Does anyone have a funny story about getting lost in Europe?
Feb 28th, 2006, 04:38 PM
#202
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On my first trip to London, I stayed in the Bayswater area. Here is a little description of the area....every street is like a very small square.
So, while my directions said just a couple of minutes from the bayswater station, I found out the hard way, how long it would actually take me!
I asked one person which way was Leinster square...she pointed me in a direction, but for some reason I didn't believe her. I asked another person, and they, too, pointed me in the exact opposite direction. So I started walking...with a very heavy bag and a lot of fatigue.....I asked at least 3 different people, none of them knew where I was talking about.
There are tons of hotels all around, all looking like mine, but not being mine...so I go into one to call a cab, I was very irritable and tired and frustrated at that point. The hotel person said they could not call me a cab because I was not a guest....I was a bit miffed by that, but I understood. I just soo wanted to sit down!
So I hailed a cab, who, I kid you not, almost literally drove me around in a semi circle to where my hotel was. He did not charge me because I was sooo close to the hotel. He was a very kind gentleman!
I still got lost a couple times during the 3 days I was there (coming and going from my hotel about 6 times) but it wasn't far from bayswater station after all.
So, while my directions said just a couple of minutes from the bayswater station, I found out the hard way, how long it would actually take me!
I asked one person which way was Leinster square...she pointed me in a direction, but for some reason I didn't believe her. I asked another person, and they, too, pointed me in the exact opposite direction. So I started walking...with a very heavy bag and a lot of fatigue.....I asked at least 3 different people, none of them knew where I was talking about.
There are tons of hotels all around, all looking like mine, but not being mine...so I go into one to call a cab, I was very irritable and tired and frustrated at that point. The hotel person said they could not call me a cab because I was not a guest....I was a bit miffed by that, but I understood. I just soo wanted to sit down!
So I hailed a cab, who, I kid you not, almost literally drove me around in a semi circle to where my hotel was. He did not charge me because I was sooo close to the hotel. He was a very kind gentleman!
I still got lost a couple times during the 3 days I was there (coming and going from my hotel about 6 times) but it wasn't far from bayswater station after all.
Feb 28th, 2006, 04:38 PM
#203
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I do while in Rome last year I forgot I had crossed a narrow street to walk on sidewalk and saw the bus at the bus stop and without thinking got on the right bus # going the wrong way. Ended up miles outside Rome and took 2 hours to get back but I saw a lot of things you would normally not see so while I lost a few hours I gained in the experience.
Mar 1st, 2006, 02:42 PM
#204
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In 1997, trying to find a hotel on Lake Geneva somewhere close to the Castle of Chillon. Vague directions, at best.
We ended up down a dirt lane with a steep dropoff on one side. Walking towards us was a man with a staff and a herd of sheep. In my best high school French, I asked for directions. After a 20-point turn where the road was slightly wider, we were happily on our way.
Turns out the hotel was on the next hillside - we could see it, but still struggled to get there.
We still laugh about asking the sheep farmer for directions!
We ended up down a dirt lane with a steep dropoff on one side. Walking towards us was a man with a staff and a herd of sheep. In my best high school French, I asked for directions. After a 20-point turn where the road was slightly wider, we were happily on our way.
Turns out the hotel was on the next hillside - we could see it, but still struggled to get there.
We still laugh about asking the sheep farmer for directions!
Mar 1st, 2006, 04:13 PM
#205
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Lost getting to Bellagio. A few years ago DH and I spent 3 weeks driving around Italy. Everything was fine until we couldn't find the road to get to our hotel in Bellagio. Drove around Lake Como for I don't know how long. DH and I speak several different languages, but at that time not Italian. Although DH met guy from Belgium and we thought got decent directions in French- ah - to no avail. Same old lake. The worst was when the sun was setting, we got nowhere trying to get directions from the police, and contemplated sleeping in the car. Finally, we came upon two twenty-something girls, and even though never in a million years would I let strangers get into the car and ride with us, these girls were brilliant, and rode with us for about a half hour directing us to the road (with no sign) that ultimately led us to our hotel. They told us they would get back on their own. They were angels. So what did DH do - he taught himself Italian, and now is fluent, so now we can get lost again in Italian.
