Italy in a few weeks...recommendations, please!

[Wulfthari]

On one trip alone: held up by 5 fatal or very serious crashes in Italy, plus frightened by a couple of near misses (if Frances had opened the door 5 seconds later in a car park she'd have lost a leg). In the rest of Europe on the same trip: none.

To the OP: Yes, include a serious wide-angle (21mm, 18mm, or even 15mm).

Cheers,

R.

Sorry, old thread, but this story is too hilarious to be believed: I drove or rode in Italy 500.000 kms and I was never involved in any serious incidents.

Dear RFF Community,

Early in October, I got some great advice and comments about my trip to Italy with my wife and a couple of friends. I ended taking my Lumix GH1 and the Leica M2 with three lenses. The trip went well, but I have have been very busy with business before and after the trip until this weekend. I captured about 1000 with my digital camera, and about 3 rolls (only) with my M2. Out of all the "tourista" pictures, I have about a dozen that I feel are worthy of more work, printing, etc. I have compiled just under a dozen at this link for your review and comments. These are from the digital camera only. I have not processed the film as of yet. When I do, I will post the results.

Link:

http://furnituredesigner-gmail-com.cld.bz/Italian-Street-Shots-10-2014

A few observations - The kit that I chose was fine to carry in my LowePro hip pack. Not too heavy, and I had all the equipment that I needed. The digital camera was a joy to use, fast when shooting from the hip, and although the Lumix seems to clip the highlights a bit in auto mode, the tones and fidelity are great. The images in the link are adjusted slightly in contrast and a bit of vignette was added, but they are pretty much straight from the camera. (I really like the shot of the lady in the doorway.) The M2 is a classic, and I had one bloke stop me to admire it. Not the same for the GH1.

Overall we had a great time, my creative spirit was renewed, we ate some great local Italian food......loved the anchovies in the Cinque Terra.....and saw all the art, cathedrals, and Tuscan countryside and wines we could fit into two weeks! I recommend a trip to all of you.

Best Regards.

SW

Nice pics, here there's my take on Italian stree photography, unfortunately processing and scanning wasn't the best.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sorry, old thread, but this story is too hilarious to be believed: I drove or rode in Italy 500.000 kms and I was never involved in any serious incidents.

Perhaps the problem is not Italian drivers but how YOU drive.

Eh?

The "involvement" on all five occasions was waiting in stopped traffic while accidents in front of me were being sorted out: accidents that had happened before I got there. My driving was not, therefore, relevant.

The one time I was involved in an accident, I was waiting at a red light at road-works when someone came around a corner too fast and slammed into the back of my motorcycle. Again, it was hardly my driving that was at fault.

Also, if it were my fault, I might expect to see roughly similar levels of accidents wherever I drove. I don't. I stand firmly by my observation that Italian drivers are the worst of anywhere I've driven or ridden, including (for example) Mexico, Malta, Greece, India...

Perhaps the problem is that you (or, to borrow your capitals, YOU) don't understand what "hilarious" means. Or "involved". Or "serious".

Cheers,

R.

 

[Wulfthari]

Eh?

The "involvement" on all five occasions was waiting in stopped traffic while accidents in front of me were being sorted out: accidents that had happened before I got there. My driving was not, therefore, relevant.

The one time I was involved in an accident, I was waiting at a red light at road-works when someone came around a corner too fast and slammed into the back of my motorcycle. Again, it was hardly my driving that was at fault.

Also, if it were my fault, I might expect to see roughly similar levels of accidents wherever I drove. I don't. I stand firmly by my observation that Italian drivers are the worst of anywhere I've driven or ridden, including (for example) Mexico, Malta, Greece, India...

Perhaps the problem is that you (or, to borrow your capitals, YOU) don't understand what "hilarious" means. Or "involved". Or "serious".

Cheers,

R.

Still, I find this post hilarious and I stand by my comment.

As an Italian working in the UK I have been stopped several times in motorways because there were incidents but I would be an idiot to say that the british can't drive.

 

[froyd]

I really like 6 and 10. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

PS- Italian drivers are on the whole pretty bad because many subscribe to the rule of "furberia" aka rules apply to you, but not to me. The worst class is Audi A3 drivers because those are often company cars and get driven accordingly.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Still, I find this post hilarious and I stand by my comment.

As an Italian working in the UK I have been stopped several times in motorways because there were incidents but I would be an idiot to say that the british can't drive.

Yes, you would. But you'd also be an idiot to ignore the fact that the "several times" (five, in fact) in Italy occurred within a few days, on one tour, and that there were NO other accidents that held us up in any other country on the whole tour. Re-read Post 14.

Why do you find it "hilarious"? Maybe your English-Italian dictionary isn't very good, and can't distinguish "funny" (= odd, not according with what you expect) from "funny" (= amusing or provoking laughter, though not as extreme as hilarious).

Or perhaps, to borrow your own insulting comment, you're such an appalling driver that you don't actually understand competent driving at all. Much like all too many of your compatriots (see Post 44).

Cheers,

R.