Going to Italy Sptember 18 to October 16 (Page 2): When in Milan take a day trip (or longer if you have time) to Lake Como. Just catch the train for a short ride up there. A very...

Poppy Loc: North Georgia

When in Milan take a day trip (or longer if you have time) to Lake Como. Just catch the train for a short ride up there. A very beautiful place.

Bwright Loc: Pittsburgh PA

Murano is a great place for photos -- I would try to get access to a glass factory to take pictures

I would HIGHLY recommend a "bar tour" with Alessandro Schezzini while in Venice (we found him through a Rick Steves book). His web site is: http://www.schezzini.it/

He took us on a two hour tour through several bars in Venice -- we drank chianti, ate cicchetti (appetizers), and listened to his stories about Venice.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Take good notes on what the photos are and where they were shot. I wish I had GPS on my camera. Be careful when changing lenses; like monopods, umbrellas and maps they can be left behind. Do not get so enthralled with taking photos you get seperated from your wife -- It can make for a cold night.
Down load the photos daily to your laptop to make sure the camera is still working.
Take a power converter
You could spend a month in Rome and two or more days in just about every city you mentioned.

stone bridge Loc: Michigan's West Coast

Please let me know how the trip goes as we are planning a trip with the similar route for 2013. Talk about planning a long time, this is to celebrate our 45th! Thanks, Barb

mdeman Loc: Damascus, Maryland

Everywhere you go, take a minute and look at souvenir post cards. Then go take pictures of anything else. Love Italy. Enjoy

Cornman Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you are in Rome on a clear day, climb to the top of St. Peters Dome, the view of Rome is spectacular, fantastic pictures. Also fun to eat at the Piazza Novona, very neat area. In Florence, try to go over the river, on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio. views of the city are wonderful and great shooting angles from there. While in Venice, if you are there at dusk or at night, if you can set your camera down, great shots of St. Marks and the Piazza. Also, looking out from St. Marks at the large canal, neat shots across the canal, with the rose colored street lights. Have a great time.

Old Sarge Loc: Moore, OK

What a question! I spent 3 years in Italy, my advice is take photos of everything and anything. When I was there I lugged a 35mm and a 4x5 speed graphic. Lost all my negatives in shipment home had only a few with me when I got home. All I have are very fond memories. My best advice is to back everything up at the end of each day.

Rufus Loc: Puget Sound area, WA

Pictures of Italian individuals, taken with their permission, can be wonderful. A big reinforcement of the memories. Skip a few places and resolve to return!

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

To all who have responded - THANKS!!

I've been twice also took my wife to Venice - which we love. Some very good ideas. I have done lots of photography research on what to shot. As well as I will not reformat the SD cards. I will back up on a note book as well as a seperate external hard drive every date.

Again, Thanks so much

camerabuff58 Loc: Ontario, Canada,

Hey Sarge.
You didn't happen to be at the base in Taranto/ San Vito area during your stint were you?

Old Sarge wrote:

What a question! I spent 3 years in Italy, my advice is take photos of everything and anything. When I was there I lugged a 35mm and a 4x5 speed graphic. Lost all my negatives in shipment home had only a few with me when I got home. All I have are very fond memories. My best advice is to back everything up at the end of each day.

FRENCHY Loc: Stone Mountain , Ga

TimS wrote:

Considering the current USD-EUR exchange rate, can one buy a bogen tripod cheaper over there? I have a gitzo tripod. A little heavier and I wouldn't mind picking up a carbon fiber tripod so if I could score a bogen on the cheap over there then I won't even pack mine.

DONT it will be more expensive the euro as of today is 1.27 ? add 27 cents to a dollar .......

elise3

If you are driving make sure your rental has GPS. I was there for a wedding, and we were staying in a villa in Tuscany and had a free morning/afternoon and my daughter and I decided we would take a day trip to a town south of Florence about 2 hours away to go to a horse show. So off we go with no map, no GPS and no cell with coverage. I figured we could pick up a map on the way..... Ummm no. Nothing is open on sundays and most of the gas stations are gas only, unattended with no convenience items. Needless to say we got close, but never made it to the show, had a a nice trip around the mountain towns of Tuscany.

Loved the Cinque Terre. Could have stayed there for weeks!

Post pics when you get back!

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

yes have Euro GPS

elise3 wrote:

If you are driving make sure your rental has GPS. ... (show quote)

Old Sarge Loc: Moore, OK

camerabuff58 wrote:

Hey Sarge.
You didn't happen to be at the base in Taranto/ San Vito area during your stint were you?

Old Sarge wrote:

What a question! I spent 3 years in Italy, my advice is take photos of everything and anything. When I was there I lugged a 35mm and a 4x5 speed graphic. Lost all my negatives in shipment home had only a few with me when I got home. All I have are very fond memories. My best advice is to back everything up at the end of each day.

No, I was stationed at Vicenza, Northern Italy. My family came from Calabria in the South. I loved it in Italy. Probably too old to go back.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Jim S wrote:

My wife and I will be going to Italy for a month. ... (show quote)

Ah, Cinque' Terre, Rome, Venice, Pompeii, Gelato, limoncello, cappucino (made the right way), pizza marinara (forget deep-dish!-- if I want to eat of loaf of bread--I'd buy one!), pasta al olio al pepperocini (sp).

If you can, I would intentionally get lost in Venice at night. It's a wonderful experience. Hire a gondoleer. Kiss your spouse.

Engage the people. Best conversation I ever had was with an older woman on a train near Genoa when neither of us knew a lick of the other's language. There are places to swim and snorkel along the villages of Cinque Terre.

Dine late, sleep in, and wander. Don't get so caught up in taking pictures that you forget to see!