Most Embarrassing Travel Moments: 2006
Part of the fun of travel is the ridiculous spots we find ourselves in due to a language barrier, cultural misunderstanding, or just bad luck. Do you dare to share your most embarrassing European travel moment?
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Airplane Restroom
I travel to Germany often and on one flight to Munich from California I got up to use the restroom. I looked to see which restroom was free (the engines make it impossible to knock and hear a response -that's why those nice little signs on the door are there. Plus, no light comes on if you don't lock the door right?). I open the door and to my (and his surprise) a man was using the facilities. I almost died, but I think he must've been more humiliated! Bet he never forgot to lock the door to an airplane bathroom again!
Nancy
SF, CA USA Tue 12/05/2006
i was at a nude beach in france, and i went over to a person wearing a large shade hat and fully clothed and asked for the time. The person turned around and It was my old science teacher, Mrs jones. I was completely nude. I was stunned for a few seconds, then I turned and ran. It was one of the most embarrasing moments of my entire life.
jacob
clovis, ca USA Thu 11/30/2006
Oops in Vienna
My wife and I were in Vienna in the dead of winter, and I was wearing white long underwear and dark wool pants. I went to the toilet in a cafe; it was a squat john so I rolled my pants up above my knees so as not to contact the wet floor. Two or three blocks down the street my wife started laughing at me. I was walking down a Vienna street with my wool pants still rolled up knee-high and the white long underwear in full view. Oops!
Charles A. Robinson <email>
Lodi, CA USA Sat 11/25/2006
International dialing/true story
My wife and I were arrived early on a Tuesday in Fussen, and before touring Ludwig's castles, we decided to take Rick's advice and make reservations in Gimmelwald, Switerland for Thursday night.
I speak no German, and was a complete novice with the international telephone system. After dialing a seemingly endly string of numbers,I was gratified to hear the phone ringing. The woman on the other end answered in a burst of German. Undeterred, I asked in my best guidebook German if she spoke English.
There was the sound of the phone being placed on a table, the rustled of feet, and then a very clear, "Hallo, may I help you?"
"My wife and I would like a room on Thursday, please."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" came the emphatic reply.
My heart sunk, and I pleaded, "Are you quite certain you have absolutely no room?"
The curt reply came, "Sir, this is the Fussen Crematorium!"
Thomas <email>
Tacoma, wa USA Wed 11/22/2006
menthol toothpaste?
I was staying at a host family's home in Tirana, Albania a few years ago. I was getting ready for bed and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I got there I realized I had forgotten my toothpaste, but they had a tube in the cabinet so I squeezed a little on my toothbrush and started brushing. My mouth immediately filled with foam and my tongue went numb! I spit and rinsed and spit and rinsed several times before I was composed enough to look at the tube. Right in front of me, in plain English, the tube said "shave cream, contains menthol." My host family got a HUGE kick out of it, to say the least!
Rebecca
Houston, TX USA Wed 11/15/2006
Misplaced American in Istanbul
I was sitting on a roof top terrace in Istanbul having breakfast looking out upon the Blue Mosque, with the sun rising in the sea behind. I could hear a group of Americans talking very loudly at the table next to mine. A woman was telling the group that she had been cheated by a local merchant the day before. She had gone to a small store and wanted to purchase a bottle of water for .50 Turkish Lira. She only had American dollars and gave the merchant a 5 dollar bill. The merchant, of course, gave her the correct exchange rate (1.5) of Turkish Lira for change--I could surmise all this from her story. After all, this is Turkey and that is their currency. Not every merchant has change in every currency handed them. She was outraged to get "strange looking" money in return and demanded her 5 dollar bill back and made a big indignant scene in the store as she thrust the bottle of water at the store keeper angrily. "He tried to cheat me!" she kept telling the group of about 6 Americans, hanging on to her emphatic words. I was deeply saddened and felt some embarassment that someone from my country could be so rude and thoughtless. I travel to build bridges and this woman was a determined bridge burner. Very sad. It would have been a major scene to go over and crash their conversation, but I considered it and decided to let it go...where do you start with someone so far removed from any cultural sensitivity, or just basic common sense? Obviously a group that hadn't read Europe Through The Back Door. Luckily, I don't run into too many Ugly Americans on the road, but this woman qualified, big time..
