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European Travel Tips - Also after NYC Travel Tips
Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 12:34 AM on 10.21.10 |
->> I am just posting to get some ideas for travel destinations within Europe, From mid november i will be spending over a month in Europe with my only set plans are 10 Days in London at the beginning and 10 Days in Italy at the end, leaving over 2 weeks in the middle. I am already planning a trip to Olso, Norway but am after some other tips or local knowledge. I am doing the trip alone and it will be mainly photographically minded and i will traveling by plane, train, bus, taxi etc but i wont have a vehicle to myself at any stage.
I am of course most looking forward to 12 Days in NYC afterwards and any tips there would be great too, i have been to NYC twice but some local knowledge would be wonderful.
Any ideas would be great. |
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Manuello Paganelli, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 2:21 PM on 10.21.10 |
->> Too much rain in the UK this time of the year. Best time would be June-August.
Why Oslo? After two days there isnt much to see also the food cant compared to the Mediterranean cuisine.
Also why spend 10 days in London yet only 10 days for the whole country of Italia? Unless you gotta a girl in London.
Otherwise skip the island of the UK and spend that time in the mainland. IF you travel to Spain and Italia yOu will have more fun there. Most Brits cant wait to get out of the UK and their main destination is Spain.
Will you visit Sicilia too? Where in Italia you wish to go? Ten days is not much for the country.
IF this is your first Euro trip I would tag the triangle of Italia, Spain & France.
NYC is pure magic and like in Europe you will do lots of walk. Just google or go to the Lonely Planet to get lots of tips and ideas. All depends exactly what you want to see or shoot. Do drop by Coney Island, Central Park... Littler Italy isnt what used to be. Heck nobody even speaks Italian there saved for a few REAL old timers Italians. Chinatown can be colorful for pix.
The Spanish Harlem can be fun too but the name is misleading since most people there are not from Europe, Spain and never was. Mostly folks from Latin America who speak a mix of English and Spanish.
Also some long time New Yorkers can inject more info in here too.
Good luck, take lots of pix and safe travels.
www.ManuelloPaganelli.com |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 3:55 PM on 10.21.10 |
->> Sorry Manuello but Northern Europe rocks too. Besides, it's winter and, quite frankly, southern Europe is going to be pretty cool and cloudy anyway. London's great and Oslo is one of the nicest cities you'll ever see. Sure, they'll be a little cold, a little wet, and it'll get dark early, but there's a lot to see and do.
Spend enough time in each place to get to know it a bit. If you have 10-14 days between the UK and Italy then Oslo, Berlin and Paris would give you enough time to appreciate each.
After your ten days in the UK fly from London to Oslo for a few days. From Oslo fly to Berlin and then from Berlin fly to Paris.
The London-Oslo-Paris air legs can be booked for less than $250 on kayak.com but be prepared to get stung for baggage charges.
From Paris take a train to Italy. Book your train tickets on www.voyages-sncf.com and, if you can, use the French language listings as they're more extensive than the English language ones.
If you want to go from London to Paris on the Eurostar train here's a BIG hint. Go to www.eurostar.com and on the welcome page tell them that you live in the UK. You'll get UK prices (less than either US or French prices) and the UK site will take your US credit cards (unlike the French site). You get your reservation number and pick up the ticket at the station in London.
From a nice yet reasonably priced Paris hotel I recommend www.hotelgobelins.com in the 13th Arrondisment (district). It's a couple of minutes to a Metro stop and in a good neighborhood with bars, restaurants and shops.
Bring your press credentials! You'll get in to almost any publicly funded museum or place (that doesn't include the Eiffel Tower) in France and Italy if you can flash credentials. Not only that but you can go to the front of the line...
If you have any questions about Paris drop me a line. |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 8:44 AM on 10.22.10 |
->> Cheers guys! Another thing i have been wondering is i have 3 days in both Hong Kong and Beijing on my way over, any tips for both of them would be great too.
