What is the most craziest thing you done in public?

[Constantinople]

Well pick one of your best ones and tell us about that.

[TroubleTwin2]

Well....there was this one time a about a year or so ago, I think it was like two winters ago because I distinctly remember snow, when I was with my friend and her mom for something. And before they could drop me off at home we had to take her grandma to the doctors to get some x-rays or something like that. Me and my friend didn't want to go in so we just decided to stay and wait in the car and right before that we had stopped at McDonald's and we had already eaten out food, but her mom hadn't, so as her mom was getting out of the car she poked her head back in the car and said "Don't eat my food, here's two bags of candy enjoy yourselves" and then threw a bag of a couple of bags of candy at us (One of them was a completely full bag of gummy bears, and by the time her mom and grandma came back they were all gone). Once her mom was out of sight we had decided to turn on the car and move it to a different parking spot (we never actually did it though), we then proceded to eat the candy and be our normal goofy selves while dancing in our seats because we had the radio on. Then afterwards for some unimaginable reason we decided to take some of the gummy bears we had and see who could spit them out the window the farthest. Then one of the gummy bears ended up sticking to a near by car, so we decided to stop for a bit. And in light of that we became even sillier and started acting like people were spying on us so we had to hide so we pulled the hoods of our coats up to cover out faces as far as they could and then we sank down really low in our seats and continued to eat gummy bears and throw them at each other and make them do silly things. Then somehow we decided it would be a good idea who could throw the gummy bears and see who could make them stick to the other cars in the parking lot. So we threw them at the ones right next to us. They wouldn't stick so I got one stuck it in my mouth opened the door got out and threw it at the van in front of us...it stuck to the windshield. I then ran back and we proceded to hide everytime someone came towards our area in case they were the owners...none of them were. We laughed so hard we couldn't breath.

Another time before that about 4 or 5 years ago me and another friend got together at my house so we could work on a project, it also happened to be open house at our school, so we went with my mom and little brother. We didn't really have anything to do after we looked at all the stuff that they had set up for the book fair in the gym, so we were just walking around looking for people we knew and this somehow turned into us running up and down the stairs and threw the hallways saying hello (specifically that never hi) and waving at them while smile like crazy people, most of them were people we didn't even know.

[Douglas]

I have done many crazy things in public...tooo many to list really.  Here goes.

Tipped over a huge table in kindergarten. Some kid made me angry.  Teacher said nothing,  she was my friend!

Went into all kinds of Off Limits rooms in a museum.  The guard came running after me.  My mother was only amused. She said I was doing just the right thing. I was 13 at the time. San Marino, CA.

Poured buckets of water out of a 13 storey building window onto the sidewalk below.

Made illegal tape recording in a  court of law criminal proceeding State of California.  This was my roommates idea.

Toured the totally office limits office of the Mayor of Sydney, Australia.  The Security was very cordial and escorted me out.

Rode in the engineer's cab of the commuter train from Blacktown to Paramatta, Australia.  The driver was a cool guy.

Played the coin organ ten times at the Powerhouse museum in Sydney....the guard finally told me to please STOP it.

Maybe I'll remember some more................

 

[Robert_Hall]

This is yet another thread that belongs in HAVING FUN,  not the history threads.
 However, as Douglas had made it international  incidents, I  reckoned- why not ? I have had a few of my own incidents, some of which I can actually post publicly.
 One,  2 separate  incidents in 2 VERY different countries-
  Japan, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.  I had an appointment to meet a minor  agent of the Imperial Household for some research. I went to the main gate and  was strong armed out in no uncertain  terms, all the while being yelled at in Japanese.  I showed them the letter I received, bu they threw it back in my face and would not let me down [boy, were they TALL for Japanese, or anyone I] I started screaming  and telling them  to put me down, I will leave their blasted  sacred palace. And forget my research. Well, a policeman- who thankfully spoke English, came by, once I was off the palace grounds asked what was going on.    I tried to explain, but the next thing was the policeman and the Palace Guards yelling at each other. Next, police sirens and in the  melee I  got out and away. Rather shake up. How embarrassing. All these tourist, W. I  my East & East, watching the show. Must have thought I was a terrorist or something. Believe me, I do not look the part. All they had to do was tell me politely I was at the wrong gate.
   Another, In China. Much the same, but different. I was searching out a particular statue and my  agency made arrangements for me to see it privately. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of a military base in the centre of the city. Well, I politely presented my paper, which was in English and made no  impression. Again, those guys do not fool around.  I was taken hold of and frog marched  away, this  officer wavinghis arms and probably yelling " execute the froreign devil or some such nonsense.  Well, I got the message and  just went back to my hotel., which was nearby, and  was watched by all these people. Still I held my head up, and just acted like it happened every day.
 I called the guy who wrote the  invite and he said he  would arrange a formal visit, but I did not have time and by then I had lost interest in the damn statue anyway.
 I have always loved men in uniform, but those incidents really pushed my affections a lot.
 I have others, Moscow, St Petersburg, Sofia,  London, [too many to relatet here, and most of them not  very pretty!]