Mary
Santa Cruz, CA USA Sat 10/21/2006
We took my Parents to Ireland, but spent 2 days in London enroute. We ate at an Italian Restaurant in Paddington. My Father, Wife, and I ordered an Italian Beer. My Mother ordered a "red beer" (1 part tomato juice to 3 parts beer) Our waiter didn't understand. I explained that it was a beer with tomato juice. He brought 3 beers, and 1 can of tomato juice. My Mother wondered where her beer was. We summoned the waiter, and asked if she was old enough to have a beer. He said he thought she ordered tomato juice. I explained that she liked to have here beer with tomato juice in it. He said: "really?" My mother was really embarrassed, but we are still laughing over this incident, and will probably be remembered as one of the more humerous events of our trip!
Dan
WA USA Fri 10/13/2006
So focused on the moment
Last year my girl friend and I mutually left our positions (with others lined up several months later) and back packed across Europe. Charmed and druken in Prague I proposed and we traveled to Italy for our ceremony (after a 3 day wait.)
In our small Florence hotel the wonderful desk attendant provided us with upgraded suite accompdations (large even by US standards) and, even though it was late and the kitchen was closed, sent us up fresh bread, cheese, and wine on a silver rolling cart with candles. As is so often the case on a wedding night a brief snack replinished our energy and we proceeded on to the (I'm sure) somewhat noisy part of our evening. I paced time watching the flickering of candles across the other side of our room. So romantic. After a while, sheer darkness enveloped us and my wife drifted off to sleep.
Hungry again I stumbled out of bed knowing there was one more glass of wine and some cheese left on the now dark cart. Except it wasn't there......seems the front desk man was kind enough to remove the tray for us whilst still not disturbing. I wonder at exactly which moment those candles went out of view.......
Mike
Kodiak, Alaska USA Wed 10/11/2006
Meeting at the beach
In over twenty years of holidaying around France my wife and I had never met any one we knew from home. This year that changed. I was walking along a beach when I heard a female voice say "Hello Mr****". As a teacher this was enough to strike terror. As the beach was "clothes optional" I was nude. It was a former pupil who was working for the summer in that part of France before continuing her studies at a nearby university. Two of her female French friends had taken her to the beach to get "a proper suntan". I am not sure if it ws more or less embarrassing that she was also nude. We chatted for several minutes and our lack of clothes really didn't matter at all. I just couldn't help wondering how it would have worked out if it had been a current pupil with their parents.
Vic
London, UK Mon 09/25/2006
sign language faux pas
When I was sixteen I went on a school trip to Paris. On our first day, we decided to eat at a little brasserie. Through broken English, the waiter asked us how our meal was. I do not speak any French but decided that my American sign language would have to suffice. I held up my hand for, OK! He choked back laughter and ran from the table and into the kitchen. A few seconds pass and there is a chorus of laughter from the kitchen. Since we were the only ones in the restaurant, it was quite noticeable. After much prodding, my group leader said that I told the waiter that I wanted to sleep with him. Ahhhh, to be young and naive.
Kimberly
Houston, TX USA Wed 09/20/2006
Language
When we visited Trieste, we expected the lack of American tourists there to result in a severe language barrier. We were wrong.
After disembarking from the bus near Miramare Castle, we couldn't find the entrance. I approached a waiter at an outdoor restaurant and asked in my best tourist Italian, "Scusi, Io sono Americano. Do've e Castello di Miramare, per favore?" In virtually perfect English he replied, "Yes, sir, it's right up that path", pointing to the entrance. At least I tried...
Tom Iarossi <email>
San Diego, CA USA Sun 09/10/2006
Wine spitzer
Some high school buddies came to visit me when I was living in West Berlin in 1980. We went out to dinner and, being 17 years old, were pretty tickled to be able to order wine with the meal. We got a carafe and had a nice time. Toward the end, someone said something funny that got me laughing - with a mouthful of red wine. The inability to laugh out loud and my friends' laughing at my predicament made it even worse. Finally I grabbed for the nearly empty carafe to spit the wine back in, but a friend snatched it away and offered me a tiny ashtray. Well, that was even funnier and I totally lost it, spewing wine down the front of my white shirt. We were a few blocks from home, so I told them to get the tab and rushed out.
Paul <email>
Virginia Beach, VA USA Wed 08/16/2006
Travel in USSR
While traveling on Aeroflot in USSR in 1989 with my wife and a Russian friend, I withnessed my wife's generosity backfire. On our flight from Moscow to Tashkent we were served boiled chicken and sausages. We lost out appetites. My wife turned to three uniformed men seated behind us and offered all our sausages. The men gruffly declined her offer. She thought the poor soldiers needed food. At the end of the flight, the three men got up and put on their coats, displaying the ranks of two majors and a general.
