Having just returned from a five-day trip to the US Virgin Islands, I am still sorting through 2000+ photos. For this post, I chose a few warning signs I found along the way.
You really wouldn’t want to step on a sea urchin; they are spiky little creatures. However, since most of the ocean floor near the beach was covered with sea weed, you couldn’t see what you were walking on. I am fairly sure I would have known immediately if my foot was coming to rest on something very pointy and painful. Thanks to the warning sign, I would have a name to go with that scenario. A warning sign alerts you to what might be lurking beneath…
The blue sign above the front of this safari bus informs anyone capable of reading that they are in a “Tsunami Hazard Zone.” There were other signs along a road leading up the mountain that indicated that we were driving along the island’s “Tsunami Evacuation Route.”
A sign warning of danger from an entirely different source was posted at a concession stand near the beach:
I once had my ice cream stolen by a stealthy seagull while I was walking through the streets of a seaport town. So I know how bold a hungry bird can get.
I found these decals posted on the door jamb of a life guard station:
Now, if you had to out-run a hurricane, would you really want to weigh yourself down with a case of beer?
A very large sign at the end of the beach advised visitors that they could not use jet skis and that they were beyond the reach of local beach authority should they go any further. Since there was a very steep mountain rising out of the sea, covered with huge cacti and other seemingly impenetrable vegetation, it was highly unlikely that anyone would try to leave the clean sandy beach to step on cactus needles. But you never know how confused someone might get, especially if they are trying to observe hurricane evacuation procedures with beer in tow.
And this sign could be interpreted as a cautionary statement: “You may lose your shoes here if you try walking through the deep sand. So hold on to them.” Or, as an invitation: “Feel free to kick of your shoes and walk barefoot.”
That’s exactly what I did…go shoeless… and didn’t step on a single sea urchin.
For more sign posts, check WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs.
Oh I love this post, Annette! You did make me laugh 😀 You’ve certainly spotted some wonderful signs on your trip 🙂
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It was fun putting this post together, Peggy. So glad you enjoyed it, too.
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Grab beer, run like hell really cracked me up!
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Yup, that was funny; though I think they must have been thinking about a tsunami – at least it makes sense running up to higher ground (which is available). I don’t know where you’d run from a hurricane on a small island 🙂
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I recently saw a Challenge and the challenge was SIGNS. Yours would have won first prize. 🙂
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Aww, so very sweet of you to say that, Lady.
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Annette, you have a great eye to notice and take photos of all of these signs. They are a hoot. I can’t wait to see the rest of your photos from the Virgin Islands.
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Thank you, Deb. Signs always show off the local color, don’t they…
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“The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves!” So funny. Great post, Annette, you captured the local flavor of the Virgin Islands beautifully. And I’m happy you had no close encounters of the sea urchin kind.
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The “Beatings” sign was just weird to me – can’t imagine seeing that anywhere on the mainland. I did come in close contact with a sea urchin when someone picked it up (ever so carefully) from the ocean floor and showed it to me – reminded me of an over-sized chestnut 🙂
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And we know how sharp those little chestnut balls are! I picked one up carelessly when we first moved to the country and I learned very quickly. And the “beatings’ sign is on the mainland….I saw it once in an office! It’s funny, Annette!
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Love the photos! Thanks for bringing us along.
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My pleasure…
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LOVE the hurricane sign!!!😍
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“Lose your shoes” is a great beach sign. 🙂
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I agree…
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Lovely signs in a wonderful place 🙂
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Those made for a good belly laugh! I bet when you took them, you never thought you’d share them so quickly.
Nancy
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So true, Nancy, I had no idea that I even had THAT many pictures of signs 🙂
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Love the warning signs, especially on the surf shack.. Now about those shoes, I’d keep the water shoes on due to the urchins…
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I bet it wouldn’t be a lot of fun stepping on one of those creatures, like accidentally stepping on a porcupine?
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I loved your amusing commentary along with the signs. Great stuff. 🙂
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Thank you, Suz, it’s fun talking back to signs 🙂
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Now that’s my kind of hurricane evacuation, where you: Grab Beer! Run like hell! Also “Beatings will continue until morale improves,” as if morale will improve as long as beatings are continuing! I’m glad that in losing your shoes you didn’t step on any sea urchins. That means you must have had a wonderful vacation in the Virgin Islands!
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I did have a great time there, Cathy….it was my daughter’s wedding 🙂
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Oh hoe perfectly lovely that must have been. Congratulations!!
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Oops, I meant, *how lovely that must have been!
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