[Constantinople]

Well Robert, I don't know about you but I wouldn't call a thread labelled General an historical thread unless there is some sort of drug induced extrapolation going on.

[Robert_Hall]

You may be correct, Const.  It was just my opinion, and the thread is  harmless. Does not much detract I suppose'
 Now-  next- MOSCOW !

[Douglas]

Yes Robert, little soldiers in uniform have a nasty way of asserting their artificial power when they get their one chance of a lifetime.

They probably go home and brag to their family...boy, did I save our country today.  "Some crazy American tried to get into the sacred palace and I stood my ground....wow!  The emperor will give me a medal tomorrow"....yea right!

I think this thread is in the correct posting space for now.  [No offence intended,  Robert.]

[Robert_Hall]

No offence taken, Douglas. It is fun and  makes me remember some   my adventures. Let it stay wherever  it works.
 If anyone cares to read of my  Moscow experiences [the ones I can tell]  I am happy to share....

[Douglas]

No offence taken, Douglas. It is fun and  makes me remember some   my adventures. Let it stay wherever  it works.
 If anyone cares to read of my  Moscow experiences [the ones I can tell]  I am happy to share....

Yes, do share some of the juiciest ones......

[Robert_Hall]

The juiciest ones?  Not for public consumption, I can tell you.
 However, in Moscow,  I was with my dear friend  Nico on a rushed  visit from St.Petersburg. [Night train]  we went all over the place- that in one BIG city,  and finally wanted a decent dinner.   We had  been recommended to a  nice,  small, friendly and reasonable restaurant.  Now I do  not speak  Russian and definitely do not  know Moscow  so just followed Nico's lead. We ended up where  he thought we should be by name & address and went in.  This place was NOTHING like we expected, to be sure. It was ultra Posh,  staff to tend to every need and  full of the uber riche oligarchs. We knew we were out of our league,  but were so tired,  we had no energy to carry on.   We were  sweat stained from all the running around, [it was May Day and Easter to boot] , not dressed for this sort of place, but, the staff welcomed us in gracefully as if we were honored guests.  Set us at a  nice, unobtrusive table so we could enjoy the show-   groups of oligarchs outshpending  each other at tables, showing how much money they  could waste  buy ordering the  costliest meals and drinks, showing off the costliest  "women". Not even eating their food, using it for ashtrays.
 Well, Nico & I, embarrassed by all this excess,   had a lovely- over fed meal,  letting our wait person  order for us.  Cocktail  wine and  brandy. All excellent and top drawer, as the saying goes. The wandering chamber orchestra  came our way and played just for us.  The experience was charming, even though  we felt terribly out of place. The other tables were even sending us MORE drinks ! Fortunately, Nico has a healthy appetite and ate what I could not [I ham  a very light eater] He could also absorb all the alcohol. and keep his wits about him. I felt terribly  flattered and out of place, however-
 well,all good things must come to an end, and the time came pay the bill. I almost had a stroke, but held up. My card handled it, but I kept wondering how was I to  explain this to my accountant.
 Nico propped me up and we made our way to the  cloak room,. all along our graceful exit being given bottles of unused, expensive  VODKA.
 I rarely drink vodka, but knew it was special.
 Well, out on the street, clanking and sort of staggering our way, we noticed the restaurant we were originally were headed for was RIGHT NEXT DOOR!
 Next [censored bit] we headed back to our train and the return  journey to St. P. On a Metro transfer, we witnessed a murder !!!! Some poor kid from the wrong  ethnic group was attacked by  Russian neo-thugs.   I felt so hopeless, and wanted to tell the police what we saw.
 Nico stooped and forcibly dragged me on to the  next train.  [we were rtunning late] We made it the train, into our cabin and I broke down crying. I am usually  considered "unflappable" but that was indeed an experience.
 Nico was embarrassed, I was embarrassed, we had some how managed to haul all these  bottles of vodka  through all this.
 Then back at his place, on the  morning news, there was a report of the incident, showing me full face!
 Next...the transfer to the Astoria...