Manuello, Most certainly not my first trip to the region, i love Europe and have been several times, i am going this time as i have a 4 month University holiday. I have been to London several times at varying times of year, weather doesn't worry me too much, If you can consider my Grandmother as a "girl" then i suppose yes lol I'm going to visit her and a free bed in the centre of London can't be turned down.
I am going to Oslo to visit a friend but also i went there several years ago towards the end of winter and from memory it was a beautiful city and even nicer country around it.
Spain has been a consideration so should do some more research on that.
I have also spent a lot of time in Italy and will spend most of my time in the town of Passingnano sul Trasimeno in Umbria with a bit of traveling from there, Been to Sicilia on a beautiful summers day 2 years ago hoping to get to Pompeii though this time.
Jim,
Thanks for the tips and Berlin has been suggested before to me and i am certainly considering it. Winter really isnt something we get here in Australia so a chance for a "white christmas" will be great.
Thanks for the idea of spending a bit of time in each place, i think thats great and will give the opportunity to revisit places at better times etc.
As far as press credentials go do you know if it needs to be specific News Paper creds as i only have press creds issued by the fire service for fire season here, although it does have huge MEDIA across the top.
Thanks everyone!! |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 12:35 PM on 10.22.10 |
->> "As far as press credentials go do you know if it needs to be specific News Paper creds as i only have press creds issued by the fire service for fire season here, although it does have huge MEDIA across the top."
Any press credentials would probably work. |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:46 PM on 10.23.10 |
| ->> I have been all over Europe and always have the most fun in the East. Check out Prague, tons of 500 year old pointy clocks and other cool stuff to shoot, plus outstanding beer and women. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 4:34 PM on 10.23.10 |
| ->> Angus if your interested in southern Germany shoot me an email. My cousin is a highway patrol officer there and his brother works in the Audi factory. Last time I was there they took me on some pretty incredible non tourist stuff. It's always nice to hook up with someone who lives and works in the region and knows where all the really cool things are. They both like to party too. |
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Manuello Paganelli, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 3:28 PM on 10.26.10 |
->> Jim you are right I forgot about the winter. Living in LA you forget those things. Still the food in any Nordic nation sucks and even an ex Swedish girlfriend will vouch for that :)
And yes bring your press credentials.
I would assume all shooters do travel with them? I had save lots of Euros while flashing my pass which was given to me over ten yrs ago when I lived in the DC area. Even with the expiration day going back a few yrs still lets me in to plenty of places and no one has ever ask me, "this expired 8 yrs ago."
Matt, Praha was cooler when nobody spoke English and when it was Czechoslovakia. Back when you could walk across the Charles Bridge and was totally empty. Too many folks from the USA ruined that quietness. Those were the days. Also folks only travel to Praha which is a pity since the Czech Republic does have so many other wonderful towns. But you are right, like Spain, they do have beautiful women. Hungary is great too.
Angus, Pompeii will be great and also spending a few days in Napoli. Just dont mess with the Camorra and be careful where and who you point your camera at. And for sure dont walk around at night displaying your gears. Some places you blink and without your knowledge they will take your underwear too.
More 2 Come
www.ManuelloPaganelli.com |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 5:10 PM on 10.26.10 |
->> "...the food in any Nordic nation sucks..."
What, you don't like lutefisk with green peas and potatoes? |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 6:53 PM on 10.26.10 |
| ->> Manuello, My first trip there was 05 so I never saw the old days but I would love to still get 50+czk for a dollar. Ive been all over Cz and Hu as well, both fun places. I like the english speaking party atmosphere there as well as the mellowness of the small towns. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 7:02 PM on 10.26.10 |
| ->> I just got back from Istanbul. Amazing, inexpensive and a photographers paradise. |
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Peter Wine, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dayton | OH | USA | Posted: 1:24 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> If you'll be in NYC on or after Nov 20th, you ought to check out the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.