Mar 1st, 2006, 04:34 PM
#206
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Hubby and I did a driving tour a good many years ago. The plan was to drive down Germany and along Lake Constance to France. We had a decent map with us, but guess who was doing the navigating, me. I was trying to find our way across the border from Germany to France on a minor road. I said to my husband, I keep seeing this sign to a village called Frankreich, but I can't find it on the map. I did not learn French or German at school. I did feel such an idiot when he explained it to me.
Mar 2nd, 2006, 03:59 PM
#207
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My wife arrived in Germany after I did when we were in the service. On the way from Frankfurt to Stuttgart she asked how come she had never heard of the town AUSFAHRT? All the signs were directing you there. I explained it meant EXIT. We did not get lost, but we still laugh about that sign 35 years later.
Mar 2nd, 2006, 04:21 PM
#208
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We didn't get lost, but we did get stranded on the island of Hydra in Greece.
Our son-in-law is Greek and we'd come over from the U.S. so our grandson could be christened in his family's parish church. Of course my husband and I wanted to do some touring, too. So we hopped the boat in Porto Heli to visit Hydra for a few hours. Our son-in-law and daughter were to meet our return boat at 4 p.m.
Unfortunately, a storm popped up and the scheduled boat could not make it into port. We were told we'd have to wait for the next boat, which was smaller and would not damage the dock if it were buffeted by the waves. We were momentarily at a loss about how to notify the family. We couldn't read the instructions on a Greek pay phone and even if we could, we knew that the English speaking members of our son-in-law's family would not be at home. Our Greek is sadly limited to "yes," "no," "thank you" and "I don't understand."
But we had spent a considerable amount of money in one of the local shops and had a long conversation in English with the proprietor. We made our way back to the shop,explained our predicament, and gave the shopkeeper the phone number for our son-in-law's family home.
We don't know exactly what he said, but three hours later our family was awaiting us at the dock.
Our son-in-law is Greek and we'd come over from the U.S. so our grandson could be christened in his family's parish church. Of course my husband and I wanted to do some touring, too. So we hopped the boat in Porto Heli to visit Hydra for a few hours. Our son-in-law and daughter were to meet our return boat at 4 p.m.
Unfortunately, a storm popped up and the scheduled boat could not make it into port. We were told we'd have to wait for the next boat, which was smaller and would not damage the dock if it were buffeted by the waves. We were momentarily at a loss about how to notify the family. We couldn't read the instructions on a Greek pay phone and even if we could, we knew that the English speaking members of our son-in-law's family would not be at home. Our Greek is sadly limited to "yes," "no," "thank you" and "I don't understand."
But we had spent a considerable amount of money in one of the local shops and had a long conversation in English with the proprietor. We made our way back to the shop,explained our predicament, and gave the shopkeeper the phone number for our son-in-law's family home.
We don't know exactly what he said, but three hours later our family was awaiting us at the dock.
Mar 31st, 2006, 05:42 PM
#211
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Oh, my, do you think they have learned to listen to me, yet? We'd been in Italy for some weeks. I've been in charge of arrangements (as always). We have left Venice and our next stop is Varenna on Lake Como. Must change trains in Milano. I check the schedule and tell my husband and daughter that we need to be on Track 8 for the train headed to Tirano. Well, they decide to get involved and tell me, no, we need to be on Track 5. No, I said, that one goes to Torino, not Tirano. Track 5 is the train we want they insist. I'm adamant. NO, track 8, Tirano. They point to the board. See, track 5. I say, no, that goes to Torino, we want to go to Tirano. They insist and take off running to track 5. It's two against one and I have no choice but to follow. We make the train.
We aren't out of the station 5 minutes before my husband says, we're headed the wrong way. The sun is in the wrong direction. I KNOW, I tell them. I said we were on the wrong train.