John Walling <email>
Seattle, WA USA Mon 08/14/2006
Sleeping in the train station
While backpacking through Europe in 1976: My sister, friend and I arrived at the train station near Mont Saint Michel France in the middle of the night. Since we had to wait for the local bus to reach our final destination we asked for directions to the waiting lounge. We found a small, rustic shack along the platform in the general direction the stationmaster had pointed. We sat down at the table and chairs in the middle of the room and my two companions immediately assumed the "kindergarten position" with their head on the table fast asleep.
I managed to stay awake and as the dawn broke, a couple of men came in to look around and then left. After about the 7th or 8th person came in and left, I noticed some were dropping off their lunch boxes!! We had inadvertently wandered into the workman's building but they were all much too gracious to wake the crazy sleeping American girls.
I woke my companions, we gathered our backpacks to leave, and apologized profusely to the CROWD of workmen standing outside on the platform!
Mary <email>
Seattle - Wallingford, WA USA Mon 08/14/2006
My Mother or My Boobs
I was traveling down the coast of the Baja pennisula and was staying in a small village. My mother was coming down to pay me a visit and I was telling in my hap-hazard Spanish that my mama was coming down to see me. Every time I told someone that my mama was coming down to visit I got smiles and giggles. Finally someone in the village basically "signed" what I was saying and it was that my boobs were coming down to visit. I guess there's two pronunciations of the word mama and I was using the very wrong one.
Sarah
Seattle, USA Mon 08/14/2006
Don't make assumptions about people based on their appearances.
Thirty years ago, I was spending a few days in a beautiful small city on the Black Sea in northern Turkey. I was befriended by a prince of a fellow who was eager to meet an American and show me around his beautiful seaside town. Late in the day, we encountered a man whom he knew. This middle aged man had 10 days growth of beard and did not groom himself with the kind of attention to detail that we customarily do. He was wearing a light-colored, grey-blue, old fashioned, poorly fit, utility uniform and a matching cap with a shiny, black, patent leather bill. They spoke warmly to each other in Turkish for awhile. My friend turned to me and said, "Mister Jack, guess who this man is! Guess who he is! Just guess!" If anyone ever asks you such an open-ended question like this, say the most non-committal thing you can think of. Unfortunately I wasn't nearly crafty or wary enough. I looked him up and down and thought, "movie usher? Hot water heater installation man? Ticket taker?" Finally I said, "Bus driver!?" After a few moments of very awkward silence during which I clearly saw in their faces that I had apparently made a very big faux pas, my companion looked at me with a disappointed, if not fed up, expression and said almost scoldingly, "No! He's the Mayor of this city!" There was nothing I could do or say to dig myself out of the hole I'd put myself in. I had humiliated myself utterly.
Jack
Seattle, WA USA Mon 08/14/2006
Wine bottle story
Some years ago my wife and I traveled to Italy on a guided tour. On the evening of "Rome by night", the bus kept making short stops at various attractions. My wife and I decided to get a bottle of wine to drink later at hotel room. At the Spanish Steps I found a little liquor store, with an older proprietor who spoke no English.. I only had a few minutes to purchase and didn't have time to research bottles, so I spotted a bottle of Mateus and bought it. I was a bit late getting back to the bus and as I walked into the bus, the young Italian guide turned to me, and in front of the entire bus, in a loud and scolding voice (accent and hand gestures): "Why do you buy Portuguese wine, when here in Italy we have the best wine in the world". I crawled into my seat silently.
Jim
Boston, USA Mon 08/14/2006
Train rides in Germany
I was in Germany last year '05. And we were on the train from Frankfurt to Munich. We are used to American trains where the doors open automatically. Well we got to our stop and just stood there like dummies waiting for the door to open. All of this with a line of people behind us. Finally, a lady yelled at us in German. We finally figured out that she was telling us to press the button to open the door. We did and it was like a stampede to get out. Luckily we were at the last stop or they would have really been mad with us. Dumb!! Also, when we were traveling with our friends from Munich to Passau my friend had her feet on the seat in front of her. Two older German women started yelling at her in German and jestering that if she wanted to put her dirty shoes on the seat that she should put a newspaper down. They even got the paper for her and showed her what they were talking about. It was pretty funny. She finally decided to just put her feet down.