It's one of the most incredible combos, with a g-scale version of the Brooklyn and Hell Gate bridges (that you can walk under) and more than 100 New York area buildings made from natural materials.
Here's a link to see whether it's for you:
http://www.nybg.org/hts/
Full disclosure, I've helped Applied Imagination and Paul Busse create this masterpiece from time to time, though it's been a few years since I was able to do that.
I've also written about the display:
http://www.dj-inabox.com/MediaMoments/2004NYBGBuild-1.shtml |
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Manuello Paganelli, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 7:22 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> Jim,
"
After the 3rd day of lutefisk and semi ok meals I wanted something else. My nose kept smelling the aromas of Italy, Spain and Greece. LOL But somehow I keep traveling back to those places.
Matt during the old days and my very first trip there around '89 I stayed at a nice hotel, really, for $5 and that included a full meal. Those rates stayed almost equally until the nation split. On that very first trip and after my 2nd day I was lost at the metro and couldnt figure out where i was heading or what the voice over the speaker was saying. I was just having fun but at some point I know I needed to get off somewhere.
Then he main languages were, besides the mother tongue, Russian and German.
Then I was rescue by a beautiful Czech girl who right away knew I was lost and couldnt speak the lingo. I tried English and Italian and that failed. Then she spoke to me in pure castillian Spanish saying "but I speak Spanish." I thought she was from Spain but at that time she had never been to Spain but she learned in school and was fluent. After meeting her and hanging out for a few hours I check out of the hotel and stayed with her.
IT was great back then and I was basically the only person who spoke English and had a camera with me. The Charles Bridge was totally empty. During one of my early travels there I was walking across the bridge and at the other end the only person I found sitting on it was the great photojournalist and friend David Burnett. I am not into beers but man, he knew all the drinking holes there. WE went bar hopping. And after my second large glass of beer I didnt know if I was in Europe or back in the USA.
Istanbul is great but in Europe we dont see it as part of Europe. Best way to travel is to rent a car. Just keep an eye on the gas needle. One day, yes one day, I ran out of gas two times since my eyes were glue into the landscapes, the small towns and the folks. SO Chuck is right it is an amazing place for photos and is a lot cheaper than traveling in Europe.
Is also a very backward Muslin nation, folks are very kind but also a much male dominating culture. One time I saw a man kicking a woman from behind and sending her down like a sack of rice after getting out of a bus I was traveling.
They didnt know each other but somehow she insulted him by doing something stupid. Nobody said a word at all. I wanted to but I kept my distance. Last thing I wished was to be chase by a mob all across town. Pretty bad specially no knowing the language or where the next road would lead. |
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Ken Shelton, Photographer
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Wyckoff | NJ | USA | Posted: 7:29 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> 12 days in NYC....there's an app for that.
www.essential-nyc.com |
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Angus Mordant, Student/Intern
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Sydney | NSW Australia | Australia | Posted: 4:40 AM on 10.28.10 |
->> Thanks for all the great tips, i have started replying to all the emails i have gotten too.
As far as renting a car thats not a possibility as to get an 'International Drivers License' which is basically a translation of my Aussie one i would need to be 21, i actually turn 20 on the trip so this time driving wont work. |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 11:51 AM on 10.28.10 |
| ->> I dont have an International Drivers License and never had a problem renting cars in many countries. Being 20 may be a problem though. |
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Manuello Paganelli, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 11:38 AM on 10.31.10 |
->> Eirik all photographers shoot for themselves. YOu can be working on a personal travel story or stock images. That is work/assignment as good as the paper or magazine sending you to Tahiti.
I had done several personal projects which I was able to sell to magazines. Plenty of freelancers do work that way too and that press pass has been helpful.
BTW I had used it in Norway, Denmark, Sweden as well as all over the world and NEVER had any problems. The only place, except for a couple of times, that I tried not to use it is in Cuba.
www.ManuelloPaganelli.com |
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