer des ordures, Objectif : mieux vivre"
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Now, the sign, as you can see is posted in front of a cemetery. In French, the word "ordure" has a double meaning, it can mean just plain "trash", or better, "garbage", but it can also be used to refer to a particularly sleazy or slimy human being. So, no garbage to be deposited here, the objective is to "live better" ! I loved this sign ! Objective : live better . . . in front of cemetery, for crying out loud. Well, I swore right then and there that I was going to try to live better, mieux vivre ! (and if you think it looks like the town is on fire here, it isn't, just clouds that came down into the cirque late in the afternoon. . .)
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17 comments:

Stickup Artist said...

That first foto is hilarious. And the second is to die for. Sorry... couldn't resist. It really is pretty awesome.

PeterParis said...

It's amazing what you learn to see with your blogger eyes! Surprising kind of discrimnation; a cemetery for nice people only! :-)

Lydia said...

Las Vegas ice cream? Whodathunkit!

The cemetery shot is so atmospheric, quite powerful. I really appreciate the lesson in French so I could appreciate the greater nuance of the post. Merci!

Steve said...

No rubbish in the cemetary? I guess only the best of the best are allowed admittance...

French Fancy... said...

Oh I wish I had your knowledge of French, Owen.

CiCi said...

Las Vegas is a name with influence around the world isn't it?

Batteson.Ind said...

weird and wonderfull!.. oh to have a passport... :-)
there must be so many odd signs out there waiting to be discovered!

swan said...

I love strange signs. I have often wanted to create a collection of photos of signs that inspire me.

We humans love signs both outward and inward.

peace and light,
swan

Nathalie H.D. said...

Absolument hilarant !
"Objectif : mieux vivre" juste devant le cimetière, il fallait le faire !

Barlinnie said...

Pure dead brilliant! (Pardon the pun)

Nevine Sultan said...

No time to blog? Join the club, dear Owen! I've decided I'm going to be posting only once a week, from now until life gives Nevine a little break. And that "mieux vivre" business is just laugh-out-loud... or maybe it's even sad, in a way. It's definitely ironic! ;-)

Take care, Owen. And try not to work too hard... this coming from a girl who works herself to death!

Nevine

Ann said...

i love to visit..need i say more?
thank you!

James said...

I like both pictures. The clouds are pretty amazing. Better living and no trash even in death. :P

Amy said...

I have never heard of this number 1 American ice cream, how tragic! They at least have a fantastic sign.

Karine A said...

une manière amusante de distiller quelques subtilités de la langue française...
C'est assez typique de l' Afrique d'ailleurs ces pub en forme de messages sybillins, qui semblent naifs,mais sont très souvent redoutablement ironiques...

:: Karine :: said...

quelle philosophie dans la deuxième photo owen adoré !
tout est dit sur la pancarte :-)
merveilleux, tout simplement merveilleux !
plein de bisous pour t'aider à encore mieux vivre mon ami

Sar@h said...

Excellente cette dernière photo !