Unbelievably, it’s been 12 years since I’ve been to Europe.  It seems like only yesterday that I was making trips across the pond at least once a year for watch related events.  But the last time I was in Europe was in the Fall of 2013 on a pleasure trip.  Why so long since returning?  Well, the biggest reason is I no longer do freelance writing/photography or own a business that regularly brings me to Europe.  And after I sold that business in 2012, we started showing our Rottweilers for a few years, which took up a lot of time.  Then for several years I was a competitive shooter, which took up a tremendous amount of time until I retired in 2022.  And since 2022 I’ve been too busy at work to take more than a long weekend away from the office.  But when a contract award we were expecting to hit in January got postponed to May, I saw an opportunity to take the first real vacation I’ve had for several years.  So, I’m headed to Europe.

I have a few different reasons for wanting to make this trip.  Firstly, with my passion for both cars and photography growing in recent years, I’d like to visit my two favorite car museums – the BMW Car Museum in Munich Germany, and the Porsche Car Museum in Stuttgart Germany.  I really enjoyed visiting both the last time I was in Germany, but I don’t feel like I did a good job of photographing in either museum.  And I think visiting both would make good video topics for my YouTube channel so I will try to get some good video footage as well.  I also see this is a good opportunity to cross a couple things off my bucket list and visit two cities in Europe I never got around to visiting on previous trips – Paris and London.  Both are top tourist destinations within Europe that most Americans visit before going anywhere else in Europe.  But again, due to the nature of the work that I used to do in the luxury watch industry that brought me to Europe, I normally spent the most of my time in Switzerland and Germany.  So my plan is to spend a day in Munich, a day in Stuttgart, and then spend the remainder of my week split between Paris and London sightseeing and taking photos.  Another big motivation for the trip is the fact that I turn “double nickels” in April.  So this trip is one part gift to myself, and another part doing some things while I can still do them enjoyably (I ain’t gettin’ any younger…).  Am I going to want to walk all day in European cities when I’m 60 +?  I could see that being a problem.  Hopefully not but better safe than sorry.  Maybe when I’m retired I’ll be more inclined to go to Europe by cruise ship and take shorter day trips.

THE FLIGHT

Historically I’ve flown business class on my trips to Europe.  But this time out I’m going to try Delta’s Premium Select – so called “Premium Economy.”  I fly out of Dayton to Atlanta, and then on to Munich.  As I type this, there’s a whole bunch of 1st class seating open on the flight to Munich.  The upgrade price is currently $799.  If that drops to $600, I’ll upgrade for sure.

WHAT GEAR AM I BRINGING?

I’ll be flying solo for this trip – with a focus on car museums and photography, I’ll spare my friends and loved ones the pain and suffering of tagging along.  I’m planning on traveling REALLY light.  One carry-on bag with maybe four days of clothing I can have washed at one of the hotels where I’ll be staying.  I’ll also be bringing my camera backpack as a carry on, which will hold most of my photo gear and electronics:

LAPTOP
Apple M4 MacBook Pro

TABLET
Apple M4 iPad Pro 13″

CAMERAS:
Canon R5 Mark II
Fujifilm X100VI
Canon G7 X
DJI Osmo Pocket III

LENSES:
Canon RF 15-35 L f2.8
Voigtlander RF 50mm F1.0

BACKPACK
Ulanzi BP09

TRIPOD
Ulanzi F38 Travel Tripod

ACCESSORIES
SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD
K&F Concept 67mm VND+CPL filter (for the Voigtlander 50mm f1.0)
K&F Concept 82mm VND+CPL filter (for the RF 15-35-F2.8).

This list is paired down considerably from the kit I usually bring on these types of trips.  I REALLY considered not bringing my R6, but I had such a good time last year in Miami photographing with the Canon 15-35 on one body, and the Voiglander 50mm on the other, I don’t think I want to break up the band.  I normally try to avoid bringing both my MacBook Pro and my iPad.  But I’ll be spending quite a bit of time on trains traveling between cities, and will want to edit photos en route.  Backing up to my travel SSD will be easier as well.

This will be the first time I’m bringing the X100VI on a trip and quite honestly, I’ll be leaning on it pretty heavily. I think there will be several days where I’m shooting with just the X100VI, and using the G7 X when I want wider shots as it has a 35mm equivalent 20mm lens on the wide end. Heck, I can even use my iPhone 16 Pro’s .5 lens which is a 35mm equivalent 13mm if I REALLY need it wide. I just don’t think I’ll need to bring along my 15-35mm f2.8, despite the fact that it was my most often used lens on my trip to Miami last year. During the day it’s quite likely I’ll leave the Ulanzi BP09 back at the hotel, and walk around with the X100VI around my neck, and the G7 X and Pocket 3 in the interior pockets of my SCOTTeVEST Travel Vest.  You may also be wondering why in the world I’m bringing two different 50mm lenses?  The Voigtlander is a fantastic lens and easily a favorite.  It’s only weakness?  It just doesn’t produce nice star patterns on light sources at night. Fortunately the Canon RF 15-35 L f2.8 does.  I’ll be doing a LOT of night shoots and will definitely want that capability.

It should be a great trip. I fly into Munich for a visit to the BMW Welt and BMW Museum, then I hop a train to Stuttgart for a visit to the Porsche museum, then a train to Paris for a few days of sightseeing and photographing, then another train to London for more of the same. I plan on getting video footage with the Osmo Pocket 3 inside the Welt, BMW Museum, and the Porsche Museum for videos on my YouTube Channel.  Wish me luck!