NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Future NG Events - and Location Reveries => Topic started by: Bjørn Rørslett on March 31, 2016, 10:35:24
-
As a spin-off from the thread initiated by member 'elsid', I'm putting Crete up as a candidate for an NG Event in spring of 2017. Perhaps March or early April, depending on what climate conditions are most conducive to non-locals.
Comments and suggestions are most welcome.
-
Sounds like a great idea ;) Weather should be nice at that time of the year 8)
-
Wonderful idea! I've been to Crete (only the Chania part) it was undoubtedly the best part during my Greece trip. It's a beautiful island and people are extremely nice, very welcoming and heart warming.
March/April aren't high season, so accommodation, food, airfare everything is cheaper. Moderately warm weather with occasional overcast sky. Water during those months can be little cold for swim (at least for someone who comes from tropical weather). :)
-
Humm... what an attractive idea.
I went to western Crete with my wife in 2010 and loved it, there were still so many things left to do at the end of our brief stay...
Not so interested in the flowers but there are sea, gorges and mountains to explore.
It seems a little difficult to "sell" it to my wife though, but will think seriously about it.
-
Been to Crete only once myself and that was in the late autumn. Few flowers at that time plus must be close to 30 years for my last visit. However, impressions of landscapes, villages, nice small restaurants, ancient architecture and sculptures, friendly people, and so on still linger in my mind.
The hard-core version of this suggestion is of course starting in Athens, go by train to Piraeus, then hop onboard one of the many coastal liners to eventually arrive to Crete. Or abandon ship on any of the small islands that are dotted all over the Aegean Sea. I did a similar trip with one of the early wives in the late '70s.
-
I have started reverse counting, looking forward to the day you will come to Greece. I have been to Crete twice. In 1981 and last week.
The island is beautiful and covers many interests. The western half is mountainous, scenic, with many gorges, etc. I agree with Anirban and would propose April 1-15 as the time interval for the NG come-together. The ships for Crete leave the port of Piraeus around 21:00 and arrive at the
port of destination 06:00-06:30. The ship does not stop at other islands (so we will not lose Bjorn). I suggest Chania as the place to stay.
Guys, you are in for a treat. I will be glad to help anyway I can. Early planning for booking ship tickets, hotel, etc is necessary.
For the members that live in northern countries and are used to cold weather, bring your bathing trunks. You will not be able to resist the color
and the temperature of the sea water.
-
Great news.
Having a local organiser is a tremendous asset for such NG Events.
I suggest we make Crete as the official NG venue for the spring event in 2017.
-
That sounds very attractive ;)
-
I agree. It seems very tempting. Hopefully I will be able to participate if I am able to be granted a leave of abcense from work and domestic duties ::)
-
Børge: you have nearly a year of convincing your SigOther this is a great idea. Or bring her with you.
-
The last suggestion might do the trick 8)
-
Easter Sunday 2017 (both Latin and Greek Orthodox) is on 16 April.
Implications include demand for flights from Northern Europe, Greek and foreign demand for accommodation, family commitments which may limit some people's availability, and the chance of observing and participating in Cretan Easter festivals.
The last of these is particularly attractive to me.
As for the overnight ferry from Piraeus, I have done that several times. Uncomfortable, slow and boring. Did I say uncomfortable? I recommend a direct flight.
-
We could agree on a fixed starting point and location on Crete and let the participants decide how to get there.
A ferry ride with other NG members could turn into an event of its own.
-
It is indeed uncomfortable if you stay inside. I have very good memories of the 4 nights I spent on this ferry, with the deck only cheapest ticket , but I was much younger and it was end of the 70ties. I agree with Bjørn that a ferry ride with other members would be worth living. I would immediately join it. Not sure of the freshness level on the next day though.
-
As I am a new member and have no experience/knowledge what a come-together is like, let me touch some points (refering to the 2017 event)
1. What is the main purpose of the event. Just photography or photography and other things
2. What will be the size of the group (approximately)
3. How will the group go to the intended places for photography.
4. what will be photographed? flowers, birds, animal, landscape, people.
5. Is the group to go aroung as one body or different members will go to different places.
Could you, please, give me some idea, so I can propose some ways of action.
Let me tell you about my last trip. It was organized by the Greek Ornithology Society (member of Birdlife International). 45 people in the group. Some photographers (one professional) and mostly birdwatchers. When we disembarked, a bus was waiting for us. We did not go to the hotel until the end of the day's planned activities. We headed straight to the entrance of the Samaria gorge. We split in 2 groups (with 2 guides) due to different physical condition of the people, and we went up 2 different mountain paths. Some people, very few,just went for coffee. We reunited at the time agreed and went for lunch. All 3 days we spent there the group was moving in one body with the bus, with the help of a couple of local guides. I run out of space. I will come back later tonight. The trip with the boat is recommeded. Sea birds under the boat's lights.
