camera gear and pickpockets in Barcelona
Sep 18th, 2011, 11:27 AM
#121
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easytraveler,
Sounds great. I will look into the Rick Steves BP next trip.
Danon you are probably right I should start a scott vest thread. I am sure people would be interested. I will do that when I come back and this way I will have first hand experiences. How does that sound? Maybe title it the lightest and hopefully one of the safest ways to carry items or something like that.
6ABC
Sounds great. I will look into the Rick Steves BP next trip.
Danon you are probably right I should start a scott vest thread. I am sure people would be interested. I will do that when I come back and this way I will have first hand experiences. How does that sound? Maybe title it the lightest and hopefully one of the safest ways to carry items or something like that.
6ABC
Sep 18th, 2011, 11:46 AM
#122
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Ther are often threads posted about what to wear :
comfortable shoes
how to blend in
appropriate for the Opera
are jeans o.k.
and alike.
A thread about comfortable, useful( for some travelers) clothing may attract more interest than an
older thread with a different heading.
comfortable shoes
how to blend in
appropriate for the Opera
are jeans o.k.
and alike.
A thread about comfortable, useful( for some travelers) clothing may attract more interest than an
older thread with a different heading.
Sep 20th, 2011, 07:05 PM
#124
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10 days and counting till I try my new Scott Vest....Leaving Oct. 1....leaving fear of pickpocketing behind....I am armed with information and a new vest 
....bringing the Nikon and the hiking boots. Let anyone try to take either and I will blow my big orange whistle that I carry when we hike...all kidding aside thanks everyone for all the posts. This has been interesting and I have learned a lot. Thanks to sites like this I explored a topic that I was unaware of how widespread it was in Spain.
Be safe to all who travel wherever you go. Most of all have fun and bring back wonderful memories.
6abc
....bringing the Nikon and the hiking boots. Let anyone try to take either and I will blow my big orange whistle that I carry when we hike...all kidding aside thanks everyone for all the posts. This has been interesting and I have learned a lot. Thanks to sites like this I explored a topic that I was unaware of how widespread it was in Spain.Be safe to all who travel wherever you go. Most of all have fun and bring back wonderful memories.
6abc
Sep 21st, 2011, 03:00 PM
#125
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NEW FLASH if any one is still reading this post. Soctts Vest is having a 40% sale off on certain items. They were great. I had paid $100 for the vests and was going to return them and repurchase but the just gave me the $40 back. Only $60 for the vests right now. Great deal.
Oct 16th, 2011, 02:44 PM
#126
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For anyone who is interested.....Just returned from Spain last night. Wanted to do a follow up post to this original post.
We did buy Scott vests with all the pockets to help protect and carry our items. Not saying that they were a waste but we only wore them on the trip over. After that they stayed in the suitcase. Even though we got the lightweight ones they were extremely hot and heavy. The temps in Catalonia Spain were extremely high for this time of year. 85 and up. We experienced 95 degree temps while hiking the coast. Would I advise buying them now that we have tried them. No...unless you want to use it for warmth and you are carrying a lot of things that you want to keep handy.
I did buy a smaller camera the day before I left. I got the Canon G12. So glad I did....I wore it tucked under my arm the entire trip and got some wonderful shots with it. Almost as good as my big Nikon....For theft avoidance and ease of picture taking and the fact it was so lightweight I would definitely advise small camera equipment for a trip to a place where the pickpocketing is an issue.
And YES we did get attacked....or I should say my husband did. After much nagging from me and advise from people who live in Catalonia he kept his wallet in his front pocket which was very deep because they were hiking pants and all his other pockets had velcro on them.
So here is how it happened in the Barcelona subway. We were on our last leg of our days excursion. We were on our way back to our hotel and getting on our last subway ride. We had been sitting on a bench and I was taking some photos of the subways and the people. Our train arrived I got in and turned around and saw my husband caught at the door in a crowd of people and then I heard an old women start to yell and I thought she was yelling at me for taking pictures and asking me for money. "Money" was the only word I understood. There was a lot of commotions...my husband finally pushed his way through the group of guys that had surrounded him at the doors entrance. They kept pointing up at a light and wanted him to look up but he just pushed his way through to get on to the train.
It wasn't until the doors closed and the boys ran off the train that we realized what happened. And the women kept trying to tell me they were pickpocketers and everyone was just shaking their heads in disgust at the pickpocket situation. I kept thanking the women and she kept nodding.
Nothing was taken...but even though we were on alert it happened so fast that we did not know it was happening.
So there it is....will post a trip report in a few days.
We did buy Scott vests with all the pockets to help protect and carry our items. Not saying that they were a waste but we only wore them on the trip over. After that they stayed in the suitcase. Even though we got the lightweight ones they were extremely hot and heavy. The temps in Catalonia Spain were extremely high for this time of year. 85 and up. We experienced 95 degree temps while hiking the coast. Would I advise buying them now that we have tried them. No...unless you want to use it for warmth and you are carrying a lot of things that you want to keep handy.
I did buy a smaller camera the day before I left. I got the Canon G12. So glad I did....I wore it tucked under my arm the entire trip and got some wonderful shots with it. Almost as good as my big Nikon....For theft avoidance and ease of picture taking and the fact it was so lightweight I would definitely advise small camera equipment for a trip to a place where the pickpocketing is an issue.
