Funniest Thing for June

Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.

This month’s winner is WILLIAM E. TILTON, Jr., of San Mateo, Florida:

While on a 4-week visit to England, Scotland and Wales several years ago, my sister, Candy, and I spent some time in London. One afternoon we went to Kensington Palace and took a tour of the State Apartments, which were open to the public.

In the King’s Gallery on the South Front, the security room guide pointed out two very large, blue Delft plant pots, each at least four feet tall. (Here in Florida we would call them strawberry pots because of the open pockets on the sides.) We were told they had been brought from Holland by William III and Mary II after the Glorious Revolution.

Explaining that these pots were used for tulips, the guide stated that in the 17th century each tulip was a hundred pounds. Without thinking, I blurted out, “No wonder the pots are so big!”

The guide said in a serious tone of voice, “Pounds sterling, sir.”

Everyone, including myself, had a good laugh.