Losing Something in Translation...

Losing Something in Translation...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:

The lift is being fixed for the day. During that time we regret that
you will be unbearable.


In a Leipzig elevator:

Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.


In a Belgrade elevator:

To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should
enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor.
Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.


In a Paris hotel elevator:

Please leave your values at the front desk.


In a hotel in Athens:

Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of
9&11 am daily.


In a Yugoslavian hotel:

The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the
chambermaid.


In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian orthodox
Monastery:

You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet
composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.


In an Austrian hotel for skiers:

Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots
of ascension.


On a menu in a Swiss restaurant:

Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.


On a menu of a Polish hotel:

Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beer soup with cheesy dumplings in
the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up
in the country people's fashion.


In a Hong Kong supermarket:

For your convenience we recommend courteous, efficient self-service.


In a Bangkok cleaners:

Drop your trousers here for best results.


In a Paris dress shop:

Dresses for street walking.


In a Hong Kong dress shop:

Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers
in strict rotation.


From the Soviet weekly:

There will be a Moscow Exhibition of the Arts by 15,000 Soviet
Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two
years.


In an East African newspaper:

A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have
thrown in the bulk of their workers.


In a Vienna hotel:

In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the porter.


In Germany's Black Forest:

It is strictly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site that people
of different sex, for instance, men & women, live together in one tent
unless they are married for that purpose.


An ad by a Hong Kong dentist:

Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.


A Russian chess book:

A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since this variation
hasbeen played.


In a Rome laundry:

Ladies, leave your clothes here & spend the afternoon having a good
time.


In a Czech tourist agency:

Take one of our horse driven tours---we guarantee no miscarriages.


Ad for donkey rides in Thailand:

Would you like to ride your own ass?


In the window of a Swedish furrier:

Fur coats made for the ladies from their own skin.


On a box of a clockwork toy in Hong Kong:

Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.


Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan:

Stop---Drive sideways.


Swiss mountain inn:

Special today--no ice cream.


Bangkok temple:

It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed like a
man.


Tokyo bar:

Special cocktail for the ladies with nuts.


Copenhagen airline ticket office:

We take your bags and send them in all directions.


Moscow hotel room:

If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.


Norwegian cocktail lounge:

Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.


Budapest zoo:

Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it
to the guard on duty.


Office of a Roman doctor:

Specialist in women and other diseases.


Acapulco hotel:

The manager has personally passed all the water served here.


Tokyo shop:

Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find that they are best
in the long run.


Japanese instructions on an air conditioner:

Cooles & Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room,
please control yourself.


Car rental brochure in Tokyo:

When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him
melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then
tootle him with vigor.


Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:

English well talking;
Here speeching American.


On the box of a Vietnamese laughing tip-toy:

Can't invert with laugh The laugh begin. you are youthful Automatize
As poke as shaky as shaky as laugh During the use. open the lid of top
and take two cells (NO. 5) in the box. If you want to stop laugh or
don't use for a long time. you must take out the cells (This seller
have no cells)


A sign on the lion cage at a zoo in the Czech Republic:

No smoothen the lion


A Finnish hotel's instructions in case of fi

If you are unable to leave your room, expose yourself in the window.

pffff old stuff, why crosspost and why even post !!

"Mike" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
Losing Something in Translation...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:

The lift is being fixed for the day. During that time we regret that
you will be unbearable.


In a Leipzig elevator:

Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.


In a Belgrade elevator:

To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should
enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor.
Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.


In a Paris hotel elevator:

Please leave your values at the front desk.


In a hotel in Athens:

Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of
9&11 am daily.


In a Yugoslavian hotel:

The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the
chambermaid.


In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian orthodox
Monastery:

You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet
composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.


In an Austrian hotel for skiers:

Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots
of ascension.


On a menu in a Swiss restaurant:

Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.


On a menu of a Polish hotel:

Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beer soup with cheesy dumplings in
the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up
in the country people's fashion.


In a Hong Kong supermarket:

For your convenience we recommend courteous, efficient self-service.


In a Bangkok cleaners:

Drop your trousers here for best results.


In a Paris dress shop:

Dresses for street walking.


In a Hong Kong dress shop:

Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers
in strict rotation.


From the Soviet weekly:

There will be a Moscow Exhibition of the Arts by 15,000 Soviet
Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two
years.


In an East African newspaper:

A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have
thrown in the bulk of their workers.


In a Vienna hotel:

In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the porter.


In Germany's Black Forest:

It is strictly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site that people
of different sex, for instance, men & women, live together in one tent
unless they are married for that purpose.


An ad by a Hong Kong dentist:

Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.


A Russian chess book:

A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since this variation
hasbeen played.


In a Rome laundry:

Ladies, leave your clothes here & spend the afternoon having a good
time.


In a Czech tourist agency:

Take one of our horse driven tours---we guarantee no miscarriages.


Ad for donkey rides in Thailand:

Would you like to ride your own ass?


