|
Travel is no longer cheap, but, like many worthwhile things, we can make allowances in our lifestyle to allow us to see and experience our world. I can choose to put my salary into golf, skiing, fancy furniture, brand-name clothes, cameras costing thousands, or an off-road vehicle to drive to the grocery store. These are adult choices. If you think travel (or photography) is important, you'll cut costs somewhere else to do it. You are statistically safer travelling in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America than you are driving to work. If we stay at home, we are letting the terrorists win. The world as a whole is neither hostile nor dangerous. If we shut ourselves off from people in other countries because our politicians disagree with theirs, we are letting the narrow-minded and the untravelled tell us where we can go. We especially urge our young friends to spend some time in Europe, Asia or Africa. Use the language you studied in high school or college as a springboard for getting around in the country of its origin. Do some travelling before you settle down to the demands of job and family. Trudi, my wife, left college at 19 and went to Europe with only a backpack. I travelled as a soldier during a war, not the best option.
European trains will take you nearly anywhere. |
Travel and its accompanying attitudes of tolerance, mutual acceptance and open discussion are part of the resurgent counter-culture. Choose the Travel Channel world of resorts and contrived corporate entertainment, or see the real world. We urge you to try at least one trip to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South/Central America, Africa or Asia. My wife and I especially encourage you to visit France. We have found the French to be kind and gracious hosts. The "freedom fries" crowd can stay at home or travel elsewhere. We put all we need for a week or two into a carry-on bag for each of us. If our bags had two straps, instead of a shoulder strap, we'd be backpackers. Trying to carry too much can lead to a miserable travel experience, and even to a decision never again to travel. If you cannot carry your bag(s) a mile comfortably, you're carrying too much. We photographers need to make the necessary trade-offs between our best and lightest photo gear. That said, please don't let age or physical problems deter you from travel. Use bags with wheels and ask for help when you need it.
ferry in Croatia |
Don't take a chance on turning your valuable cameras, lenses and electronics over to baggage thieves. Both airline and TSA employees have been caught pilfering travellers' possessions. Valuables go in your carry-on bag, NOT in checked luggage. If you carry film, it will be exposed to less of an x-ray dose in your carry-ons.We travel off-season, trading some closed hotels, restaurants and museums for crowd-free streets. Look for cheap fares on travel sites, and book far ahead. We take the train or bus, and rent a car when that is cheaper. We don't speak any other languages but German and English, and we've never had a language problem. In telling me to buy my ticket on the bus, a Greek gentleman made steering wheel motions with his hands- perfectly understood. Wine-opening motions with the hands and a "pop" sound can get you a corkscrew in a hardware store in Portugal. Make an effort to learn a European, Asian or Middle Eastern language. Not making the effort is my biggest mistake, and I'm trying to set it right.
dining on the square, a European tradition |
If you don't want to stand out as a tourist - don't wear shorts if you're old enough to shave (except for beach resorts), don’t wear white running shoes or T-shirts with messages, and be quiet and inconspicuous. With long pants, a decent shirt, and leather shoes, I walk into high-roller hotels and restaurants as if I belong there, even when I don't.Buy the best walking shoes you can afford. Mephisto works well for me, but buy them in Europe for $100 less. They only seem expensive; good shoes are cheaper in the long run. Rockport and L.L. Bean seem to be selling good serious walking shoes these days. Leather shoes can double as a good walking shoe and a slightly dress-up shoe for dinner. Save on food by making simple salads or sandwiches in your room, or on the go. However, don't deprive yourself; have a few good restaurant meals each trip. Food is an important part of the travel experience. We have had very memorable meals at the humblest of restaurants, especially in Croatia, Greece and Portugal. Go somewhere that appeals to you, fumble around, make mistakes, and have fun. However, minimize the fumbling by learning all you can about a place before you go. A good start is Rick Steve's books and web page, ricksteves.com. See also the Lonely Planet series.
Enjoy these wonderful places, the good food, and the person you're with. Lighten up on the photography; it will come naturally. Unless you write travel articles, you're not shooting for an audience. Have fun, shoot what pleases you. Wait for the right light, or re-visit a nice place to get it just right, but don't burden your guest or companion. His/her feelings and enjoyment are worth more than any one picture. Avoid a common mistake I still make. Don't wait until you travel to try to do serious photography. Carry a camera often and notice the way light falls on things. If you wait until you are in Rarotonga to do photography, you will be torn between picture-postcarding your trip and doing a purer form of photography, capturing what pleases you for whatever reason. You might even leave the documentary shots to a companion. Travel alone does not make your photography better. Maybe this web site is proof of this (grin).
|