A very nice Italian lady hears the conversation and asks where we want to be. We tell her and she says, get off at the next station. It is my station and I know it well. Go to track (whatever) as fast as you can and take that train back to Milano. Leaves in 2 minutes. On track 8 you will find the train you want.
How fortunate that we believe in traveling light, because we had to go at a flat-out run to catch the train back to Milan and get to the track I TOLD them we wanted.
I know it's been a long one, but I hope this thread keeps going. I find it fascinating!!
We aren't out of the station 5 minutes before my husband says, we're headed the wrong way. The sun is in the wrong direction. I KNOW, I tell them. I said we were on the wrong train.
A very nice Italian lady hears the conversation and asks where we want to be. We tell her and she says, get off at the next station. It is my station and I know it well. Go to track (whatever) as fast as you can and take that train back to Milano. Leaves in 2 minutes. On track 8 you will find the train you want.
How fortunate that we believe in traveling light, because we had to go at a flat-out run to catch the train back to Milan and get to the track I TOLD them we wanted.
I know it's been a long one, but I hope this thread keeps going. I find it fascinating!!
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:55 PM
#215
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We had stopped for a car picnic in Aix on our way to Nice, and had pulled over to the right curb because we'd been wandering around trying to find the highway - I was finally giving in and looking at the map. I'm driving, my father-in-law is in the passenger seat, and my wife and mother-in-law are in the back seat, with our 11-month old daughter in the middle.
Suddenly, a leather clad man wearing a black motorcycle helmet BURSTS into the back right door and starts screaming at us in French! My first throught is he's going to hurt one of the girls or pull them out of the car, but before I can even react, he slams the car door shut, and I see him walk back to his motorcycle, which has a girl on the back waiting for him. They ride off past us waving their fists at us...
After we caught our breath, we just started laughing. Unless he'd been trying to pass us on the right, or on the sidewalk, we hadn't cut him off. So we just chalked it up to something we had to experience on our travels.
Earlier in the trip, I'd gone at least 15 miles past the road to Gordes out of Avignon, but refused to acknowledge my father-in-law's advice that I'd passed it. But the funny part about that is I was probably still hyperventilating from our Avignon train station experience - I'd gotten the car, and then - yes - pulled over to the right to look at directions and re-load the car - we had way too much luggage!
Cars were able to pass us easily on the left leaving the parking lot until one woman pulled up behind us and was convinced she couldn't pass us, which in turn blocked all the cars behind her. She was honking and honking, and so were the cars behind us. We were showing her how much room she had to easily pass us, but refused to try. Meantime most of our luggage was on the sidewalk as we tried to fit it in the trunk and on the girls' laps.
The woman had been screaming at us for several minutes when I finally just yelled back at her: "PAH!!" - really loudly. I've never yelled "Pah!" before in my life, and I really don't know what it means, although my daughter now loves the story because she thinks I yelled "Nothing!" at the woman in French ("pas"
.
In any case, it startled the woman so much that she angled over to the left and passed us easily. We were then treated to various reactions, honks and arm/hand gestures as the remaining few dozen cars passed us.
Who knows, maybe the girl on the motorcycle a few days later was the same woman from the car?!
Suddenly, a leather clad man wearing a black motorcycle helmet BURSTS into the back right door and starts screaming at us in French! My first throught is he's going to hurt one of the girls or pull them out of the car, but before I can even react, he slams the car door shut, and I see him walk back to his motorcycle, which has a girl on the back waiting for him. They ride off past us waving their fists at us...
After we caught our breath, we just started laughing. Unless he'd been trying to pass us on the right, or on the sidewalk, we hadn't cut him off. So we just chalked it up to something we had to experience on our travels.
Earlier in the trip, I'd gone at least 15 miles past the road to Gordes out of Avignon, but refused to acknowledge my father-in-law's advice that I'd passed it. But the funny part about that is I was probably still hyperventilating from our Avignon train station experience - I'd gotten the car, and then - yes - pulled over to the right to look at directions and re-load the car - we had way too much luggage!