Kim
Brooklyn, NY USA Tue 08/08/2006
Nice memory
I was a guest of the London Magic Circle, a magic club and my name card was on shiney heavy card stock, and I thought nice keepsake so threw it on desk. In the middle of night I grabbed key card for trip to toliet across hall in underwear
taking care of business I noticed key card was magic card , glad I was wearing underwear !!!
Brangwin <email>
bellevue, wa USA Mon 08/07/2006
Troubles in the bathroom
So i went to Paris, Rome and Barcelona a few months ago. I normally go alone, but offered my mom to come along and she could not wait. So we were walking up a side street to the Spanish Steps in Rome when we decided to stop in to a small cafe for lunch. We sat down had something to eat and were sitting there talking when I said, "I'll be right back. I'm going to the bathroom." So I go to the bathroom and it was an old door with a Skeleton Key. I just closed the door and hoped no one would come in. I didn't lock the door. I go back and sit and now it's mom's turn. My mom, I love her, but she can be a little absent ditzy. So a few minutes pass and she's still in there. Another 5 minutes pass and now I am starting to wonder what the heck she is doing. Another minute goes by and I get a tap on my shoulder from a Italian. He says, "Your wife?" I reply, "No, that's my mom." He says, "Oh, sorry. She locked in the bathroom." I burst out in to laughter just knowing the person she is. Mom's is OK now a little scarred from the experience, haha.
Chris
Pittsburgh, PA USA Mon 07/24/2006
Restaurant Follies
My friend and I were dining at a typical Italiam restaurant in Rome and eating at a table on the sidewalk, after going to the bathroom all the way in rear of the restaurant I got back to the table only to realize that I had tucked my skirt into my thong and mooned the entire restaurant as well as staff!
Also, our first night there I got up to use the restroom and asked a waitress in my best italian accent where the bathroom was, apparently she thought that I could speak Italian and said some things to me in Italian. I nodded like I knew what she was talking about and followed her gesture. Apparently she told me to watch my step because I fell down some stairs in the middle of the restaurant...thats what I get for perfecting my italian accent!
Chelsea
Sugarloaf, ME USA Thu 07/20/2006
funny and embarrassing
while i was in paris and my moms friend was driving us back to the airport she got caught talking on her cell phone by the french police. in france it is illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving. we were pulled over. so the police had to go back to their car and get some papers. when they came back me and my sister (age 14 and 6) made funny faces at them. we stuck out our tounges crossed our eyes etc. that day we also learned that its not aloud to make faces at the police. the police told my moms friend to "keep your children under control!" my mom said in french oh no they are just americans! i was really funny but i wouldn't try playing sweet and sour while your in france
USA Mon 07/10/2006
shoes on train seat
I can't remember if it was in Switzerland or France, but I was almost fined for putting my (shoed) foot on the seat. I know this is a rude thing to do, but I also know I've gotten away with it in the US--not in Europe!
June
USA Mon 07/03/2006
missed train stop
My husband and I also had an embarrassing train moment. We were travelling from Switzerland through Germany, and when the train approached Stuttgart (our connection), we got our luggage and stepped into the hallway to find an exit. We passed a door almost immediately, but it was painted red and had a circle with an "x" through it, so we assumed it was an emergency exit and moved on. The train slowed, stopped, and started again, and we were still looking for a non-emergency exit! When we asked the conductor to show us an exit, he pointed to the "emergency" door--apparently the warning to not use the door applied only to when the train was in motion. Our mistake cost us about 2 and 1/2 hours of travel time, so beware! You may be the only person exiting the train, and the stops are not long, so know where you are going.
June
USA Mon 07/03/2006
Feet on Seat ettiquette
As a response to Karyn Custer-Jankowski about the feet on seat thing, i think the reason the man undid his shoes is because in Europe, well at least Switzerland (in places quite close to Milan) you are allowed to put your feet on the seat, except you have to take your shoes off to do this.
