Why every trip is better when you pose with a statue (and how to level up your game)
A silly travel ritual and the photos our friends secretly wait for every vacation
Every traveler has that thing they do to make a trip feel official.
Some people hunt down the best local café.
Some take a quick tour to learn the lay of the land.
Some unpack just enough to pretend they live there now.
Us? A trip isn’t official until one of us poses with a statue — the sillier, the better.
The statue pose travel tradition we’ll never give up
Some rituals evolve over time. Others stick around because they’re just too fun to quit.
What started as an occasional awkward photo slowly turned into a full‑blown travel tradition. And as our adventures expanded from domestic vacations to international trips, our statue poses evolved, too.
We don’t like to brag (okay, maybe a little), but we’ve definitely leveled up our game. At this point, our friends look forward to our vacation posts — not for the landmarks, but to see which statue we’ve teamed up with next.
Our statue poses, ranked
Level 1: 'Here’s a statue'
This is where everyone starts.
You stand next to an interesting statue. You smile. You don’t quite know what to do with your hands. The grin is a little forced. The energy is … awkward.
But it counts. Every tradition has to start somewhere.
Dublin, Ireland
Prague, Czechia (Czech Republic)
Prague, Czechia (Czech Republic)
Prague, Czechia (Czech Republic)
Osaka, Japan
Level 2: ‘Live action ritual’
Now you’re not just posing — you’re participating.
This is the level where you engage in a local or cultural ritual tied to the statue:
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Rubbing a shiny spot for good luck
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Dropping in a coin
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Sprinkling water
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Following the ritual exactly as intended
You’re not recreating the statue’s pose here. You’re honoring the moment and becoming part of the story.
It’s interactive, meaningful, and still just the right amount of awkward, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.
Florence, Italy
Osaka, Japan
Pisa, Italy
Level 3: ‘Match the pose’
Now we’re getting brave.
At this level, you stop fighting the embarrassment and lean all the way into it. You study the statue like a professional:
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Is the left arm bent?
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Which foot is forward?
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Are they mid‑gesture or striking a dramatic stance?
Then you contort your body into that exact pose and hope the photo captures the effort.
Is it cheesy? Absolutely.
Is it worth it? Every time.
Montevideo, Uruguay
London, England
Vienna, Austria
Bratislava, Slovakia
London, England
London, England
Budapest, Hungary
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Florence, Italy
Level 4: ‘Create a moment’
You’ve mastered posing, so now it’s time to create a moment. You don’t just match the statue — you interact with it. You complete the scene. You add a storyline. You become part of the art.
Once you reach this level, it’s really hard to go back to Level 1. It feels like showing up underprepared. Like you didn’t try hard enough.
And honestly? The photos hit differently.
Budapest, Hungary
Bratislava, Slovakia
Budapest, Hungary
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Bratislava, Slovakia
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Portland, Oregon
Olympia, Greece
Olympia, Greece
Dublin, Ireland
Epidavros, Greece
Why we love this silly travel ritual
At the end of the day, this tradition isn’t about the statues at all.
It’s about noticing your surroundings. Letting yourself be a little ridiculous. Creating shared memories that make you laugh long after the trip is over.
Travel doesn’t always have to be serious or perfectly curated. Sometimes it’s better when it’s playful — and just a bit awkward.
Head to the community for more
That’s not all.
If these made you smile, we’ve shared even more bonus statue photos inside The CJ Community. It’s free to join, and we’d love to see your own statue poses while you’re there.
Not a statue person? No problem. Tell us one of your vacation rituals. We’re always open to adding something new to the list.
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