American Invasion

When I travel in foreign countries, I like to experience that country. I hate it when I see American institutions in other countries. It’s like we’re invading and screwing it all up.

And nothing symbolizes the cultural invasion more than Hard Rock Café’s. Here, in the heart of Munich and immediately across the street from the famous Hofbräuhaus (where Adolf Hitler outlined his ideology), is a Hard Rock Café.

Give Me That Alpenflirt

I found this sign in an ally in Erlangen, Germany. Give me Alpenflirt. No idea what Alpenflirt is. Maybe it’s some attractive Swiss girl dressed in a bikini.

Exclamation Point

I found this sign on the side of the road in Germany – a giant exclamation point. I don’t know it means warning or something (but it doesn’t say Achtung or anything). I really have no idea what this is.

It is really rather curious.

Traffic Light Ahead

I like the traffic light ahead signs in Germany!

What the Heck?

What does all of this mean? I truly have no idea. Thank god I didn’t have to drive in Germany.

Oh Christ

Not Jesus Christ. Not Christianity. Just Christ. And it’s a store in Germany.

For the life of me, I can’t think of why anyone would want to name their store after the Prince of Peace (or the King of Celebrity, depending on how you look at it).

Crosswalk in the land of Kraftwerk

Crosswalk in the land of Kraftwerk.

I love this old school crossing sign. I took this immediately in front of the infamous Hofbräuhaus in Munich.

Handicapped

In the U.S., we use a person in a wheelchair as the symbol for handicapped. In Germany, they use a person with a crutch.

It’s just different.

Main Street or Hauptstraße

Where is this? Main Street or Hauptstraße?

I was in Erlangen, Germany last week and found this sign. Actually, at every corner in the city, there were these STOP signs. It was kind of surreal. This is definitely Germany, so the stop signs were very unusual.

Spelling Mistakes

I love spelling mistakes. Sometimes it’s intentional. But usually it’s not. My favorite is in signs at Asian businesses (because they can make wild mistakes and just don’t get it).

I found Chick & Ruth’s Delly in Annapolis, Maryland. No idea who Chick & Ruth are, but they can’t spell to at all.

Hey, We’re Cheap

There are signs of quality and then there are signs that scream: Hey, we’re cheap. This is one of those signs. This sign was captured at Storm Bros. Ice Cream in Annapolis, Maryland. Hey, they’re cheap.

In most establishments that don’t accept credit cards, they have classy signs on the door and at the cash register. Not at Storm Bros. Ice Cream. These signs are over 3 feet tall and 2 feet across. The whole store is plastered in them. It’s kind of tacky really.

And to top it off, the ice cream was OK, but the service was crap. What do you expect from a store that has gigantic WE’RE CHEAP signs?

Gas Price Comic Relief

A local spa, 3000 BC, has a sign in its window in Chestnut Hill, PA that makes me laugh. You know gas prices are completely ridiculous when a spa business hangs up this sign.

This sign would be better suited an Exxon, BP, Citgo or other gas station since they price gauging consumers.

Intercourse

No, not sex. It’s Pennsylvania.

Intercourse, Pennsylvania is ground zero of Amish country in Pennsylvania. Despite the intriguing name, it’s a bit sedate and quiet.

Amish Country

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is Amish Country USA. I snapped a shot of this horse and buggy sign near Intercourse, PA…or maybe it was Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.

This is an iconic image of the Amish.