Kira <email>
Sydney, NSE Australia Fri 06/30/2006
Streaking
Ya'll think THAT"S embarrassing? Try this one! Here we are newly married just 36 hours and on our honeymoon in London. We'd found a nice little Hotel in Paddington run by an Italian. Checked in to the room and decided on a shower before heading out on the town. Our room had a tiny hallway, triangular in shape that entered into either the bathroom, the room it's self or the lobby of the hotel. My naked bride had gone in to use the loo and shower and I followed minutes later naked as the day I was born, all ready for a shower except no towels! After leaving the room w/o key or clothes we found ourselves locked out of our room! The only option was to hide the little wife in the bathroom and make a run for the lobby front desk and ring the bell then run back. The lobby was luckily empty. But so was the front desk. Hence we are sort of stuck! After repeated sprints to the desk to ring the bell the Italian finally stuck his headout of the window at the desk to find me RED FACED and Bare ASSED! After much ado, hemming, hawing and generally having a laugh at our expence, he said "And next you'll want me to wipe your butts!" Thank you no, just let us back in our room and quit looking at my WIFE!
Bill
Nashville, TN USA Thu 06/29/2006
Trains
I was on a late night train going from Zurich to Heidelberg. I had had a wonderful journey chatting with a Swiss and several other European gentlemen, all of whom got off at Stuttgart. The Heidelberg stop was coming up, so I gathered my luggage and moved to the little vestibule by the doors. At this point the train was almost empty, the last stop being Frankfort, just down the line. I was the only one on my car getting off at Heidelberg. The train stops, and I stood there waiting for the doors to open. And stood there. And stood there. I knew the train stops aren't long, and wondered why the doors were not opening. Finally I asked the only remaing passenger in the car, who had been kind of looking at me funny, "Why are the doors not opening?" He got up rather quickly, pushed a button by the side of the door, and said, "You must push the green button." The doors opened (probably just in time to save me from a side trip to Frankfort in the middle of the night!), and I thanked him profusely as I jumped off. I'm sure this was clearly marked on the little sign by the button, but I don't read German. I could just hear him telling his friends about the stupid American he encountered on the train!
I have been on trains all over Europe, but apparently this was the first time I have been the first/only person trying to get off at any given stop. It could have been worse, but I felt like an idiot for not knowing such a simple thing!
Linda <email>
Chicago, IL USA Mon 06/26/2006
My Symphonic Performance
I was on a 6 hour train ride from Napoli to Cinque Terre with a compartment full of stylish Italians, & after many days of trecking about, I was in need of a little rest. After the second hour on the train, I gave in & fell asleep. I didn't realize how exhausted I was until a loud, disturbing noise woke me. But this was no ordinary sound - oh no - with my mouth wide open & drool all over my face, I realized that I had been serenading these stylish Italians with my symphonic snoring!!!! Talk about embarrassing! Needless to say, I never gave another symphonic performance on any other train after that!
Jen
La Habra, CA USA Mon 06/12/2006
Scrumpy Jack
My Husband, a Staffordshire friend, and I enjoyed a very nice meal at the Holly Bush Inn in Salt, Staffordshire, England.Afterwards, we went to their lovely beer garden in the back of the pub.My husband had accidentally ordered a cider, when he preferred a beer. I offered to drink the cider, though I am not a fan. It was called Scrumpy Jack. Later, when I headed to the ladies room, I had to go down several stone steps and I had unwisely worn heels. I had a terrible fall down the steps, tearing up one shin awfully. I tried to escape unnoticed, but a barrage of elderly, kind Brits stood by me with tissues for my bloodied shin. My husband and our friend teased me about the cider I had drunk. I did send a e-mail to the Holly Bush Inn telling them how much I enjoyed their pub. They sent me a postacard telling me to come again, but keep off the Scrumpy Jack. I don't even like cider.
Lorretta <email>
Houston, TX USA Thu 05/18/2006
Large mistake
I was eating gelato in Rome when a large woman walked up to me and started speaking rapid Italian. I mistook her for the woman I had bought the ice cream from and said "Si es molto grosso" thinking this meant it was very good. She promptly slapped me and stormed away. I was later told I had said she was fat. What a day! At least it was good ice cream.
Jim
Denver, CO USA Mon 05/15/2006
Fainting in Anne's bedroom
I fainted in Anne's bedroom, in the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam last month.
I had wanted to see that place for decades and finally I was there! We went in the evening to avoid long lines. I think it was the emotional reaction I had that caused me to keel over.
The staff could not have been kinder. They got me some water, helped me up, and even stamped our tickets special so we could return the next day and re-take the tour at no further expense.
They also told me that there are
2-3 'faints' a week there, usually 'older women'! Maybe it's because we read the Diary soon after the War was over and were so emotionally impressed by it?
