Italy - Day One...

I arrived Wednesday morning after an almost ten hour flight from Charlotte. 

 

Customs and baggage claim was a breeze, and then I got to the car rental. I won't go into the gory details, but Giancarlo, the Avis guy, tried upselling me on this and that and, by the time he was done, he wanted an additional €956 on top of what I'd already paid. According to xe.com, that comes out to a princely $1,079.86 (US). Thanks, but no. 

 

I was going to rent a Citroen and get the GPS they offer (at $25 a day), but he offered me a Peugeot 308, which has a GPS already in it, for the same price as I would've paid for the Citroen and the GPS. I also went ahead and added the prepaid fuel. When all was said and done, I ended up with a car which, once I got someone to change the language of the GPS to English, will serve me well during this trip.

I checked into the hotel and settled into my room. The rain in the forecast never materialized, so I grabbed my G7X MKII and found my way to the local rail line, which takes a little getting used to. 

 

More on that in a later entry.

After lunch at a fresh market mall called "Eataly", I grabbed a cab and made my way down to Piazza Novona. Piazza Navona came into its own in the 15th century, after the city market was transferred there. More recently, it was featured in the Tom Hanks film "Angels & Demons", specifically the fountain entitled Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers).

 

 

Piazza Novona

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). In the movie "Angels & Demons, Cardinal Baggia, one of the "preferiti" (a made up term, by the way), is tied to a metal chair and thrown into the fountain. Tom Hanks character, Dr. Robert Langdon, dives into the fountain and, along with other witnesses, intervenes and save Baggia's life...

 

From Piazza Navona I found my way over to the Panthenon. It's said that the Panthenon is the only architecturally perfect building ever constructed. Now, I don't know anything about that, but I know the effect it had on me as I turned a corner and first saw it. I felt the air escape me. It was that impressive. Thousands of people visit every day and, despite that, it didn't really feel crowded or cramped. 

The Panthenon, built in 125 AD. It's the most well preserved building in all of Rome...

The flow of visitors into, and out of, the Panthenon...

Inside the Panthenon, which is the final resting place of King Victor Emanuel II and the artist Raphael...

Following the visit to the Panthenon, I made my way to Trevi Fountain. The fountain was completed in 1762. It's tradition to throw coins into the fountain with your right hand over your left shoulder. Each night, 365 nights a year, workers collect more than €3,000 thrown into the fountain the previous day.

Trevi Fountain...

The crowds around Trevi Fountain is impressive. I had this ideal photographic scene in my head where I walked up (maybe at night or twilight), set up my camera on my little travel tripod, and I get this wonderfully perfect image of the fountain. Well, I honestly don't believe there's not always a crowd there. Ever. Consequently, I may have to be happy with the images I have, but may still give it another go next week.

I had time for one more stop before heading back to my hotel, and that was the Altare della Patri, built as a monument to the first King of a unified Italy, Victor Emanuel II. Construction began in 1885 and was completed in 1935. It  is the largest monument in all of Rome.

Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II...

A fountain at the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II...

Victor Emanuel II, the first King of Italy...

Not wanting to wrestle with the rail system so early into my first day, I opted for a cab from downtown back to my hotel Yeah, I'll never do that again. But I got back to the hotel in time for dinner at the restaurant, and called it a night. There are a lot of photos left to take of the many things left to see, and I need to put pen to paper to start to prioritize...

Looking Back... And Forward...

Almost six years ago, I left Portland, Oregon on what can only be described as a cross country trip of epic proportions. I spent 25 days on the road with nothing but my camera, and I covered some 5,800 miles doing it. I saw things and did things which, if I'm to be honest with myself, I will probably never see or do again.

And I'm okay with that.

You see, there's a lot out there, and I'm a big proponent of going out and finding it. But, inasmuch as that cross country drive reminded me of what we have right here within our own borders, I'm still acutely aware that there's a great big world out there, with a lot of great big open roads waiting to be traveled.

This whole mindset was reinforced last year when we went to Ireland. It was during that trip that I started to get that "travelin' jones". It was an amazing time, those seven days, and I can only surmise that Ireland has no monopoly on great things. Hence my upcoming travel plans.

Why Italy? Well, I think a better question is "Why not Italy?" From a photographer's perspective, it would be difficult to come up with a more target-rich location. From Vatican City to the Forum to the Panthenon, photo opportunities abound just in Rome. When we add the trips I'll make to Pompei, Florence and points in between, it almost boggles the mind.

But Italy is just the beginning. While I would like to make a second trip to Italy to visit Venice and points north, I don't want to do so at the expense of other locales. As it looks right now, I'll be traveling to Scotland with my daughter in May. She's a photographer and vlogger, so she already knows what she's in for. We hang out well together.

