Travel light

As the travel season is again upon us, I want to re post my thoughts on this subject.
 As you can tell from my photos, you realize that I have traveled extensively. I began with carrying two cameras with multiple formats and over 100 rolls of film, both color slides, and Black and white in 135 and 120 formats and have now realized the wisdom of traveling light. As I peruse the many photo sites and blogs, the fora always are replete with questions as to what kind of equipment to take on trips. Most replies, probably from people who have never traveled, advice to take a full complement of lenses. The person asking usually lists all the equipment that he own [trying to impress] and his typical question usually goes like this: I will be going to Paris in July what camera and lenses should I take. If this is a Canon forum, the replies will usually go like this: Take the 1DS II with the 24-105 F4 L and your 70-200 F2.8 L and also take your 16-35 F2,8 L. And do not forget your 50mm F1.4 prime . This is a ridiculous reply ignores the fact that the weight of this combination is way more that is allowed as carry on these days. Such a combination, with another camera and flash equipment would be recommendable to a pro on assignment but is totally ridiculous for a tourist. Besides the fact that there are serious security concerns these days that did not exist in the past, taking all this equipment will spoil your vacation.
It will get in the way of having a good time. A lighter camera with only the 24-1-5 f4 L would make more sense but this also can create problems. This past April I took my Canon 5D to Italy with only the 24-105 f4 L. I found it too obtrusive and I hardly used it. Too big, too noticeable. The whole idea of a trip is to have a good time, to enjoy the feeling of a place and savor it's foods and other delicacies. Taking along all this equipment can only get in the way. Fumbling in your bag to change lenses and constantly changing lenses  gets tedious; not to mention that you must take all the equipment with you when you leave your hotel.
With so many great small cameras around who needs a large DSLR when one is on vacation.
In 2008, I took the G-9 In may and August to Italy, In 2009, I took the fabulous Panasonic LX-3 but my daughter commandeered it. I will take a Canon G-10 to Italy in late July. When I return, I will give it to one of my sons who needs it for his real estate business. I will travel light and have no worry about cameras. After all who needs to take photos when one can eat all that great food.
Have a wonderful trip; do not worry too much about the photos. You will still take great pictures,