StephenPatterson Posted June 2, 2011 Share #61 Posted June 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I feel about Milan the same as I do Coventry, namely that it could be improved by another visit from the Luftwaffe (or USAAF). It's hard to say whether Milan is truly dreary or just unlucky to be in proximity to so many beautiful places in Northern Italy. Take your M9. Consider it a combat assignment. Document the horrors for the world to see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 Hi StephenPatterson, Take a look here Is it safe to take M9 to Milan . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mustafasoleiman Posted June 2, 2011 Share #62 Posted June 2, 2011 I feel about Milan the same as I do Coventry, namely that it could be improved by another visit from the Luftwaffe (or USAAF). It's hard to say whether Milan is truly dreary or just unlucky to be in proximity to so many beautiful places in Northern Italy. Take your M9. Consider it a combat assignment. Document the horrors for the world to see. Kansas City... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted June 3, 2011 Share #63 Posted June 3, 2011 I'm a huge fan of all things Italian, most recently Sicily and Rome but Milan is my least favourite Italian city. As a visitor, once you go beyond the immediate area around the Duomo, there's less to see. If I was visiting tomorrow, a P&S would be fine. Agree about Coventry though. Dismal doesn't begin to describe it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted June 3, 2011 Share #64 Posted June 3, 2011 If I wasn't prepared to take my camera with me when I travel, I'd sell it. I've been robbed a few times, mostly in Auckland. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryk34 Posted June 3, 2011 Share #65 Posted June 3, 2011 Troubles . . . troubles . . . Check out the cute Travelers Insurance ad on TV that shows the poor little dog burying his bone outside to hide it, then putting it into a safety deposit box in the bank, all the time having nightmares about it being stolen. Finally he insures it under the red umbrella and goe peacefully to sleep. Insurance insurance insurance, if you have something to valuable to insure yourself. Thus, BP had no insurance when its oil rig broke in the gulf. It had reserves. From where? Well, for starters some of the 14 billion or so quarterly profits during the same time that the oil spill occurred. Why would it waste money on insurance? Same with travel insurance. I just took a tour to Greece with my M9. The agency wanted about $400 each from my wife and I to insure the trip. We figured that if we insured ourselves--covered the loss of the entire trip with our own money--and nothing happened, then we would be up $800. Ten trips and we're up $8,000, more than enough now to cover any loss from the next trip. That's how insurance works. So, if you can afford to replace your $10,000 Leica M9 and super lens if stolen or lost, then stop worrying about it. But I bought insurance that covers the whole loss if necessary. I bought it mainly to keep from being tempted like you not to take one of the best cameras with me when I travel. Travel to take photos, by the way. The insurance costs much less than the Leica equipment. Now I don't worry about the potential loss. But, of course, I still worry about having the camera stolen, so I take all the precautions mentioned above. I just don't worry as much about the money. Ironically, it's not about the money. I can replace the M9 with the insurance money, but some of the lenses can no longer be found for sale. So, I worry more about the lenses than the camers. But alas, I still enjoy using the camera. Never encountered any situation in Greece that made me nervous. Perhaps I didn't go to the right places. In South Africa, by the way, I was told that the kids (teenagers) who might snatch loose cameras cannot tell the difference between a $40 disposal camera, a new SLR, or a Leica M9. They just see a camera that's easy to snatch. [i've also almost walked out of resturants without taking my camera bag! Forget about thieves if you're capable of that. Now wherever I am--even in my own neighborhood--I always place the camera bag on the floor next to my foot and drape the strap over my knee. It's impossible to remove and impossible for me to get up without noticing it.] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted June 3, 2011 Share #66 Posted June 3, 2011 Kansas City... At least the cows are happy... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted June 3, 2011 Share #67 Posted June 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Janan, I'll be in Milan twice this summer and in Siena, The Cinque Terra, Genoa, and Lake Como. I have never though much about safety when traveling in Italy (except parts of Naples)... other than the normal stuff that I watch for where ever we go, be it the US or Europe. We carry one backpack each, and we stay in small hotels and pensions. We ride and enjoy the rail system and the Metros. We are savvy to pick pockets, Gypsies, and credit card scams. We mostly use bank ATMs for cash and and use the cash to pay for meals and stuff. When traveling during the day we are without packs or bags... just cameras, that we carry, and only what we can carry in our pockets. We don't wear baseball caps, t-shirts, or tennis shoes; we dress as if we live in the area that we are visiting. We have never had a problem traveling this way. How I feel about this thread; I bought my M-system to travel. It is born to travel. I can't imagine traveling without it. It is why we travel. Please, feel good about traveling in Italy. La dolce vita, Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmc Posted June 3, 2011 Share #68 Posted June 3, 2011 safety is a state of mind, not what you have around your neck, or wrapped around your wrist. the rolex crowd loves to cry about where they should or should not wear their watch. same with people who cry about what vehicle to drive where. check this guy out. thats a new porsche, and not some entry level stock car, no thats a new 997 GT3 captured by me with a leica M8 28 at what is arguably one of the most controversial places in the media right now. the Tijuanna border! listen, most people walk around in a state of white noise. they are simply not aware of their surroundings and they try to camaflauge themself by wearing or not wearing, or caring or not caring a specific camera. in reality your going to stand out and be a mark period. it doesnt matter if you have a leica or a sony, or wear a rolex or a timex. drive a porsche or ford escort. its all about how you conduct yourself, use common sense and respect the people and places you visit. in fact i have found that shooting my leica in third world countries actually works better than a DSLR. most people think it is some worthless old film camera. take your camera and enjoy it. have your wits about you, be respectful and treat those as you would like to be treated. on a lighter note, and