After that? Well, I'd have to refer to the bucket list. Places like Moscow, Russia to photograph Red Square, maybe? The northern lights in Longyearbyen, Norway would be a dream come true. Lisbon, Portugal would be absolutely amazing. There are always places to go and things to see. Interspersed with travel outside our borders will be some travel here at home, as well. I'm going to New York for two weeks in June, and I'm also looking at visiting an old friend and his family in Georgia; maybe in the fall.

I'm not entirely sure when it happened, but I decided that I wanted to create experiences for myself. I don't want to spend my life sitting at my desk and counting my nickels, making sure I have enough when the rent comes due (I always do, by the way!). I don't want to be lying on my deathbed regretting the fact that I'd done everything in my power to do exactly what others expected me to do. When I announced I was going on this trip to Italy, and that I was going alone, more than a few eyebrows were raised. I kinda' liked that.

This is how I see it: Don't wait. You're never going to be as young as you are right now, and traveling doesn't get any easier the older you get. Make the commitment to treat yourself well. Decide to give yourself the experiences you so richly deserve before you get too old to truly enjoy the ride.

And don't forget to take pictures. Take a lot of pictures...

Packing...

Whenever you're packing for a trip; be it an extended vacation or just a quick weekend getaway, there will inevitably come a time when you ask yourself that one question travelers have pondered since the dawn of time: "Have I packed too much?"

Generally speaking, if you feel you need to sincerely ask yourself that question, the answer is probably a resounding "yes". After all, you never want to risk forgetting something, so it's not any great leap of logic to think you might be taking a bit too much. And that's perfectly okay.

Usually.

The obvious downside of packing too much is that it's quite possible you'll run afoul of the 50lb maximum allowed by most airlines for a checked bag. If you do this, you're going to pay for it. Charges usually range from around $35 to $50, depending on the airline. And, if your fare is one which requires you to pay a fee to check your first bag, well, your suitcase could end up becoming a rather pricey commodity.

If you're flying internationally, odds are your first suitcase will be free of charge, assuming you don't over-pack and incur a fee for that. However, if you're unable to get your bag in at under 50lbs, consider a second suitcase. This will accomplish a couple of things. First, it's often less expensive to check a second bag than it is to pay the additional overweight fee for the first bag. And, depending on your fare, you may get the second bag free, as well. Second, if you have two suitcases, you can spread the weight between the two, all but guaranteeing that you don't incur the additional fee (and, if you do incur that fee with two bags, you probably are taking too much). Lastly, it gives you more room for those all important souvenirs on your return trip.

On this last point, this is when I'll suck it up and pay an additional charge for an overweight bag. I like to bring home souvenirs and gifts from my travels, and I don't want a weight consideration to keep me from doing that. I simply include the extra amount into my overall travel budget and, if I have to pay it, so be it. 

Something I've started using is something I should've been using long before now: a check list. I typed out a simple Google Doc which I can print out and check off items as I pack. It sounds simple enough and, well, it actually is. Which is exactly why you should do it. It makes no sense to risk forgetting something when ensuring you have it is so easy.

My check list is divided into two sections: what I'm packing in my suitcase and what I'm packing in my carry-on. Include everything. Bringing your laptop? Don't forget to list the power cord, as well; stuff like that. Dumb, I know, but more than once I've found myself running out to a store after arriving at my destination to find something I'd forgotten at home.

Valuables excepted, anything that you don't need until you reach your destination should go in your checked suitcase whenever possible. Airlines are getting more and more strict on what they will and won't allow as a carry-on, and even rolling "spinner" bags, which are designed for the overhead compartments, are routinely gate-checked due to space considerations.

Packing doesn't have to be difficult, and it sure doesn't need to be stressful. Approach it logically and you'll successfully avoid one of the primary causes of traveler angst...

Just One Week...

Well, seven days from right now I'll be over the Atlantic on an American Airlines Airbus A330-300 (flight AA720, seat 32E for those of you keeping score), flying out of Charlotte, North Carolina en route to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome. At this point, all the big things (hotel reservations and rental cars) are taken care of. Now it's time to take care of the little things. Forgetting about the little things can make a would-be great trip a disaster.

When traveling, the last thing you want to have happen is for your credit or debit card to be declined because your financial institution identifies your purchase of a cannoli and an espresso in Florence as "unusual activity". As obvious as this always seems after the fact, the reality is that it's not an uncommon occurrence at all. I've had this happen before, and it can be mildly embarrassing. Thankfully, though, it's easy enough to take care of this before ever leaving the ground at you home airport.

Every debit and credit card in the world has a toll free number on the back of it. Just call that number and follow the prompts to enter the dates you'll be traveling and, boom. Done.