Daisy
USA Thu 05/11/2006
The dingers on the bus
I was on a red double decker bus in London with my husband, and our stop was approaching so we went downstairs to make sure we didn't miss it.
We were standing near the doors in the middle of the bus where there are no seats and I was leaning on one of the poles with my hands wrapped around it. There was a fairly loud "ding whoop, ding whoop" sound that just kept going on and on and I was wondering what on earth it could be.
I looked up to see the bus driver looking towards the back of the bus and gesturing. I kept looking behind me thinking he was looking at someone else. Everytime I looked up he was looking at me and pointing and finally I shook my head at him and ducked behind someone so he couldn't see me. That is when he yelled out "move your hand!".
My hand had been pushing against the "next stop" button that is set specifically low for people in wheelchairs (hence the different noise too) and I had no idea! My face absolutely flamed and thankfully ours was the very next stop.
The rest of the bus must have thought I was cracked (or a tourist:))
My husband, bless him, nearly wet himself laughing and has not let me live it down.
Renate
Australia Wed 04/26/2006
Language Barrier
We were in Rottenburg enjoying a nice meal when the waiter came to our table to ask how we were enjoying our meal. My wife, who knew just a little german, wanted to try her hand at the language. 'Es tut mir leit', she said rather than 'Schmeck mir gut', that what she meant to say. The former means I'm sorry in German, or the litteral translation of 'it does me pain.' We admired her for trying, but I think my son and I should have tutored her more.
Rob <email>
Kennewick, Wa USA Mon 04/24/2006
Ice Cream
A few years ago while traveling in Rome my husband and I stopped at an outdoor cafe in the Piazza del Popolo one evening to have an ice cream. My husband is of Italian ancestry and was always addressed in Italian. He is also good with languages but must have been worn out that night. I on the other hand know just enough to be trouble. I wanted choclate and he wanted strawberry. When the waiter approaced my husband looked at me blankly having forgotten the word for strawberry. I piped up that he wanted fagiolo. The waiter looked at me blankly for a minute while I repeated myself. The he laughed and told me, in English, sorry madam but we don't have bean ice cream. We all burst into laughter and then my hubby remembered what he wanted was fragola.
Daneal
Tucson, AZ USA Sat 04/15/2006
Leave the Bermuda shorts in Bermuda
At last, my first day in Paris, the weather was warm and sunny. I unpacked my luggage before my wife so I told her I was going out to the street to take in some of the neighborhood charm. There I was, in the middle of Paris, wearing my Bermuda shorts! What did I know, that's how we travel. I looked around and didn't see anyone wearing shorts, or sneakers for that matter. No one said a word, they didn't have to. I ran back to my room and put on dress slacks and shoes, that's how I dressed the rest of the trip.
Daniel Johnson <email>
Rochester, New York USA Wed 04/12/2006
Embarassing
Italy; train trip from Milan to Florence. Not just embarrassing - HUMILIATING as well!! Our first moments in Italy were scarred when as a short person who often puts her feet up on seats to relax, I had my one footresting onthe edge of the train window and my other on the seat (note - we had also just gotten off our 9 hour flight from Chicago to Milan, so I was terribly cramped and looking ahead to another 2 hour trip on the train!!) After about one hour, the "gentleman" (and I use the term loosely) sitting across from me angrily put his feet up, undid his shoes (which I had not done) and started yelling at me in Italian! He got a few English words out, "Bad American", "Go back to your own country, Go Back!" Not a nice experience. I turned quite red and got very hot. I was so humiliated! Do not put your feet up in Italy, keep them on the floor - this is a huge no-no there. I had to learn the hard way! Luckily, the rest of the trip was pure delight and we even had a very PRO-American waiter on Piazza Navona! YAY!
Karyn Custer-Jankowski
Valparaiso, IN USA Sun 04/09/2006
Alcohol
The drinking laws in Europe are very confusing, and have caused me to embarass myself more than once. I first ordered wine at a restaurant in Italy at the age of twelve, but in Spain, at my aunt's wedding reception, at the age of fifteen, I attempted to take a cocktail off the tray of the waiter, who quickly reprimanded me and offered me a soda. My dad took a picture of me trying to fool the waiter. Oddly enough, later that night I ordered drinks from the bar.
SK
In USA Wed 04/05/2006
They make mistakes too !!
