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-   -   Silly place names (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/silly-place-names-64822/)

RosemaryM Mar 9th, 2000 05:36 PM

Elvira,It is rather difficult to explain the pronunciation of Woolloomooloo, however, it is said in two groups of two with the accents on the first and last oo's but they are pronounced differently. Confused? Something like this - woola m'looo. I think it was a joke played on the first settlers by the indigenous population. The legend goes that kangaroo is the aboriginal word for "your finger you fool" - you know, "What do you call that?" Pointing to the animal.

Pat Mar 9th, 2000 06:15 PM

My favorite Italian town was <BR>Rippafarta

Cheryl Z. Mar 9th, 2000 06:29 PM

<BR>I doubt I'm spelling this right but the German word for exit, seen on the autobahn, ahsfarht, has always cracked me up. And Beth, I've read about that place you mentioned so I know ou just didn't get carried away with your keyboard! <BR>Thanks, Adam, for bringing a smile to all of us.

ray seva Mar 9th, 2000 10:17 PM

Ha-ha-ha! I'm nearly choking on my dinner reading all these names! (Tittybong???) <BR> <BR> I know this is off the subject, but: <BR> <BR>Dick Pound-U.S. Olympic Committee Board Member <BR> <BR>Dick Pole-Former pitching coach, Chicago Cubs/SF Giants. <BR> <BR> And my favorite name of all: Dick Trickle- NASCAR Driver. <BR> <BR>

April Mar 10th, 2000 12:34 AM

Western Canada has some weird names too like Skookumchuk & Spuzzum but the one that cracked up my sister on a family cross-country trip when she and I were kids was Piapot, Saskatchewan. <BR> <BR>As for people's names, one of my favourites was one I saw written somewhere - Marsha Mallow.

she said titty caca Mar 10th, 2000 06:11 AM

Surprised noone's mentioned Lake Titicaca (sp?) yet....

lola Mar 10th, 2000 06:34 AM

For all the language-challenged, can you guess what "Grand Tetons" means in French?

Falcon Mar 10th, 2000 07:02 AM

lola- <BR>No idea, do tell me.

Sheila Mar 10th, 2000 07:53 AM

Lost, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland <BR> <BR>And like the Grand Tetons, we have a bunch of mountains called Paps. Tho' why there are three on Jura, i have no idea.....

lola Mar 10th, 2000 09:17 AM

Very funny Falcon. Obviously "Grand Tetons" means Really Big Tetons!

Meredith Mar 10th, 2000 09:24 AM

Ray Seva, <BR> <BR>I remember hearing about a politician named Dick Sweat. (Don't remember where I heard it, though.) Really, couldn't he at least go by Richard?

Al Godon Mar 10th, 2000 12:59 PM

Will somebody please take a look on the Canadian side of the forum. There is a posting about Jasper and Banff. <BR>I am trying to figure out what the author intended when he said something about a "hore stable". <BR>Any ideas? I don't think it is a place name,but it hit me as funny. <BR>As for politicians, there was a fellow running for office in Idaho by the last name of Crapo.

jen Mar 10th, 2000 01:34 PM

Politicians: <BR>Here in Chicago, we recently had a mayoral election that featured Dick Daley running against Dick Phelan (pronounced like "failin'"... you get the idea). Who do you think won?

rand Mar 10th, 2000 02:48 PM

Al I think in the response about the 'stable' in Jasper the writer is confusing Jasper with other trips he's made to Nevada and some of the 'attractions' there.

Craig Mar 10th, 2000 02:57 PM

<BR>Don't forget Hell, Michigan

dan woodlief Mar 10th, 2000 03:12 PM

Jen, I am thinking Phelan didn't last til the end (much like Bradley or McCain).

elvira Mar 10th, 2000 03:19 PM

I'm sure he was deflated when he lost.

traveler Mar 10th, 2000 04:38 PM

Hellenbach, along the Romantic Road in Bavaria.

harzer Mar 10th, 2000 11:24 PM

Just to correct Lindi's claim: there is no Fucking in Australia. This may account for the Aussies' declining birthrate. I have always delighted in the fact that a Mr Crapp invented the flush toilet. And Ivor Hardon had something to do with the development of the latex condom.

David Mar 11th, 2000 04:49 AM

Here in Minnesota there is a little town called NIMROD. It even has a <BR>cemetary with a nice wrought iron sign <BR>that says. NIMROD CEMETARY. <BR> <BR>DAVID


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