Now, here in the good ol' U.S. of A. we have AC power that we can get to just by sticking our little two or three prong plugs into the wall socket, and pretty much everything we plug into a wall socket runs on 115 volts. Unfortunately, once you head overseas, this changes. This changes a lot. The reason it changes a lot is that, depending where you go, the wall outlets are a lot different than what we're used to here, and the plugs vary greatly from country to country. So, you'll need to not only pick up a power adapter (I actually recommend at least two of them), but you need to be sure you're buying the proper adapter for where you'll be traveling.

When we went to Ireland last year, we used these:

These worked great in Ireland but, sadly, they're not going to work in Italy. So, off I went to my local TravelPro store (where I purchased my suitcase last year) to pick up the adapters I'll need.

There are a myriad of adapters that are available and, to be honest, I can't imagine that there are any huge differences between most of them. So, I go with the Austin House brand,, which is a division of TravelPro (just in case you're looking for them online). You can find them all over, though, including Amazon.
 

One glance is all you need to see that this one is very different than what we used in Dublin:

 

Now, when it comes to luggage, there are some undeniable truths:

• One day, an airline will lose your luggage
• The airline will only lose your luggage at the start of your vacation, never the end
• That paper ID tag you got at the check-in counter will barely make it past baggage handlers
• When you do get your luggage back it'll look like elves have partied amongst your belongings.

While I've had luggage "misdirected" at times, I've always gotten it delivered within a few hours, save for one trip to Montreal where Air Canada actually sent someone to my hotel to take me shopping because my suitcase was on its way to Brazil (I got it three days later).

With regards to this, it's important that you take at least a minimum degree of care to protect your belongings. Again we turn to TravelPro and Austin House. First, name tags. While every airline offers you those cheap name tags at the ticket counter, they're absolute garbage. They're made of paper and elastic string and you'll be lucky if it makes it through to your destination.

Instead, drop a whopping $8 on a pair of sturdy ID tags:

In a post 9/11 world, everything that's going onto an airplane gets scrutinized. A lock for your luggage isn't really too much of a deterrent for even a mildly motivated thief, but it can help keep the bag closed when it's subjected to overzealous baggage handlers. If you choose to use a lock, make sure you use a TSA approved lock. You'll know right away if it is by the red diamond on the lock case.

These locks can be opened at every single security screening point in the United States and Canada, as well as many airports overseas. They can be opened by security personnel to allow for inspection of your suitcase and then locked again.

Lastly, let's discuss cash.I like cash. I like cash a lot. But you have to be careful when exchanging it overseas, because you want to get the best conversion rate possible while being as safe as possible.

Right now (11:12pm EST on April 2, 2019, the current rate is, according to XE.com, $1 (US) to €.8912. So, if I exchange exchanged $1,000 (US) I could expect to get €891.20. But that's not really how it works. You see, this doesn't take into account any service fee or commission you might pay to whoever is exchanging your cash. It's usually a small amount, but it can take you by surprise when you expect €891.20 but only actually receive €827.90 instead.

AAA offers a service called AAA Travel Money and it works like this: You go to the AAA website (you need to be a member and, by the way, why aren't you?) and navigate your way to the Travel Money site, which is actually operated by Travelex. You simply enter either the amount you want to exchange or the amount of the foreign currency you want, pay via credit card, and the money is delivered to you the next day (signature required, of course). You can order your money as far as 21 days out from your tip, and you can even have it placed on a Travelex money card. Not being familiar with their money card, I'm opting for the cash. I know I'll probably exchange more at some point while I'm in Italy, but it'll be nice to have cash on hand.

If you're going to be renting a car, check to see if the country (or countries) in which you'll be driving that car require you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). In many countries your driver's license and passport are sufficient. In others, however (like Italy) you need to have one, and it's only valid when presented with your driver's license. The car rental agency may never ask you for it. If you're asked for it by a police officer, though, you'd better have it or you risk what could be a heavy fine.

I'm worldwide, baby...

All that said, I haven't yet fully determined the purpose of it. I didn't have to take any type of test to get mine. Tripsavvy says that it translates your license into different languages, but I don't know how it would do that. I just had to pay $20, get my picture taken and now I'm legit. Only two agencies in the United States issue these permits: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. If you try to acquire an IDP through any other agency or outlet, it's a scam.

Lastly, don't forget your passport. I know this is probably the most obvious thing to remember, but that's also why it's so often forgotten. If you have a connecting flight here in the States, you'll get there an no further. Also, check the expiration date. Passports are good for a period of ten years, but you'll often be denied entry into a foreign country if your passport expires within six months of your arrival.

There are, of course, numerous other "little things" that need to be thought about and addressed, but these are the ones which I think are pretty important to keep at the forefront of your mind while you're making those final travel preparations.

Oh, and it's after midnight. T-minus 6...

Getting There And Being There...

To say I'm anxious to get my trip started would be an understatement.

And, without question, I'm far more interested in being there than I am in getting there. Let's face it, traveling ain't what it used to be.