In the window of a Swedish furrier:

Fur coats made for the ladies from their own skin.


On a box of a clockwork toy in Hong Kong:

Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.


Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan:

Stop---Drive sideways.


Swiss mountain inn:

Special today--no ice cream.


Bangkok temple:

It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed like a
man.


Tokyo bar:

Special cocktail for the ladies with nuts.


Copenhagen airline ticket office:

We take your bags and send them in all directions.


Moscow hotel room:

If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.


Norwegian cocktail lounge:

Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.


Budapest zoo:

Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it
to the guard on duty.


Office of a Roman doctor:

Specialist in women and other diseases.


Acapulco hotel:

The manager has personally passed all the water served here.


Tokyo shop:

Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find that they are best
in the long run.


Japanese instructions on an air conditioner:

Cooles & Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room,
please control yourself.


Car rental brochure in Tokyo:

When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him
melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then
tootle him with vigor.


Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:

English well talking;
Here speeching American.


On the box of a Vietnamese laughing tip-toy:

Can't invert with laugh The laugh begin. you are youthful Automatize
As poke as shaky as shaky as laugh During the use. open the lid of top
and take two cells (NO. 5) in the box. If you want to stop laugh or
don't use for a long time. you must take out the cells (This seller
have no cells)


A sign on the lion cage at a zoo in the Czech Republic:

No smoothen the lion


A Finnish hotel's instructions in case of fi

If you are unable to leave your room, expose yourself in the window.

Mike wrote:
Losing Something in Translation...

Thanks, Mike! It's nice to start the day with a good laugh.
Some I've seen before, but many were new to me (and I
presume new to others, too). I wonder how comprehensible
similar "foreign language" notices in English-speaking
countries are? (Of course, in the U.S., it's not a problem
- with the exception of a few in Spanish here in the
Southwest and possibly in New York City - most venues simply
assume everyone speaks English.)

I saw on a French menu last year - "roast vegetarians"

and many years ago in Holland - "Smashed potatoes".

On Apr 28, 8:45 pm, Mike O'Sullivan wrote:
I saw on a French menu last year - "roast vegetarians"

and many years ago in Holland - "Smashed potatoes".

and in the Hotel White Palace in Madagascar

Informations and Disciples (Rules)

4. Debt is not acceptable
5. The Staff do not take cheque. Except regular cheque

cretins of the world, unite !

"Chiken Koma" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
On Apr 28, 8:45 pm, Mike O'Sullivan wrote:
I saw on a French menu last year - "roast vegetarians"

and many years ago in Holland - "Smashed potatoes".

and in the Hotel White Palace in Madagascar

Informations and Disciples (Rules)

4. Debt is not acceptable
5. The Staff do not take cheque. Except regular cheque

In rec.travel.europe Martin wrote:
"Tender lion's steak" on a menu in a restaurant in Leiden.

This isn't travel related, but it was one of the best I have ever seen.
Spotted on a package of imported Japanese candy, being sold in a corner
grocery store in Vancouver:

"Its translucent color so alluring and taste and aroma so gentle and
mellow offer admiring feelings of a graceful lady. Enjoy soft and juicy
Kasugai Muscat Gummy."

--
K.

Lang may your lum reek.

Te force pas, vieille dame indigne

"Magda" magda@eu a écrit dans le message de news:
...
On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:36:08 +0200, in rec.travel.europe, Martin

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

... On 28 Apr 2007 11:56:29 -0700, Chiken Koma
wrote:
...
... On Apr 28, 8:45 pm, Mike O'Sullivan wrote:
... I saw on a French menu last year - "roast vegetarians"
...
... and many years ago in Holland - "Smashed potatoes".
...
... "Tender lion's steak" on a menu in a restaurant in Leiden.

Which meat was that?

Mike O'Sullivan wrote:
I saw on a French menu last year - "roast vegetarians"

and many years ago in Holland - "Smashed potatoes".

There are restaurants in the US that sell "smashed potatoes"
Smashed potatoes are like "mashed potatoes", but chunky and often the
potatoes skins are included.

Here's an example
http://homecooking.about.com/b/a/256932.htm

On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 10:15:43 -0700,
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" mangled
uncounted electrons thus:



Mike wrote:
Losing Something in Translation...

Thanks, Mike! It's nice to start the day with a good laugh.
Some I've seen before, but many were new to me (and I
presume new to others, too). I wonder how comprehensible
similar "foreign language" notices in English-speaking
countries are? (Of course, in the U.S., it's not a problem
- with the exception of a few in Spanish here in the
Southwest and possibly in New York City - most venues simply
assume everyone speaks English.)

grin It doesn't only take non-native speakers to mangle a
language. My father took a photo of a sign in a local hardware
store some few years back that proudly proclaimed:

'Enamel bowels for sale'

Martin D. Pay
Presumably to go with people's cast-iron stomachs... ^_-