if all else fails remember this, a rolex or a leica are exceptional tools to barter with if you get in a pinch. a rolex watch is almost as good as currency in most corrupt third world countries, as is a leica. it can go a long way to getting you out of a pinch, trust me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted June 3, 2011 Share #69 Posted June 3, 2011 Having a black belt helps. Otherwise, standard Leica strap will do nicely. Honestly, nobody notices. Interesting and useful travel advice here. Only times I got "mugged" were in London. Guy accosted me at a tube station. I hit back. But I had to let go of my bag. Which another guy snatched. Only had my raincoat in it, which was a nuisance. The pair scarpered. Other time was on the French-Spanish border. Thin leather wallet disappeared and I don't for the life of me know how the scoundrel got it. Must have been very dextrous and skillful. Had hardly any cash in it: I also use a neck pouch and have a leather belt with a zip for concealed cash. Both happened years ago. I have not worried about leaving stuff in hotels. Most also have safes. Wandering around narrow streets in southern Spain, we came across some dodgy looking characters and mangy dog. Fortunately around the next bend was a bunch of cops keeping their eyes on things. Street cops: always a good idea. Once again, Naples gets a bad rap, but anywhere -- even your home town -- can be dangerous, and you always have to be careful. In Naples it seemed the areas near the tourist hotels, and not the back streets where the locals go, looked most dicey. Same in Istanbul where we only got hassled in the tourist spots. Keep your eyes peeled! I do my best, but have to admit women seem to have better peripheral vision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 3, 2011 Share #70 Posted June 3, 2011 I'd like to thank the OP for motivating me to update my blog. Regards, Bill I copied the URL of this one to use as standard answer in this forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted June 3, 2011 Share #71 Posted June 3, 2011 1. Never leave the cameras/camera bag in the room. Where I went, the equipment went, even if it was just downstairs to breakfast, and even if I didn't intend to use it. But what if you go to the beach? In that case I guess you'd rely on the safe. Or do you have other tips to share? Thanks in advance, Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nafpie Posted June 3, 2011 Share #72 Posted June 3, 2011 But what if you go to the beach? There is no beach in Milan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted June 3, 2011 Share #73 Posted June 3, 2011 There is no beach in Milan. Ha ha ha! Very funny... I meant if one goes past Milan to go to the beach... Cheers Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 3, 2011 Share #74 Posted June 3, 2011 Incidentally, safety in different cities is very subjective: one of my favorite cities is Barcelona, and I stay there for as long as possible as often as I can and have never ever had any problem, but friends and colleagues often come back with scare stories of wallets disappearing (often from rucksacks carried on their backs) or cameras being taken if left unattended in restaurants. I'm afraid that their own behavior is mostly to blame A friend of mine had a pickpocket try to steal the camera out of his trouser pocket while on the metro - and he had his own hands in his pockets at the time. In fact in I think 5 days he and his girlfriend had 4 attempts at having their pockets picked - all on the metro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddyT Posted June 3, 2011 Share #75 Posted June 3, 2011 You'll be sunk... I should be acquainted with being gotten sunk, I am from Bangkok ( formerly known as Venice of the East) > Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayewing Posted June 3, 2011 Share #76 Posted June 3, 2011 Our discussion on this topic is highly subjective in the absence of hard statistics on crime against tourists in the different European cities. My own subjective contribution based on visits to many European cities is one unsuccessful attempt at pickpocketing on the underground in Prague and one successful distraction theft in Marseilles. No problem in any of the Italian cities I have visited including Milan, Rome, Florence, Verona,Venice, Naples and Palermo. Maybe I was lucky? Really there is a risk in any big city but with sensible precautions for any one trip the risk is low. As has been suggested it is wise to insure expensive photography gear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiralx Posted June 3, 2011 Share #77 Posted June 3, 2011 You'll be sunk... Apparently it's not safe to swim the streets at night... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 3, 2011 Share #78 Posted June 3, 2011 There is no beach in Milan. If one likes Idroscalo... .. a sort of beach (and a good old cameras market once a year... ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted June 4, 2011 Share #79 Posted June 4, 2011 it's all about body language. If you are full of fear- they will sense it. If you act like you own the place- you do. A few people tried to rob me in Genoa... if anyone asks you if you like footbal and then starts dancing around in front of you- walk backwards in a determined way and get out of there... you should be OK. Whatever you do: don't hold their hand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuxBob Posted June 4, 2011 Share #80 Posted June 4, 2011 it's all about body language. If you are full of fear- they will sense it. If you act like you own the place- you do. Italy is a country in which it is great to travel, eat and just soak up life. My wife lived there for 17 years and then she married me - someone about as un-Italian as you can get. We usually go back several times a year - this year to Florence, Venice and Siena. We both look like what we are, fair haired northern Europeans but then my wife doesn't just speak in the local Florentine accent she becomes the Medici and the place opens up to us. She tells stories of the frustrations of living there and we meet some of her old friends and enjoy hilarious stories. Watch some Italian cinema and you start to understand. What a fantastic country. It is a privilege and a challenge to have it as part of the EU. We are not talking ancient history here, there is a direct line and you can see it form Etruscan times, through the Romans to modern times - it is there in the centre of all the old towns. We can wander these streets and feel this as we sit and look and touch. It is there to tell us so much. So back to the original post I consider it almost impertinent to ask 'Is it safe to take my M9 to Italy.'. I would answer think yourself luck that you can travel to Italy and feel privileged that you have an M9 and can photograph it even if it is Milan. It still has that Italian flair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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