More on Signs

The following is not a sign, but is too funny not to share.  It is the reply from Gema, the social worker at the hospital, to my e-mail informing her that the address for Beth was incorrect, and in which I apologized for not being able to write to her in Spanish.  It seems obvious that she ran her reply through a translation program.  We understood what she meant until the very last phrase.  I was reading the message aloud to Jerri and Beth and was laughing so hard that they could not understand the words I was trying to get out.  Finally I was able to say it calmly and, when we stopped laughing, we agreed that we had to put the phrase into a translator and see what came back.

     “Hello: That such this Elisabeth?
     Don’t worry by the direction, I communicate it in admission so that they modify it.
     The company contact with me for the guarantee of payment. All fixed.
     Good travel.
     Greetings for the three.
     You do not concern you by the language, I by writing understand it better.
     It forgives if in the reply there are failures, do not dominate the groins."

The translation: do not mind (pardon) my English.

Two more fractured English results.

Two posters announcing the nationwide strike that occurred here.  We didn't notice any reduction in services around our little corner of Pamplona, nor did we see any signs of protest; but we weren't really out and about that day.  However, we heard more sirens in one day than in the rest of our almost two-week stay, and helicopters were constantly flying over.  Without watching TV or reading newspapers, we're curious about the details and if the strike is still going on.  Online info is scarce so far.

The tortilla chip “mascot" at Nachos Tomasa.

At least in Pamplona, the “You are here" signs are blown-up portions of the tourist maps available. It's very helpful matching up your immediate surroundings to the map so you can easily see where you are relative to where you want to go.