Packing for a trip reminded me of a Russian tradition: when you’re about to travel – all packed and ready to go – pause a while. And reflect… Where are we going? Where are we coming from? Where are we, just now? Wow. Existential, or what?
Saw this recently in Barcelona…Not a dilemma shared by most of the world’s population, I suspect
Following a hiking route in the glorious countryside of the Languedoc, we were happy that our path was marked:
We’ve seen that sort of thing elsewhere, and very useful it is too. What we hadn’t seen before though, was this sign, which greeted us as we took the WRONG path:
Ah, if only our paths through life, as well as through Southern France, could be so clear….
Russia is full of optimists…
….All the pessimists have already left.
‘When man has cut down the last tree, polluted the last drop of water, killed the last animal and fished the last fish – then he’ll realise that he can’t eat money’
(Indian Proverb)
Where would we be without translators and interpreters? Literature, diplomacy, travel, commerce – translation opens up new ideas and new worlds to us.
So , to all of you everywhere who use your language skills to help us understand each other:
Happy International Translation Day!
No prizes for guessing that the US is the biggest market for McDonalds. But the second biggest……?
France. Yes, the home of haute cuisine. No disrespect to the Golden Arches, but – well, who would have thought it? Mind you, though, the ‘MacDo’ experience has a distinctly French feel – from the ‘Alpine burger’ with 3 sorts of cheese to the McBaguette (yes, really).
Here’s one! (sign spotted in Oxford station, UK)
I loved this sign, spotted outside the wonderful Reading Terminal Market in Philadeplhia. I think it works – made me grin, anyway.
‘Those who know do not speak,
Those who speak do not know’
(Chinese Proverb)
travelling frogs 