In seven years of non-stop travelling to more than 140 countries, Gary Arndt has photographed some extraordinary sights: the rainbows over the Victoria Falls, a diving penguin in Antarctica, even human skulls in the killing fields of Cambodia.
But on St Helena, what caught his eye was the parking sign in Jamestown.
Click here to see his picture of what he believed to be “the world’s most complicated parking zone” (and he’s in a good position to judge).
True, he also took pictures of Sandy Bay and Jonathan the tortoise.
Within a couple of days, his shot of the 58-word No Parking sign had been given more than 50 “likes” on Facebook. Catch Our Travel Bug commented: “By the time you read the sign, your time is up.”
St Helena was one of 13 places around the world that Gary most wanted to visit, on a list he published on his Everything Everywhere travel blog in 2011. While on the island, he marked the seventh anniversary of the day he handed over the keys of his house to go travelling. When he left, he told friends he’d wander the world for a year, but privately thought it might be two years.
He’s since taught himself to become an award-winning photographer. His website attracts more than 100,000 readers a year – many of whom will doubtless savour his descriptions of St Helena.
He was not disappointed by a “gorgeous island with some of the most interesting people in the world”.
And perhaps, with the eye of a travel expert, Gary has identified a tourist attraction that hasn’t been properly appreciated by those whose job is to promote St Helena.
World’s Oldest Tortoise, World’s Toughest Stairs and World’s Most Remote Nearly Everything are all great claims to fame, but World’s Craziest Parking Sign might appeal to an entirely new breed of tourist.
Those who cross oceans to see it are unlikely, one feels, to pull up in a car.
SEE ALSO: Everything Everywhere – Gary Arndt’s travel blog.
St Helena Online: back-up site 