[Leica] traveling with cameras

["Francesco Sanfilippo" <fls@san.rr.com>]

Wow, Brazil does not sound like a fun place to carry around a Leica.
Amilcar, you scared me away!  I would only go down there now in a
group of at least 2 males or more.....
I have been to Bangkok, Bali, and Hong Kong with my chrome R8 and
80/1.4 hanging from my neck, after many warned me, and I caught a few
guys here and there watching the chrome glisten in the sun, but no one
ever
followed or came close to approaching me, and I am a small dude.  I was
with my fiancee who was carrying her big Nikon F5 and 85/1.4 around her
neck for 3 weeks too......it was great, we never had a problem, only
felt slightly threatened 3 times by guys in the street watching us, 2x
in BKK
and 1x in HK. Bali was total serenity, I could not imagine a thief even
being
a possibility in Bali, the people are just amazing there.  I could live
there.

Francesco



- ----- Original Message -----
From: Pablo Kolodny <salvajegrapa@interlink.com.ar>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] A little off topic: Brazil


Amilcar de Oliveira wrote:

> I live in Rio. In my opinion, the main thing is not to call attention
to
> yourself. No showy camera bags, jewelry, watches and all that. Wear
the standard
> uniform of jeans, running shoes and a T-shirt (though the T-shirt will
probably
> give you away!) and try to go around in groups. Use a discreet bag for
your
> camera and lenses and get into the habit of presetting camera controls
and
> planning your shots before you take the camera from the bag. Put the
camera back
> on the bag right after you get your shots, don't walk around with it
hanging
> from your neck - much less two cameras! I remember a discussion about
thieves on
> this or some other list: they don't know or care about camera brands.
All they
> know is that a camera brings in money and they'll grab it if they can,
no matter
> if it's a Leica or a point and shoot. The same applies here. If I were
you I'd
> bring the M (more discreet than an R. Don't worry about the red spot
because a
> Leica is very, very rarely seen here) and a P&S for shooting when you
feel you
> are in a riskier place. Use taxis and not buses for getting around.
Chances are
> that you'll have no trouble, but if you are menaced, don't try to run
or resist;
> just deliver the camera quickly. Use the same common sense you use for
shooting
> in any big city. Have your equipment insured and don't worry too much,
chances
> are you'll have no trouble  (or the insurance companies wouldn't take
your
> custom - remember insurance is really betting). Brazillians aren't
touchy about
> being photographed. Don't worry too much and enjoy your stay. It's
winter now,
> meaning that temperatures may go from from 19 to 32 C, depending on
what the
> argentinian weather throws at us.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Amilcar
> >From Rio
>

Amilcar, does Brazilian weather depends so strongly on the argentinian
weather ?
I did not know that!
By the way, Buenos Aires, the city where I live in, is safer than you
wrote about
Rio.
But, we´re following the Rio style. Don´t worry! It seems...

Saudois

Paulo Garoto Porteño.