Cars were able to pass us easily on the left leaving the parking lot until one woman pulled up behind us and was convinced she couldn't pass us, which in turn blocked all the cars behind her. She was honking and honking, and so were the cars behind us. We were showing her how much room she had to easily pass us, but refused to try. Meantime most of our luggage was on the sidewalk as we tried to fit it in the trunk and on the girls' laps.
The woman had been screaming at us for several minutes when I finally just yelled back at her: "PAH!!" - really loudly. I've never yelled "Pah!" before in my life, and I really don't know what it means, although my daughter now loves the story because she thinks I yelled "Nothing!" at the woman in French ("pas"
. In any case, it startled the woman so much that she angled over to the left and passed us easily. We were then treated to various reactions, honks and arm/hand gestures as the remaining few dozen cars passed us.
Who knows, maybe the girl on the motorcycle a few days later was the same woman from the car?!
Jun 25th, 2006, 07:40 PM
#218
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This thread is a hoot.
As a veteran home exchanger, I get lost every trip. There are nice signs to all the towns, but the hard bit is always finding the house. Sometimes I get to the suburban development in which I am staying (yes, they have those in Europe) and get lost in the development finding the house. I have been known to take a half hour finding a house that is right around the corner.
I guess the funniest story I have involved my second European home exchange in 1993 north of Paris. We got lost coming home nearly every day. The street had a well hidden sign. The problem was that it was totally overgrown by hedges. One night after dark I took a hedge trimmer and "liberated" the street sign so friends coming from Germany would be able to find the house. My kids were worried I was going to be arrested.
One night finding our exchange house in Montmorency, I drove around for an hour and I could not figure out where the house was. I was, after all, on the street with the right name (probably one of the ubiquitous Avenue LeClercs in France). Well, the problem was I was on the right street, but in an adjacent town--not Montmorency.
When you get lost, just remember, you end up seeing some different tourist sites than you set out to see when you left "home" for the day and it isn't a total loss.
There is another story when I went to visit friends in the Auvergne and I took down French directions over the telephone. Of course, spelled the names of the towns all wrong (we were talking in French), making it hard to find those places on the map. I got there, but, of course, very late.
Happy travels!
As a veteran home exchanger, I get lost every trip. There are nice signs to all the towns, but the hard bit is always finding the house. Sometimes I get to the suburban development in which I am staying (yes, they have those in Europe) and get lost in the development finding the house. I have been known to take a half hour finding a house that is right around the corner.
I guess the funniest story I have involved my second European home exchange in 1993 north of Paris. We got lost coming home nearly every day. The street had a well hidden sign. The problem was that it was totally overgrown by hedges. One night after dark I took a hedge trimmer and "liberated" the street sign so friends coming from Germany would be able to find the house. My kids were worried I was going to be arrested.
One night finding our exchange house in Montmorency, I drove around for an hour and I could not figure out where the house was. I was, after all, on the street with the right name (probably one of the ubiquitous Avenue LeClercs in France). Well, the problem was I was on the right street, but in an adjacent town--not Montmorency.
When you get lost, just remember, you end up seeing some different tourist sites than you set out to see when you left "home" for the day and it isn't a total loss.
There is another story when I went to visit friends in the Auvergne and I took down French directions over the telephone. Of course, spelled the names of the towns all wrong (we were talking in French), making it hard to find those places on the map. I got there, but, of course, very late.
Happy travels!
Jun 25th, 2006, 08:01 PM
#219
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As very young newlyweds (many years ago), my hubby and I took a 2 week trip to Paris and the Rue de Vin. We rented a car in Paris and drove the wine route. It took us 2hours to find south because every highway we took had an "N" in front of the number. we thought this meant "north" but really it was "number"! Every road we tried went "north", we thought. Very frustrating. Every time we got in the car to drive somewhere, we fought like cats and dogs over directions. He drove and I navigated- the blind leading the blind. We got lost just about every time we got in the car, but boy, every village we stayed in was the perfect place to make up later!!!
