European Travels

[waynecrider]

I'll be over during this summer thru fall. My question is where to go and when to do it, from a photographic standpoint. Your favorite festivals, fall colors, forests, Cathedrals etc.

 

[David Brown]

I'll be over during this summer thru fall. My question is where to go and when to do it, from a photographic standpoint. Your favorite festivals, fall colors, forests, Cathedrals etc.

Wow! Multiple months! Well, not an easy question to answer. I'd advise going as many different places as you can. It's always going to be pot-luck on weather, lighting, but there's always pictures. I've had sun in Rome, rain in London, overcast in Bavaria. But it also rains in Rome, and the sun shines in England and the Alps, so you make the best of it.

Have fun, we're all jealous.

David

 

[NikoSperi]

Wow, that is vague! I suggest either you move over here and take aloooooot longer than a few months... or narrow it down just a tad? From Ankara to Aberdeen, Zug to Zoagli... Alps, Apenines, Urals, Scottish Highlands, down to all the coastlines... Throw in the rolling country sides of England, south west France, Tuscany... and if you haven't reached overload yet, consider the thousands of years of architecture at your disposal at nearly every corner.
Good luck! You'll love it!

 

[waynecrider]

I'll try to narrow it down. The only areas I feel are a must see are Ireland (I'm 1/2 Irish), Belgium, (chocolate and beer) thru northern France pretty fast thru to the southwest, and then over to the southeast to visit my best friends mother and sisters , and then to Switzerland to visit my sisters best friend and then down to Florence. I'll return thru Paris to Belgium. I can visit for 90 days but may try for a Visa. I'll be checking into the car options, maybe rail.

 

[Struan Gray]

Split your time equally between Reading, Dortmund and Toulouse.

The rest isn't worth bothering with - and is hideously over-photographed.

 

[waynecrider]

Split your time equally between Reading, Dortmund and Toulouse.

The rest isn't worth bothering with - and is hideously over-photographed.

The following year I'm going to do an art show circuit. I'll probably need the hideously over-photographed areas as well. I'll definetly check out your recommendations tho.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Wayne

Though not Europe , are you stopping by Toronto for the Conference first? Your thread started all this conference hub bub.

 

[markbb]

I'll try to narrow it down. The only areas I feel are a must see are Ireland (I'm 1/2 Irish).

In that case, you must ask the parent that was born in Ireland where they would recommend you go (if they can remember)

 

[mgb74]

The west coast of Ireland is magnificent.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you have time, most of Spain is wonderful, even the over-touristed bits. A lot cheaper than Italy.

If Italy is on the must-do list, one thing to do is take the train from Genoa to Florence. On the way there, or the way back, do the quintessential Italian thing and hike the Cinqueterre (five little towns that hug the coastline). You can take the train between them, or get off at one and follow the clifftop trail (wide and well-paved) from one to the next. I really wish I could remember the restaurants I ate at in Florence. You're going to get slammed by Italy since you'll be there in peak tourist season. Everything will be crowded, expensive and swarming with tourists. The museums especially. Check around and see if the Alinari photo museum has re-opened. When I went there, they had closed up and moved, but didn't say where they had moved to.

 

[komet]

Can I suggest not driving all over the continent. For long-distance trips, there is really no advantage above rail or cheap flights. I would also suggest not driving in large cities. Every large city in Europe has a few spots where people play "crash into the foreigner who didn't realise he has to yield at this deliberately badly designed junction and get his insurance to pay for a new car" - admittedly a hilarious game which I have played myself in younger years (never got a new car though), but probably not much fun if you're the foreigner...

If you want some great landscape photos, by all means rent a car for a day or two and bundle the 4x5 into it, and drive over a mountain pass in the Alps. It's great, and not to be missed.

 

[haris]

Can I suggest not driving all over the continent. For long-distance trips, there is really no advantage above rail or cheap flights. I would also suggest not driving in large cities. Every large city in Europe has a few spots where people play "crash into the foreigner who didn't realise he has to yield at this deliberately badly designed junction and get his insurance to pay for a new car" - admittedly a hilarious game which I have played myself in younger years (never got a new car though), but probably not much fun if you're the foreigner...

Knowing that for long time drive only junk car and have insurance which covers only basic by law needs ...

 

[John McCallum]

Alsace, France is fascinating and beautiful. A wine valley that has changed hands between Germany and France for centuries; the people there consider themselves neither but have their own interesting mix of the best of both.
They have a mime festival with carnival processions in July, where people come from all over the country especially to take part and watch. Not many tourists, incredible food and I believe the best wine in the world.
Alsace

If you don't mind the cold; the festival of Venice can't be beaten. Fun photography - many tourists though.
Venice

 

[JohnArs]

Hi Wayne

You should not miss Rom, Firenze Italy, Lucerne Switzerland including a sighseeing tour on the lake of Vierwaldstättersee, Paris, Munich for the Citys, and a lot more.

Have a nice trip, Armin

 

[argentic]

Try to take a look at the french Auvergne with a large volcanic region in the west and a superb region in the east called "Livradois-Forez". Specially villages like Saint Saturnin, Cunlhat, Billom or Olliergues. You won't regret it.

 

[argentic]

Try to take a look at the french Auvergne with a large volcanic region in the west and a superb region in the east called "Livradois-Forez". Specially the little villages like Olliergues, Cunlhat or Billom. You won't regret it.

 

[waynecrider]

If you have time, most of Spain is wonderful, even the over-touristed bits. A lot cheaper than Italy.

If Italy is on the must-do list, one thing to do is take the train from Genoa to Florence. On the way there, or the way back, do the quintessential Italian thing and hike the Cinqueterre (five little towns that hug the coastline). You can take the train between them, or get off at one and follow the clifftop trail (wide and well-paved) from one to the next.

I would love to go to Spain but not this trip. The suggestion on the Cinqueterre I'll include as I have seen this on television. Isn't there a boat that will take you as well?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I would love to go to Spain but not this trip. The suggestion on the Cinqueterre I'll include as I have seen this on television. Isn't there a boat that will take you as well?

I don't know about a boat- there may well be. I just did it via train, as it was February when I went there and a bit chilly for my taste to hike the whole route. Also worth a visit (although pretty well photographed to death) is Portofino. I forget which town you get off the train at to get there, but you get off the train and catch a bus out to Portofino. The hike up the hill to the old castle is worth it, although the castle is a tad disappointing - it is well preserved but not restored. The view from the terrace looking back at the town is very picturesque, and on the way back down, the views out over the cliffs to the Mediterranean are also quite nice.