Hey, I figure A broad abroad might be the only one who can help me here, but just in case...does anyone know what these signs mean? We saw them painted all over the wall on the stairs up to Heidelberg Schloss in Heidelberg, Germany. Please ignore the a$$ I'm making of myself in the first one. It was early, cold, and I hadn't had enough coffee yet.

Thanks, chickies...I've looked all over the 'net for some kind of interpretation and...nothing.

Gosh, they look like grafitti to me

To me they look like no drinking beer in public or else do drink beer in public. I'm sure that helps!

Thats a cute picture, Laurie!

I think those signs are "unofficial." They probably have something to do with the nearby university students, or one of the pubs in the area. There is a well-know bar close to the castle where students have been indulging in libations since the 1600's.
That funny hat makes the image look more like a Frenchman!

It could also be some kind of advertising for a play hosted by the schloss every summer, The Student Prince. I think they wore those types of caps during the time in which the play is set.

I can't quite make out the writing underneath, but I've emailed the link to my German friend who still lives in HD. I'll let you know if she has seen them.

Or maybe "warning people drinking in area, watch out for drunks."

By the way, nice upper molars, Laurie! LMAO!

Geez, Laurie, your face has really slimmed out!

Ellis, your face tends to slim out when you have it wide open like a muppet!!!

If only you could get me to share the picture of me imitating Goofy at Disneyland!

Thanks for the hints, guys! What confused DH and me was that there were a ton of them that just had the image, and then a ton of them that had the triangle around them. Were they saying "Drink!" or "Don't Drink" or "Drink if you look like a Frenchman/Cop/Student Prince" or "Drink if your mouth hinges like a muppet!"

I'd think graffitti too except that there must have been about 50-100 of these along the walkway and they all looked exactly the same, like a stencil had been made. Some of them had that traditional German script under them. Interesting...

Thanks for the help, A broad! I hope your friend can figure it out...it's an interesting mystery! (can you tell that I loved Nancy Drew books as a kid? )

It looks like beer thirty/no beer thirty to me! lol Keep us posted Abroad and Laurie!

A broad...any info from your friend?

Hi Laurie,

I finally got an answer, sort of.... my friend said she had never seen those particular signs (and she has lived there 12 years), but believes they were part of some sort of student treasure hunt or puzzle, mostly because the local university is quite active.

I tend to agree, because the Germans are "particular" meaning that an official sign would not be painted on private property, but a clearly labeled, stand-alone sign so no one would miss it, or mis-interpret it, or ignore it.

Sorry this isn't a definitive answer, but at least you will always have something about your trip to wonder about!!!!!!!!!

LOL...fun! Like a strange detective story of sorts... Can either of you read the German under the sign in the second picture? I know it's kind of blurry...

Sorry, but neither one of us could quite make out the words.