-
1. What is the main purpose of the event. Just photography or photography and other things
Comradeship, exchange of knowledge and gear, enjoying the local cuisines and yes also photography :)
2. What will be the size of the group (approximately)
On average somewhere between 10 and 20
3. How will the group go to the intended places for photography.
Usually by car
4. what will be photographed? flowers, birds, animal, landscape, people.
What ever presents them selves, some will shoot flowers for hours while other move on to other things to shoot.
5. Is the group to go aroung as one body or different members will go to different places.
Depends, some days the whole group goes out and on other days splinter groups chase different goals.
So in other words a pretty flexible setup is needed ;D
Love the idea btw, never had the fortune to visit Greece so I am definitely interested.
-
The Scotland event comprises about 20 persons. Earlier Events have been smaller, perhaps just 10 (rattling numbers off my head, must consult other parties to come up with more exact figures).
NG members are individualistic and probably never will act, or relocate, as a single coherent group. The typical solution is groups of 2-4 persons sharing a rental car and exploring the locations around the main site. Either working towards a general common target or according to their own plans. People shoot virtually everything under the sun and then some.
We tend to aggregate in the evenings for talks about the day's activities and share photo experiences. Some take the opportunity to borrow gear from other members for testing. some times we run a 'chipping' shop. and so on. Everything is informal and enjoyable.
Thus an accommodation facility with a room big enough to gather all people at once is ideal. No need for luxury otherwise although decent wi-fi & internet access would be desirable.
By booking in advance it is usually possible to get a good price. Visiting in the off season might help towards the same goal.
If you read through the current thread(s) on the upcoming Scottish Event you'll get a good grasp of what such a come-together entails.
-
OK guys, I get the spirit of it. A bunch of young (at heart) tameless males will do their thing.
If you agree I could try to book the hotel for the whole group, once we have the final number of participants. I might be able to negotiate a better price as long as our stay is not during Easter. Prices go up on high season, but also on holidays and Easter is the biggest holiday in Greece (plus the foreign tourists). I would propose the week April 2-9. The hotel I stayed in Chania would fit. It has wifi, so we can access the web and a buffet breakfast. The rooms are not particularly big for 20 people, but there is sitting space near the reception. I will try to locate other hotels near the area, which is a 5 minute walk from the old port of Chania. The sooner we have the number of participants the better. I will try to call the Cretan who was our guide and lives in Chania, and get some info about places that are worth visiting, (you can do the same on the net).
The ships for Crete have nice 2 and 4 bed cabins. we can sleep during the night comfortably. Hertz has offices in Chania, early booking is wise.
Let me know if I can help in any other way. I am about to create a new thread with pictures from the port of Chania.
-
Everything is a lot more enjoyable with less tourists around :)
-
I agree with you Jan 100%. That is why I never go on vacation in Greece during high season or holidays.
-
There are flights from the UK direct to Chania. Assuming I am able to come along, this will be my route.
-
Direct connection Oslo to Chania is limited in the off season. But probably easy to go through some of the main hubs to get there.
-
Interesting for sure.
ElSid: You're in for a treat, that's for sure. These come-togethers are awesome and I'm very envy of the people soon gathering in Scotland!
-
Never been to Greece. Yet I try to avoid air traffic due to environmental considerations.....
It is ten days by bicycle to Greece and ten days back. Currently there is no war going on on the track.
Only trouble at the borders if you are non European.
A lot can happen in one year.
May I decide later ... say by christmas?
-
Frank: there is plenty of time to consider. No sign-up list has yet been posted.
Cycling through continental Europe? You'll be fit as a fiddle when you eventually arrive, if not a big truck gets you first :(
-
What about travel by train? much less pedalling and time to read and contemplate. Or process backlogged files.
-
Train? Maybe. Costs 5 times the airfare. Or Bus? Plenty of shooting opportonities on the way....
-
Frank, isn't there a supplement that you can pay with your plane ticket for the reduction of C02 emissions?
The money should go to various projects like planting trees in Finland...
-
Buy a Tesla?
-
Just started looking at travel options.
Seems that Norwegian are flying directly to Charnia from Copenhagen in April, and the prices are low (with early reservations I assume).
/Johan
-
I actively dislike flying 'Norwegian', however, might not have much of a choice unless there are alternatives.
Booking at a very early stage is always preferable. You get the lowest prices.