avatarAdrienne Beaumont

Summary

The author reflects on their adventurous and unconventional experiences in various European cities, interpreting signs and encounters as personal messages, and embracing a sense of craziness and freedom.

Abstract

The narrative recounts the author's travels through Europe, where they engage in spontaneous and sometimes risky activities, such as interacting with graffiti artists in Paris and embracing the vibrant nightlife of Berlin. They ponder the meaning of signs they encounter, from a quote by Franz von Suppé suggesting Berlin as a haven for the unconventional, to a poster comparing them to the independent and fun-loving Pippi Longstocking. The author also humorously recalls their misadventures, like not having cash for a beer at a mountain cafe and their determination to touch snow on a mountain trail despite challenges. The journey is marked by self-discovery, the joy of living in the moment, and the pursuit of new experiences, all while acknowledging the underlying thrill and potential dangers of their escapades.

Opinions

  • The author views their adventurous behavior as a form of craziness, but in a positive and liberating sense.
  • They find personal significance in the signs they see, suggesting that these signs are reflections of their own experiences and feelings.
  • The author values the experiences and connections made during their travels over conventional tourist activities.
  • There is a sense of pride in being compared to Pippi Longstocking, as it represents their own independence and nonconformity.
  • The author admits to being stubborn and refusing to conform to expectations, such as always carrying cash or avoiding physical challenges.
  • They express a deep curiosity about the world and the stories of people they meet, like the owners of a South American-Iranian grocery store in Budapest.
  • Despite physical ailments and initial fears, the author demonstrates resilience and a determination to fully engage with their surroundings.
  • The author believes in the importance of leaving only footprints and taking only photographs, indicating a respect for the places they visit.

Did These Signs Have a Message for Me?

Crazy is as crazy does

Sign on the lockers in my hostel in Berlin. All photos by author

I played it safe for the first few weeks of my trip — well, apart from in Paris where I went wandering off on my own on a deserted railway line and met two teenage graffeurs. If I was afraid initially, I didn’t show it and sat down and chatted with them both. They were lovely. But the possibility they could have killed me and no one would have known never entered my head. Or did it?

I know the thought of death crossed my mind a few times on my travels — not being murdered as such, but the cable car crashing to the ground and killing me or getting lost and not being able to find my way. It didn’t worry me too much. I was philosophical about it…I’ve had a decent life, if I die now, at least I’ll die doing something I enjoy.

But it wasn’t until I reached Berlin, that I thought of myself as crazy. Crazy enough to drink far too much of the hard stuff, crazy enough to ask an Irishman to sleep on top of me, crazy enough to go swimming naked in a public lake, and crazy enough not to visit the places I wanted to, but only hang out with my new friends.

So when I saw this sign, I thought it was speaking directly to me. I hadn’t heard of the author of this quote so I had to find out who he was.

“You are crazy, my child. You must go to Berlin.” — Franz von Suppé, Austrian composer, 1800. These lyrics are part of the song that Austrian composer Franz von Suppé wrote back in 1800. His words are a reflection on the experience of living in this wonderful, crazy, artistic city. Berlin is part of a global culture with many people who live here coming from all over the world. It is a paradise for artists and creatives; the cost of living means many are able to come here to pursue their dreams. The Culture Trip

Poster in the bar where I went drinking with Jesús.

This poster in the Szafa Pub was pointed out to me by Jesús saying something like, this is you. Me? Crazy? No, I’m just fun.

I don’t know why he would think I was crazy. Maybe he’s never been invited to dinner by an older woman before (a much older woman!) who after the restaurant closes takes him drinking at her local bar. Sadly, I wasn’t inebriated enough to ask him to sleep on top of me! 😊 I kinda wish I had.

Why would he think I remind him of Pippi Longstocking? I don’t have pigtails or freckles. Was it because “she doesn’t live by anyone’s rules but her own, and she’s perfectly fine with being a little different”? Yep, that’s me!

Or was it because she said things like, “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.” Yep, that’s me too!

Pippi is not only strong and independent, she is also a great friend, and always up for some fun! Yep, that’s me for sure!

I’m so happy Jesús thought of me as Pippi Longstocking.

I had a wild crazy time in Berlin and a wonderful crazy time in Gdansk.

And here’s a sign that’s telling me something a little different. But did I take heed? Of course not!

