Finally heading to Europe :)

[Dr. no]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I believe the income per capita is almost double of for example Portugal.

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

 

[KitosLAB]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Sean]

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

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

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.

 

[joho]

@Sean
Are you passing by Athens ???? when??

 

[Vaughn]

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

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.

 

[Ian Grant]

You could come visit the UK Sean.

Ian

 

[chuckroast]

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

How about an online travelouge for the the rest of us peasants to enjoy along with you