Since most comments are about mistakes in Europe I'll share one of my German friends. In US he was hungry and so was friend so they ordered large Pizzas for both. waiter questioned Large. he said yes, 2 ( bit piturbed ) expecting 2- 10 inch pizzas. Suprised to se 2, 22" Pizzas arrive.
USA Sat 04/01/2006
They don't make 'em like the used to
After waking up early in our hotel room on our first morning in Paris, my fiancee and I made our way down the hall to the tiny elevador that would take us down to the lobby. As we entered the elevador I looked over at my fiancee, who still looked a little sleepy-eyed, and thought I'd give her a little shock to wake her up. As the doors shut and the elevador began to decend I jumped as high as I could and came crashing down with a loud bang. It worked, she was indeed shocked and unfortunately so was the elevador. It froze up and we spent the entire morning stuck between the 3rd and 4th floors listening to the shouts of hotel staff and guests alike. I'm pretty sure I am the only tourist to visit Paris with his new fiancee and not get laid the entire trip.
USA Fri 03/31/2006
Little shelf
I had to go to toilet at train station and found a new module type and my mouth was a little agape to see this huge steal toilet with no seat that looked like a wishing well !! I left my jacket on shelf and took care of major business ... finishing I looked for sink and realized shelf was automatic sink and my jacket set it off and now had 10 pounds of water in it luckly I was near home and dryer. (FYI laundry mats are often not so easy to find my German friend knew of none in his town of 40,000 so plan on sinks in some countrys )
John Brangwin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Thu 03/30/2006
Backpack Blunder
A few friends from home came to visit me while I was studying in Brighton, England last semester. Since they were staying in London, I thought it generous to ask if any would like a day trip down to Brighton. I would be their leader because I had mastered the English train system (or so I thought).
On the way back from our day trip, my friend and I were taking a short train from my uni to the Brighton train station. There were no seats, so we just stood in the area next to the door. When we arrived in Brighton, I realized that a strap on my backpack had been shut in the door! The passengers exited from the doors on the opposite end. So I frantically searched for someone to help me free my backpack. When a conductor came, he looked at me and said, "Frankly love, I don't know what the hell to do about this."
He had to call for assistance and pull an emergency lever. It just goes to show that no matter how much you try to play the smart and savy traveler, there is always the possibility for blunder! Oh well, another embarassing and funny story for the books!
Julie <email>
Baton Rouge, LA USA Sun 03/12/2006
Upon arrival at my hotel in Venice I was given a card that I was told would activate the lights in the room. They said to insert the card in the slot once I entered the room. I treated it like a room key and thought I should just slip the card in and take it right out. I did this, the lights came on and I was happy. Then a couple minutes later the lights when out. I tried slipping the card in and out again and once again the lights soon went out. This went on for several more tries. I started looking all over the room, flipping every switch and pulling every cord, including the one in the bathroom, not knowing what it was connected to. I even went outside the room and reentered several times to see if that helped.
Soon the phone rang and the voice asked me if I was having a problem. I said yes and asked how they knew. I was quite impressed that they somehow knew of my plight with the lights. They then asked what my emergency was and I told them it wasn't really an emergency it was more of an annoyance. They asked why I had pulled the cord then. I told them I had no idea what they were talking about. We went round and round for a few minutes until I explained the lights would not stay on, they told me to put the card in and leave it there while I was in the room, and they then explained that the cord I pulled in the bathroom was for emergencies.
I thought it was more hysterical than embarrassing. It felt like some kind of Charlie Chaplin moment with sound.
Michigan USA Thu 03/09/2006
Bus rides
I went to Dublin with two friends and we had the bad idea of dining at a pub and ordering chicken curry. The next day we weren't feeling very well but we had planned to go to Killkenny for the day. I wasn't feeling great but thought that I needed to make the most of my stay in Ireland so I decided to go on and take the bus to Killkenny. About 15 min before we got there I started feeling sick and extremely nauseated. It happened all so fast that I didn't have time to warn anybody, not even myself, and I ended up vomiting all over me, my friend, and the lady sitting in the front seat who, by the way, was wearing a white jacket. I was soooo embarassed. I kept telling the lady I was sorry but she didn't even look at me. At least we were just about to get to Killkenny.