[Lindelle]

Oh my!

[Douglas]

What a night to remember, Robert.  The world is certainly a place of stark contrasts. It can really affect you deeply and quickly.

 An American language teacher acquaintance of mine was stabbed by a thug at his apartment in Moscow.  I'll let you fill in the apartment details.  He went to the local Moscow medical clinic and the Russian  Dr. stitched him up with some old  upholsterer's thread.  The  police told him to leave Moscow immediately.  When he got back to his Dr. in Texas they could not believe their eyes when they saw the wound.  It was a near miracle he didn't die.

[Constantinople]

Well seeing we are o crimee stories, here is one with a better outcome.  When I first moved to Istanbul I was in an academic staff apartment building of a university.  Out the back was an alley and on the other side a secondary school.  It was summer and I was relaxing in one of the common rooms.  About 2 weeks before the incident, everyone heard shots coming from up the alley and later it was learnt that someone had been executed by Turkish mafia.  On this evening, I saw about 6 cars park near the secondary school and several well dressed and well groomed males get out of the cars.  Then this poorly dressed individual was pushed out of one of the cars and they circled around him and started to move him up the alley.  I didnt really suss out what was happening but i sensed it was bad.  I leaned out the window, waved my cell phone and said "if you don't stop I will call the police".  I kept saying police police.  One of the turned to look at me and his sports jacket opened to reveal a 45 calibre pistol.  I stood my ground.  At this point I didnt actually clue in that they were mafia but the security guard for the apartment building kept trying to pull me down from the window and kept hissing "Mafia Mafia Mafia".  I started to dial a number and then they all moved back to their cars.  I am not sure if the man (target) was saved or whether they merely delayed his punishment but I felt like I accomplished something.  I was told to stay in the apartment building for a few days. Noone told me that I had done the right thing and most people thought I was foolish but I would have done the same thing again.

[Robert_Hall]

I can understand, Douglas.  I was explicitly told  go to the American  hospital in  in St. P,  or Moscow if need be. avoid the Russian care, if possible. Never a need, so far.
 Anyway, whilst waiting for my check in at the Astoria, [we were very early] I spent the morn in with Nico in his room.   Now, I had a real Russian experience,  Very large room,  with plenty of space, but communal   bath & toilette. a new experience  for me.... Once must have been a grand place.
  We  watched the news, Nico translated, of course and it seemed, obviously the police wantted witnesses [I would supopoe half-heartedly].  We nursed massive hangovers, I left him the vodka and we eventually came to the Astoria. Very nice indeed.
 Greeted by a  host specialist,  shown to an especially lavish suite then invited to a dinner of fried pate & fresh [the best] caviar.  Everyone kept looking at me, like I was a celebrity or criminal .
 Now, I love travel and I now use  good hotels, not like when I was younger and used cheap accommodations. But even 5* can be a bit much.  I became tired of all the attention.  Nico would not tell me then, but did on on a subsequent viisit  that it was because I had been shown on television. No one knew who I was, but they recognised me.  What they thought, I never knew, nor cared, but someone reported my whereabouts to local media and there were reporters & cameras all over the lobby an outside the  hotel.
  Well, I  did not want the attention  and Nico, a former army, police/ state security  took charge and got us out without the  easily.
 I was  there for only another night, after 4 eventful weeks,  it seemed  silly to change hotels.  And another  story took the headlines and  was  "old news". How fleeting  fame can be.
 BTW,  if trhe  meal in Moscow almost caused a stroke, the stay at the Astoria was almost a heart attack!

 Still, my card handled it.

[Douglas]

Once I was wandering around Sydney as an American tourist.  I went up to a 30s man dressed in a suit and tie and just asked him for some simple directions.  He looked disdainfully at me and said, "You're supposed to say, 'Excuse me, sir' when you ask someone for directions. You American tourists are so rude."  

Later on in Sydney, I went to a shopping mall and asked the information lady for directions.  She very politely took me in tow and told the people milling around outside the entry to ...."STEP ASIDE, get out of our way, this man is an American.!"  She was fun and seriously treated me like a VIP.

Constantin, you certainly did the right thing...good for you!!