Help! Student needs advice for Europe travels!

[Austerby]

You'll be fine in London, providing you keep your belongings close. The biggest nuisance here is from bag thieves who will take advantage of a crowded or noisy enviroment, pick an unattended bag at random and walk off with it. They're amazingly deft and afterwards no one will remember seeing it happen.

There are other nuisances on the continent - I've heard a couple of reports from Paris this year of people having money stolen off them as they use an ATM: just as the cash is delivered by the machine there's a distraction from someone behind you, or a group of people surround you and then the money has gone.

It's highly unlikely to happen to you - but make sure it doesn't and have a good trip.

nb bring a brolly to London with you!

 

[Speedfreak]

You are welcome.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin

http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin#Stay_safe

 

[Jamie123]

I wouldn't really worry too much about any of the places you want to visit. Barcelona is probably the most notorious among them in regards to pickpockets so I would just make sure not to leave your stuff unattended there.

Any large city you're going to visit will have a bit of crime but I would not worry too much. Worrying takes away all the fun of something. If you're so worried about your gear just get insurance.

Oh and there are some amazing photo book stores in London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona (don't know about Florence).

 

[xxloverxx]

I might just have been fortunate, but 2 years ago I was in London with a Mamiya 645 Pro-TL hanging off one shoulder, a Lowe-Pro bag off the other, Kiev 4AM in my hand and had no problems. Same in Venice, Rome, Greece and Turkey.

Travelling light would've been a better choice. I'd advise you take the MP and G10 and use all the weight saved for film…you could fit 100 rolls of film in the weight of a 5DII setup…

 

[MartinP]

You could hire some darkroom time at PhotoFusion, in Brixton, and develop most of your film before returning. That would save a bit of x-ray exposure and would let you see how you were getting on with your photography during your visit. You may also meet a lot of "useful" contacts there 🙂

 

[david3558]

I wouldn't really worry too much about any of the places you want to visit. Barcelona is probably the most notorious among them in regards to pickpockets so I would just make sure not to leave your stuff unattended there.

Any large city you're going to visit will have a bit of crime but I would not worry too much. Worrying takes away all the fun of something. If you're so worried about your gear just get insurance.

Oh and there are some amazing photo book stores in London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona (don't know about Florence).

Thanks - it seems that Barca is definitely the worst in terms of pickpockets. Am I advised to avoid the backpack?

I might just have been fortunate, but 2 years ago I was in London with a Mamiya 645 Pro-TL hanging off one shoulder, a Lowe-Pro bag off the other, Kiev 4AM in my hand and had no problems. Same in Venice, Rome, Greece and Turkey.

Travelling light would've been a better choice. I'd advise you take the MP and G10 and use all the weight saved for film…you could fit 100 rolls of film in the weight of a 5DII setup…

Wow... seriously lucky! My friend lost his DSLR if I'm not mistaken, or some type of camera that way in Rome. Yes I think I'm certain I'm doing the MP + G10 at this point and just bringing film.

You are welcome.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin

http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin#Stay_safe

Thanks so much, that site is awesome, hadn't heard of it before.

You'll be fine in London, providing you keep your belongings close. The biggest nuisance here is from bag thieves who will take advantage of a crowded or noisy enviroment, pick an unattended bag at random and walk off with it. They're amazingly deft and afterwards no one will remember seeing it happen.

There are other nuisances on the continent - I've heard a couple of reports from Paris this year of people having money stolen off them as they use an ATM: just as the cash is delivered by the machine there's a distraction from someone behind you, or a group of people surround you and then the money has gone.

It's highly unlikely to happen to you - but make sure it doesn't and have a good trip.

nb bring a brolly to London with you!

Thanks for the tips - I just need to figure out the best way to carry money I guess.

 

[venchka]

How to carry money? In a European compatible credit/debit card.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/money-travel-tips.htm

Do you suppose that the LSE would hire me to teach there?

Wayne

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

London's a small place, you can walk everywhere if only interested in the City and Westminster. In your shoes I'd carry something small and all the time. (Olympus XA type). Then venture forth with the Leica now and again with a plan for the photographs to be taken.

Regards, David

PS Did you look at http://www.silverprint.co.uk

 

[semordnilap]

Thanks - it seems that Barca is definitely the worst in terms of pickpockets. Am I advised to avoid the backpack?

...

Thanks for the tips - I just need to figure out the best way to carry money I guess.

A small travel combination lock can be useful if you're worried about people behind you reaching into your backpack. I like traveling with a moneybelt just to be safe, keeping passport and backup cash inside it and on me at all times. That way I only need to keep a bit of money and one or two cards in my (front) pocket at any time.

And I second the MP & G10 combo. If you can bring along a CV 25 or 21 it could be nice in tight european streets, and they're tiny. And if you do bring your domke, just be sure to carry it with the flap towards your body. Bring the film you think you'll need and just get more there should you need it.

Really, like in any place just keep your head up and your eyes open and you should be fine.

 

[Lss]

How to carry money?

With the amount of bag threads on this forum, I don't like where this is going.

 

[Spanik]

I normally run around with a Mamiya 645 ProTL and a couple of lenses in a big shoulder bag. Never had any problem except my shoulder.

In larger cities you might find shops carrying film. But if you are staying long enough and have a lodging there, buying over the net might be better.

In your place I'd like to have a wider lens than 35mm. Cities in europe tend to be crowded with little room. Certainly if you go to the older cities.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

I have liked to have a 24/2.8 and a 50/1.8 plus additional 35-70mm zoom and just take either sets (24mm+50mm or 35-70mm/f3.6) in the morning from the overnight place if returning to the same quarters in the day/evening/night. As backup i have another body for the same lenses or a compact film or digital camera. Usually carry everything in a shoulder bag or small day backpack.

 

[Vics]

Thanks - it seems that Barca is definitely the worst in terms of pickpockets. Am I advised to avoid the backpack?



Wow... seriously lucky! My friend lost his DSLR if I'm not mistaken, or some type of camera that way in Rome. Yes I think I'm certain I'm doing the MP + G10 at this point and just bringing film.



Thanks so much, that site is awesome, hadn't heard of it before.



Thanks for the tips - I just need to figure out the best way to carry money I guess.

I have a Rick Steves money belt, but I don't use it. I carry my wallet in my front jeans pocket or in cool weather in an inside jacket zipper pocket. I never carry more than a little cash. Pay for everything with debit card.

 

[Vics]

I saw a new-to-me scam at the Gare du Nord last month. As we walked though the station looking for the RER ticket counter, a guy came up to us and asked where we were going. I told him we were looking for the RER, and he told us which way to go. We thanked him and went that way. Few minutes later we were lost again, and lo and behold, there was our benefactor again. He showed us the machine to use, and when it didn't work, he said "here, let me try. With his own Carte Bleue, he produced two tickets and we paid him in cash. As he was walking away, a plain-clothes cop asked to see the tickets, then asked who we got them from, and then chased the guy, but he got away. The cop gave us the tickets back, and explained that they were only good for children. After that we were approached four more times with exactly the same pitch. Lesson learned. No French train station employee will approach you with an offer of help, so be wary!

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

A colleague of mine, who had to travel abroad a lot on official business, used to have a collection of wallets. Each one had a small amount of cash in it and each of then went into a different pocket so that he never pulled one out and revealed just how much he was carrying.

Being on official business he was often met by someone from the ministry out there and with an army escort at times and they all tried various scams on him...

Regards, David