The first time I ever stepped foot on a plane my Mom, brother Greg and my Grandmother were flying from LaGuardia in New York to Orlando, Florida. Flying was different then. Back then, we dressed properly when we traveled. We wore button down shirts and shoes as opposed to t-shirts and sneakers. Flying was an occasion, and we treated it like one.

Nowadays, though, things are much different. It's commonplace now to see people traveling in sweats, yoga pants (sometimes a fine idea, other times not so much); Hell, I've even seen people traveling in pajamas. Where we once used to dress up, now it's become the norm to dress down.

How we travel has certainly changed. Websites like Travelocity, Expedia, and a host of others allow us to be our own travel agent. For Italy, I booked my flight, hotel and rental car all at the same time. If I were traveling 40 years ago, that would've taken three different phone calls, and all of them would've been made by a travel agent.

Navigating through airports can be a bit of a hassle, as well. I'm going to be flying from Jacksonville to Charlotte, where I'll spend about three hours waiting on my flight to Rome. And, undoubtedly, when it comes time to board it'll be like a cattle drive. It's one of those undeniable realities about flying in the 21st century. I've discovered a way to mitigate the angst, though. These days, military personnel are usually invited to board early. Well, after 20 years of active duty, I have my retired ID card. I flash that and they let me board early. Yes, I'm well aware that this is something usually reserved for active duty personnel, but I'll often give it a shot. The worst that'll happen is they tell me I can't board early but, in reality, they never check the ID and I've never been denied early boarding.

My flight leaves Charlotte at around 6:20pm, and it's about a 9-1/2 hour flight. As I did for the trip to Ireland last year, I booked aisle seats for all my flights. I can stretch out a bit more than I can at the window, and I hate bothering people if I have to get up to use the restroom. Also, one of the nice thing about these overseas flights is that on board meals, while perhaps not considered "fine dining", are served gratis.

I should be landing in Rome, hopefully fed and rested, around 9:45am local time.

And then the fun begins...

Two Weeks Out...

Two weeks from tomorrow, I'll be boarding a plane to Rome.

I'm excited, of course. I've never done this kind of trip by myself. Last year, we did a family trip to Ireland. Six years ago I embarked on an epic cross-country drive which took me 25 days and covered over 5,800 miles, en route to a job in Pennsylvania.

But this is the first time I'll be doing a solo photo excursion with no end game; not to mention a solo photo excursion overseas. I've got a finite amount of time to see and photograph as much of Italy as I can.

Eight days.

I fly out of Jacksonville the night of April 9th. I'll arrive in Rome the morning of April 10th. I'll be renting a car, but will likely leave that at the hotel while I explore Rome. If I can manage some sleep on the flight from Charlotte to Rome I'll venture out a bit the day I arrive, sans camera (or maybe we the G7X MKII), and try to get the lay of the land for my next two days.

After the first full two days, I'll head south to the Amalfi Coast and Pompei. I may or may not spend the night on the Amalfi Coast. I really want to shoot there at night, and it might be just a bit too far to do that and drive the (from what I'm told) somewhat treacherous Italian roads at night. One of the remaining days will be spent over on the Adriatic, and I'm also hoping to get up to Florence. Hey, I've got over 350gb of memory just itching to be abused. If I can cover Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast during this trip I'll chalk it up as a huge photographic win. 

I'm shooting a buddy's band on April 4th, and then I think I'll pack up the gear and start making meaningful preps to head east.

Way east...

Three Weeks Out...

I find myself at that point in my Italy preparations when there's not much for me to do right now.

I'm the type of person who counts down to a trip like this by using the number of obligations I have between now and the time I leave. I've got four photo shoots (potentially five). I've got a party to throw for my brother's birthday. I have a concert to go to. And, as much as I want to do all of those things, part of me would leave for Rome tomorrow if I could.

So, as there's nothing much to do right now, naturally this is that time when things can get dangerous.

The downside of going to Italy by myself is that I won't have anyone to take photos of me in front of Trevi Fountain or in St. Peter's Square. And, having seen "National Lampoon's European Vacation", I know better than to ask a local to do it for me:

What I've learned, relatively recently, is that online shopping is simply the best way to go nowadays, especially when you're shopping for things you may not ordinarily feel inclined to buy.

Like this thing:

Amazon Prime, you see, is a wondrous thing, I've found. That means that I'm going to have this in my hot little hands this Thursday. But it's not just a selfie-stick. It also works as a tripod and comes with a remote. This way, photos may actually look like they were taken by some local who otherwise may have run off with my gear.

And, hey, it's a professional selfie-stick, so there ya' go.

I wish it collapsed a bit smaller than it does (it compacts to only 19"), but I'll pack it in my suitcase for my flights and strap it to the outside of my camera bag when I want to take it with me.

I can't wait to see what silly nonsense I end up buying tomorrow...