And YES we did get attacked....or I should say my husband did. After much nagging from me and advise from people who live in Catalonia he kept his wallet in his front pocket which was very deep because they were hiking pants and all his other pockets had velcro on them.
So here is how it happened in the Barcelona subway. We were on our last leg of our days excursion. We were on our way back to our hotel and getting on our last subway ride. We had been sitting on a bench and I was taking some photos of the subways and the people. Our train arrived I got in and turned around and saw my husband caught at the door in a crowd of people and then I heard an old women start to yell and I thought she was yelling at me for taking pictures and asking me for money. "Money" was the only word I understood. There was a lot of commotions...my husband finally pushed his way through the group of guys that had surrounded him at the doors entrance. They kept pointing up at a light and wanted him to look up but he just pushed his way through to get on to the train.
It wasn't until the doors closed and the boys ran off the train that we realized what happened. And the women kept trying to tell me they were pickpocketers and everyone was just shaking their heads in disgust at the pickpocket situation. I kept thanking the women and she kept nodding.
Nothing was taken...but even though we were on alert it happened so fast that we did not know it was happening.
So there it is....will post a trip report in a few days.
Oct 17th, 2011, 04:53 AM
#128
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bilboburgler...it was a fantastic city...we don't usually like to do the city thing but Barcelona was amazing...and we could not believe how many people were there...and the subway system (even with the pickpocketers is just wonderful...fast, clean and very efficient...and then we returned home to Philadelphia's train system....I will not comment any further.
Oct 23rd, 2011, 06:34 PM
#129
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I didn't experience any attempts on pick pockets...then again, i didn't bring my wallet or had anything in my back pocket...the wrist strap of my digi camera was put on my shoulder, so it was well protected. i also didnt see any attempts at pickpocketing. i was in barcelona, madrid, sevilla, and granada. i went to the ramblas a couple of times at night too. i think it is a bit exaggerated.
Oct 24th, 2011, 04:59 PM
#131
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danon,
i think 6abc meant that she was taking general pictures in the subway. i did the same thing in the subway. i took pictures at the platform and also while riding the subway. i took pictures of the crowd in subway. there is nothing wrong with that.
i think 6abc meant that she was taking general pictures in the subway. i did the same thing in the subway. i took pictures at the platform and also while riding the subway. i took pictures of the crowd in subway. there is nothing wrong with that.
Oct 25th, 2011, 04:28 AM
#134
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The subway car is a closed space...
There is no point in explaining why I find it inappropriate to people who see nothing wrong with it.
I am sure the"photographers". would not take pictures in the subway car in New York or
on the bus in their home town.
There is no point in explaining why I find it inappropriate to people who see nothing wrong with it.
I am sure the"photographers". would not take pictures in the subway car in New York or
on the bus in their home town.
Oct 25th, 2011, 06:27 AM
#136
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The rules for taking photos in subways varies from system to system. I looked up Barcelona and it seems that a permit is not required but a security guard may try to stop you.
In NYC you can take pictures without a flash. But if you take photos of the equipment and tracks, someone will ask you why.
______
Maybe I am being overly crtiical, but I do not consider being pickpocketed as being attacked. Attacked to me means physical or the threat of physical violence. I was pickpocketed in Istanbul and I did not consider it an attack.
In NYC you can take pictures without a flash. But if you take photos of the equipment and tracks, someone will ask you why.
______
Maybe I am being overly crtiical, but I do not consider being pickpocketed as being attacked. Attacked to me means physical or the threat of physical violence. I was pickpocketed in Istanbul and I did not consider it an attack.
Oct 25th, 2011, 06:33 AM
#137
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i've seen tourists take photos while inside the subway cars in Melbourne. it occurs all the time to various places i visited. like Aduchamp1 said though, if you suddenly start focusing on a particular part of the subway like a track or devices, then that is suspicious, but if you just point your camera and shoot quickly and then move on, there is no problem with it. the only bad thing about taking pics in subways is that you're tipping people off about being a tourist which is not really a good thing. also, people didn't have a problem with the pics being taken. i do think you have to keep it at a minimum. maybe one or two pics while riding inside the subway car and not keep snapping away.
Oct 25th, 2011, 07:34 AM
#139
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Danon,
So if it's a great photographer, it is art, if it a tourist, it is forbidden?
http://mrod.wordpress.com/2008/05/03...y-photography/
And which one is more invasive (identifiable) of the individual:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624394481445
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623059085760
So if it's a great photographer, it is art, if it a tourist, it is forbidden?
http://mrod.wordpress.com/2008/05/03...y-photography/
And which one is more invasive (identifiable) of the individual:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624394481445
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623059085760
Oct 25th, 2011, 07:53 AM
#140
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There area many ways you identify tourists on the subway besides a camera. A couple dressed in shorts in the middle of the day below retirement age and above college age is one tip off. The anxiety in one's eye waiting fore the correct station, fanny packs (I know that makes the Brits laugh and shudder), white sneakers and blue jeans, women in sweatshirts, these are visitors much more than they are NY'ers.
And....
New York is a predominently dark haired city, so a family of blondes stands out. Europeans often have different eyeglasses and they are only ones under the age of 75 who were socks and sandals. The tourist books, maps, and conversations about the subway itself are also tip-offs.
And....
New York is a predominently dark haired city, so a family of blondes stands out. Europeans often have different eyeglasses and they are only ones under the age of 75 who were socks and sandals. The tourist books, maps, and conversations about the subway itself are also tip-offs.
