Dozens of tourists entered the RIFF asking where the penis museum was. The people working at the office had probably run out of patience, which prompted them to print a warning sign describing the directions to the site they were looking for.
First world problem in Iceland. pic.twitter.com/LYLON77nuU
— Ásta Helgadóttir (@asta_fish) 12 марта 2018 г.
The tweet has spread quickly, eventually leading to the creator of the disclaimer, Jonatan Van Hove.
"It was on the second floor, so they'd come in through the two front doors, climb the stairs, somehow find my office, which was the closest to the door, and they would ask 'Excuse me, is this the penis museum?' Some people were too embarrassed to ask about it. Others would ask me super-seriously about the phallological museum," he told Newsweek.
It appears that an American tourist might have contributed to the creation of the sign.
OH MY GOD I THINK MY GIRLFRIEND AND I HELPED INSPIRE THIS SIGN!
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
Sorry, nice friendly Icelanders who work in a building that apparently is quite often mistake for the penis museum.
Indeed! It was about 5 years ago —
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
We were walking the beautiful streets of Reykjavík, try to follow the (not good!) directions from the museums web site.
We found what we thought was the correct address, walked in — and were greeted by a bunch of friendly but confused workers in cubicles. “What are you looking for?” They asked, after they realized we were just dumb American tourists.
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
My girlfriend said “the Phallological museum”
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
I guess the word “Phallological” is not commonly known to Icelandic English speakers. But she tried again: “the Phallological museum! Phalusses!”
We tried to look up “phallus” in our English to Icelandic dictionary. No luck!
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
So finally, frustrated, she said “the PENIS museum!!!”
After they stopped laughing — they were very helpful in providing directions to the correct location and we had a wonderful visit. Can’t wait to go back!!
— Jason Seba (@jason_seba) 12 марта 2018 г.
Some users began sharing their pictures taken inside the museum, which describes itself as “probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all various types of mammal found in a single country”:
— Ryan Aylward (@RyAylward) 13 марта 2018 г.
In case you thought they were kidding: pic.twitter.com/0eSNiMMdUb
— John Deau (@jdeau9) 12 марта 2018 г.
Me at the same spot! pic.twitter.com/JUvzuZNpo5
— Kathy Musti (@KmuKathy) 13 марта 2018 г.
Went. Phone was out of order. pic.twitter.com/fSCMh76e1V
— Casey (@CaseyDunham) 12 марта 2018 г.
— Justin Frost (@jscottfrost) 13 марта 2018 г.
The sign dates back to April 2017, when its creator Van Hove had been asked for directions three times.
I just had to make this sign for my workplace. pic.twitter.com/4LOYOLPWWa
— jooon (@joonturbo) 12 апреля 2017 г.
You'd think that you'd never grow tired of having people awkwardly ask you whether your office is the Penis Museum.
— jooon (@joonturbo) 12 апреля 2017 г.
