Finally heading to Europe :)

Dr. no · May 12, 2025

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.

Sean · May 12, 2025

Dr. no said:
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.

"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 · May 14, 2025

Dr. no said:
Not my favorite Balkan country, compared to Slovenia

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 · May 14, 2025

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.

rduraoc · May 15, 2025

Ernst-Jan said:
I believe the income per capita is almost double of for example Portugal.

Accurate data is easily available, no need for inaccurate beliefs.

KitosLAB · May 19, 2025

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 · May 20, 2025

KitosLAB said:
Yes, there is a risk to life

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.

I have it on good authority that @Sean has moved to digital long ago.

KitosLAB · May 20, 2025

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 · May 20, 2025

KitosLAB said:
Many capitals have something similar?

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 · May 20, 2025

KitosLAB said:
Many capitals have something similar?

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).

Sean · May 28, 2025

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.

Finally heading to Europe :)

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