Mex Mon 03/06/2006
Those rug salesman are PERSISTANT
Back to the TOPIC of embarassing moments, I got a "bad kabob" in Instanbul and went running down the street looking for any reasonable place to throw up (plant container, yay!). Afterwards, I realized the rug salesman next door had been watching, and they graciously invited me in to their washroom to freshen up. They asked if I was ok. "Yes, thank you" I said, only half meaning it. I knew the plant container was only the beginning. "Are you sure you're ok?" "Oh yes." "Ah" one of them said, "Would you like to look at some rugs?" My husband said I should have asked to see their finest silk.
christy
SANTA CRUZ , CA USA Sat 02/04/2006
Toilet Embarrassment
I as on a transatlantic flight from Manchester to Newark. Lucky for me I got upgraded to First Class. The loos were at the front of the cabin and the door to the loo would have been in full view of everybody. The "occupied" light on the loo was off, so I made my way to it.. I pushed the door open and there to my horror was a guy sitting on the loo, a roll of loo paper in his hand.. I will never to this day forget the look of terror on his face! I shrieked "oh my god, I am so sorry" at the top of my voice. The man glared at me and slammed the door shut. I "cringed" my way back to my seat. Of course everybody in the cabin knew what had happened. That guy must have stayed in there for another hour at least! Must have taken a lot of courage for him to come out at all. When he finally emerged, I hid as best I could. I came face to face with him again at the luggage Carousel. If looks could kill, I'd be long gone. I would say at a guess, that he never used an aircraft toilet again. If he did, he hopefully made sure he locked it!!
Nora
New York, NY USA Fri 01/27/2006
The London
I was minding my own business (alone) and on the Tube for the first time. I was feeling quite confident in my abilities of navigation and getting around London. I had entered through Pinner Green which was a area in NW London. When I got to London I went to leave from one area and go into another. This required my ticket. I was watching people who appeared to just walk through the turnstile which open up and are as high as the chest and down to the mid thigh. Well, what I didn't see was the fact that they put their ticket in this machine reader thingy for it to open for them. I thought they were just walking through. It was my turn and I just started walking through the turnstile and nearly landed on my butt when it wouldnt open for me. I pushed agasint it again and coudln't figure out why it was opening for everyone but me. Then, someone behind me said, "You need to put your ticket in over there love, then it will open for you" I was so embarrassed.
Nora
Surprise, AZ USA Tue 01/24/2006
Venice airport mixup
Mom and I got a very cheap flight to Venice, took a bus into the city and enjoyed ourselves for 5 days. When it came time to go home, we took the airport bus from the bus plaza. When we got to the airport, we asked which terminal was the correct one for Ryanair. Imagine our consternation when the info lady pointed out that we were in the wrong airport! We had to take a taxi to Treviso Airport, which cost 60 Euro! So much for cheap flights when you don't pay much attention!
The next time, though, we got it right.
Martha
USA Mon 01/23/2006
Don't drink wine like beer in Vienna
As an 19 year old in Vienna over 10 years ago, I learned the hard way that, at the Vienna wine-bars (Heurigen), the alcohol content is 3 to 4 times as strong as American beer. After a pitcher of wine, I threw up all over the table, all over myself, and all over the entrance to this beautiful retaurant. Very, very embarassing. Luckily, I don't remember much of it.
Steve
Chicago, Ill USA Fri 01/06/2006
Gas and thanks
I was in Ulm with my brother and mom, (We had gotten lost trying to make it Rothenburg, so took a side stop) When we ordered dinner, we asked for water to drink. (We were on a very tight budget.)He asked "Would you like it with gas?" My mom that it was "Would you like it with a glass?" It went on that way for 5 minutes, including hand-motions on the waiters part. We finally got our non-gased water. (W/ gas means carbonated water.)
Another time, when we were picking up our car in Friedrichshafen, Germany, I decided to say my first german word to a native. A simple "Thanks" (Danke) I had been studying the phrasebook the whole flight, and new tourist-deutsch pretty fluently. But I mistakenly though Danke was pronounced Dang-key. I hate to think about what that might have meant!!
Brooklin <email>
Simi Valley, CA USA Fri 01/06/2006
Toilet Tip
My most embarrassing moment really wasn't TOO bad. It could have been worse...
I was in a train trekking across England... and when the on-board "toilet" finally was un-occupied... I went in...
As I was finishing, the door opened up and a guy was standing there! Turns out... in some trains, you need to hit an "occupied" button to let others know.
It was a bit embarrassing, but I got over it quickly. Vacations across the world are meant to create such funny situations-- It's part of the fun!
Just a friendly warning, though!
Tony Reed <email>
Albuquerque, NM USA Tue 01/03/2006