Finally heading to Europe :)

Dr. no

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
125
Location
Santa Fe
Format
Multi Format
EU ≠ Euros... several countries retain their traditional currencies. Romania and lei, Czechia, Hungary and others. I was in Croatia when they converted and most people weren't happy, prices went up and pay went down, effectively.
I guess if there is a tax/financial reason for Montenegro, go for it. Not my favorite Balkan country, compared to Slovenia and Croatia.
 
OP
OP

Sean

Admin
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2002
Messages
13,243
Location
New Zealand
Format
Multi Format

"Slovenia and Croatia are members of the Schengen Area, while Montenegro is not"

That's the reason for Montenegro, to find some place cheap while our Schengen resets and we can continue through EU. Open to other suggestions though
 

Ernst-Jan

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
558
Location
NL
Format
Medium Format
Dr. no said:
Not my favorite Balkan country, compared to Slovenia
Click to expand...

Slovenia is considered as central Europe, not Balkan I believe the income per capita is almost double of for example Portugal. Also cultural i would say they are more like Austrians than Serbs.
 

Dr. no

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 7, 2010
Messages
125
Location
Santa Fe
Format
Multi Format
Since I have family in Romania, west of there is Balkan

And since the dissection of Yugoslavia is commonly referred to as "Balkanization", there you are...

Since we are on a photography site, I'm thinking in images... in my mind Montenegro compares to Croatia as Orlando compares to Tuscany (or Slovenia to Austria in 1920, true...). But I didn't mention Serbs.
 

KitosLAB

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Messages
205
Location
Ukraine
Format
35mm
Sean, come to Kyiv! Uzbek, Armenian, Georgian and Ukrainian cuisine on the same street, you won't find this in the European Union! Developing film is no problem, renting a Darkroom is no problem. It's a problem to shoot whatever you want, it's better to have a badge “Press Service”. No need for a visa. Yes, it takes a little longer to travel, because it's only by train, there are no airplanes, but you get a mixture of extreme and comfort, and the comfort and service is higher than in the EU. Yes, there is a risk to life, but if you go for cover during the shelling and not watch the Shahids fly, it is minimal
 

koraks

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
25,165
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
KitosLAB said:
Yes, there is a risk to life
Click to expand...
Now that's what I call a new grade of tourist marketing!

One thing to keep in mind is that insurance may not cover travels to a country that's in war.

KitosLAB said:
Developing film is no problem, renting a Darkroom is no problem.
Click to expand...
I have it on good authority that @Sean has moved to digital long ago.
 

KitosLAB

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Messages
205
Location
Ukraine
Format
35mm
That's what I'm saying, the level of service here is higher)) You can get military risk insurance for tourists on the spot. It's better to stay on the first floors to reduce the risk, but with all that, the risk of being robbed is 0%, unlike many European capitals. And here it has its own atmosphere, for example, a place for chess lovers in one of the central parks. Many capitals have something similar? Prague? Paris? Maybe London?
 

koraks

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
25,165
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
KitosLAB said:
Many capitals have something similar?
Click to expand...

Yes, not just capitals either. But from the list you mentioned, Paris has the cliché chess-player's spot in the Tuilleries park and usually also the little park behind the Notre Dame (among several other places).

As to odds of getting robbed; the 0% sounds optimistic and I don't see how being at war would somehow remove all crime entirely from society; this just isn't the case. But I am totally willing to believe that in this regard, Kyiv isn't any different from any European capital. And yes, every place has its own unique atmosphere. Surely Kyiv has this, too.

I also accept that for obvious reasons you're trying to make Kyiv seem particularly attractive, but it's kind of obvious that the present war has a major impact on how society functions and it's equally obvious that most travelers are just not attracted to it. Regardless, I'm sure that @Sean can make up his own mind on whether he wants to visit or not.
 

miha

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
3,000
Location
Slovenia
Format
Multi Format
KitosLAB said:
Many capitals have something similar?
Click to expand...

Boules, for intance, is especially popular across Europe. This snap was taken ins Saint-Tropez in 2010 (and since this is a photography forum, some details: Leicaflex SL, 50mm, Tri-X, scan of a print, Fomabrom Variant FB).

 
Last edited:
OP
OP

Sean

Admin
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2002
Messages
13,243
Location
New Zealand
Format
Multi Format
I managed to offload my beasty x-t3 kit and now have the x100vi. This is going to be it for my travel/street photography cam and with the sling strap, I barely even notice I'm carrying it. I got the final components for it today and with a long weekend approaching am looking forward to testing it out on the streets of Dunedin.



I added a smallrig half case, screen protector, an adapter ring + B+W high transmission circular polariser and a lens hood which mounts directly to the polariser allowing me to twist the hood in order to adjust the polariser. From what I can see in non polarising use it is fairly clear so can double as a lens protector/water resistance add on. Even if it cuts a tiny bit of light the IBIS can handle 6-stops, so am not too concerned.
 
OP
OP

Sean

Admin
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2002
Messages
13,243
Location
New Zealand
Format
Multi Format
Getting closer! 2 weeks.. hoping for 11 months total. Super keen to meet some of you all and take some photos.

Initial Itinerary still in some flux..

Houston -3 days layover to see some family
Prague -3 wks
Vienna -5 days
Milan -3 days
Verona -5 days
Venice -5 days
Trieste -5 days
Various places in Croatia likely 1 month is Split, 1 month in Dubrovnik
undecided after that.. need to get out of Shengen for 3 months, might get some cheap accomodation in Montenegro for 3 months and get some work done, recover some funds
-after able to return to Shengen for 90 days, maybe more Italy, Greece etc, as things heat up could go further north..

Ping me if you want to have a coffee of do some street photography
 
Last edited:

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
19,982
Location
Honolulu, HI
Format
Large Format
Enjoy your time in Europe, Sean! The jet lag is serious from our time zones, so it's great you'll be making an extended stay of it. I was just in Poland in May and may be back in the coming year sometime.
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,253
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format
rduraoc said:
Accurate data is easily available, no need for inaccurate beliefs.
Click to expand...
Equally important to use data based on the same factors. "Average annual full-time adjusted salary for employees" (your link) and income per capita are very different things. Portugal has a higher average salary than Slovenia, but a lower income per capita than Slovenia. (but the difference between the two countries is not very much.)

It is getting expensive everywhere.
 

chuckroast

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 2, 2023
Messages
2,795
Location
All Over The Place
Format
Multi Format

How about an online travelouge for the the rest of us peasants to enjoy along with you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…