A couple of years ago, when I was sorting my traveling folders, I found a bunch of old photos that I thought were quite interesting. Those were the photos that didn’t fit into particular posts when I wrote about my travel, unlike the monuments or landmarks or even food. So I decided to gather those random pictures, and post them in series named Some Things Along the Way (because, quite literally, I found those on my way during traveling).

I just realized that I took an awful lot of photos with words. It could be a graffiti sprayed on a washed out wall, or words on a bench at a park somewhere, or lines engraved on a plate or a tombstone, it surprised me how many of these things got into my camera.

Wherever it is, it usually leaves me wondering about the person who wrote it, and what was in his/her mind.

So I’ve compiled a few photos here which I find amusing or inspiring. Some of them are funny, the others are poetic, and a few are just… unique.

Let’s start with the narcissistic one.

‘Me + me = myself. I love me <3‘ Well, who doesn’t?

Onto the funny ones…

‘If you want breakfast in bed sleep in the kitchen.’

‘My husband said it was either him or the cat. I miss him sometimes.’ This is my personal favorite, of course. And also, ‘Men are from Mars. Women are from Visa.’

And this one is not exactly funny, but when I saw this I couldn’t help picturing a burly man standing nearby, and saying in a low voice,

‘Stub it out.’

I have crazy thoughts sometimes.

I also find melancholic words here and there, like this plate in Southampton city center, on the pavement leading to the Ocean Village.

‘A great hush descended on the town. I don’t think that there was hardly a single street in Southampton who hadn’t lost somebody on that ship.’

As you might already know, the Titanic departed from Southampton for its maiden voyage to NYC, before sinking in the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the crew were from Southampton, and if you go to the Sea City Museum, there’s a a big map of Southampton there on the floor, covered with red dots that indicate the the residence of the person/family who was affected by the accident. You will find a lot of memorabilia associated with Titanic in Southampton, and this is just one of those.

‘And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark…’

Sometimes I also find poetic words in the places where I least expect it, like this passage from Epistulae morales ad Lucilium, written by Seneca. I definitely didn’t think I’d find something thought-provoking on the information board at the Roman Bath, but it was there. I was impressed they could find a passage that felt quite fitting to the place, and not to mention, the statement that I found truthful and true.

‘The picture is not complete without some quarrelsome fellow, a thief caught in the act, or the man who loves the sound of his own voice in the bath — not to mention those who jump with a tremendous splash.’

And lastly, the most common theme for words written all over the place: love.

‘Love is stronger than death.’

‘Rest awhile with Mavis and Harry Crookes.’

‘And they lived happily ever after!’

Because, who doesn’t love a happy ending?

If you miss the previous parts of this series, catch up here:

• Vol. 1
• Vol. 2: Couplets and Solitaires
• Vol. 3: London
• Vol. 4: Bright Colors
• Vol. 5: People