Ursus…where’s my beer?

I must be crazy to let this happen… This sign was on a table in an outdoor cafe at the top of Tampa Mountain above Brasov. I had caught the cable car up to the top. The hot exhausting part was the walk to the bottom cable car station. When I reached the top, I took photos of the views and sat down at this table.

I had finished my bottle of water so thought an Ursus beer would be just the thing. Ursus also means bear but it was the beer that I wanted. I walked over to the bar to see a handwritten sign “Cash Only”. I almost cried.

You would think this would have taught me to always have enough cash on me for a beer, but no, I’m a stubborn son-of-a-gun and refused to draw out any cash. I’ll just have to go beerless…

Sign in our guest house

My daughter and I stayed in Gasthof Schneider several years ago. It was located in Auffen, a tiny, remote village in the Austrian countryside. The Gasthof consisted of a bar, a small restaurant and a few guest rooms upstairs. The Schneider family lived at the back of the ‘hotel’ on the ground floor. We were the only guests.

I was so pleased we weren’t staying for the “celebration” on the 7 December. I wouldn’t want to bump into this guy in the dark corridor or on the staircase. Every time I saw the sign a frisson of fear ran up my spine. Was I crazy to be frightened of a sign?

South American-Iranian Grocery Store Budapest

Do you think this is a strange combination of food cultures I found in Budapest? I had to go inside to see what they sold. There was one lady looking after the shop so I wandered around looking for something I could buy that I could actually eat without cooking. I settled on a very large packet of coconut biscuits with individually wrapped smaller packets. I shared them all the way through Romania with my roommates.

I could tell which products came from South America from the Spanish — I guessed Argentina — and the rest of the produce came from Iran with that squiggly Arabic writing? I assumed the partnership was that of a married couple, one Iranian and one Argentinian, but I could be completely wrong. The shop could be owned by two friends from far flung parts of the world.

I would have loved to have heard their story. How did they meet, what gave them the idea to set up a grocery store? Yes, I’m a crazily curious type of person but I had very little voice and a hacking cough so I had to remain ignorant.

The ruin bar pub crawl…signs everywhere

There’s no question of craziness on this night in Budapest. I was sick, taking antibiotics for pharyngitis, and I still ventured into the cold night air to join a bunch of twenty-somethings for a pub crawl of the Ruin Bars of Budapest. I’m not a spirits or beer drinker and that’s all that was included for free that night. It’s a wonder I lasted until the not-so-early hours of the morning. But you know me — I’m not a quitter. And as you can see, I’m a little-too-happy kind of drunk. A glass of wine with dinner is more my style.

You may have noticed most of this craziness involved alcohol but here is a sign that indicates I am still a little crazy stone cold sober.

The hiking trails at the top of the cable car

After visiting Peles and Pelisor Castles in Sinaia, I decided we’d catch the cable car up the mountain. Erilyn wasn’t keen. She hasn’t conquered her fear. She’s much younger than I am and isn’t prepared to die yet. We had no idea that Sinaia was a winter ski resort town.

When I jumped out of the cable car — tumbled out is a better description — I saw there was snow on the top of the mountain. I wanted to walk up the mountain to touch the snow. Erilyn humoured me and agreed to accompany me. “It’ll be easy,” I begged, “There’s a fence to help me up.”

The fence soon petered out and the climb became steeper but I was determined to touch that bloody snow if it was the last thing I did. When I get an idea in my head, I don’t give up easily - or ever. I’m no quitter. We made it up to the snow puffing and panting, bent over and touched it and then started slipping and sliding on the loose gravel on our way down. I grabbed the fence as soon as we reached it which helped stabilise me.

While we waited for the next cable car, I noticed this sign and laughed that our brilliant achievement was done on the Old School Trail — The Easy One! I’ll never be a Fairy or a Happy Bear — not in this life anyway.

Was I crazy to even try to walk up a mountain when I’m still struggling on solid flat ground?

Then we saw this sign!
The bonus was this view!
MY CRAZY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! ( Erilyn’s photo)

Here are some other sane stories of signs. I found this one from Tara Torres heartbreakingly true.

And Warren Thurlow to the mantra “leave only footprints, take only photographs.” We can all leave our mark on Globetrotters with our travel stories.

Monthly Challenge
Signs
Travel
Crazy
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