First GTG in Southern Africa

Dear All,

This was a memorable weekend... For the first time (at least that we now of) there was a GTG from forum members in Southern Africa!

Our forum member and distinguished IWC collector Antonio (Clepsydra) gave me the immense pleasure of paying me a visit here in this remote, though not forgotten, corner of the world.

We've been exchanging email correspondence frequently, found we share a few interests and as some of you may know Antonio was a commercial (and previously air force) pilot in Mozambique before and after the independence - therefore he has a strong connection with the country.

So, to cut a long story short, I've been inviting him to visit for quite awhile and he managed to convince his long time friend and TAP Air Portugal's pilot the most excellent Commander Jaime Burnay (much more charming than the "other" Commander J.B. aka 007, I assure you) to rearrange is schedule in order to bring a plane to Maputo and carry him along.

That said I found myself with this two fantastic gentlemen on Saturday night when they arrived after their long journey. Commander Jaime (not being much of a watch person himself) had the good grace to put up with all our watch talk with a smile even after a 12 hour flight, and we spent our Sunday morning going around the city and surroundings, revisiting places and recalling stories and bits of history and I can tell you it was a journey to remember.

Afterwards we picked up my wife and daughter for lunch in Hotel Polana, one the "ex libris" of Maputo and we had a very pleasant afternoon overlooking the Indian Ocean discussing watches but mostly life and everything else.

In the undying words of the brazilian poet Vinicius de Moraes - "A gente não faz amigos, reconhece-os" loosely translated into english - we don't make friends, we recognize them - never felt it so true!

Unfortunately we didn't took much pictures (we were to busy discussing things) but at least there are these:

Thank you my friends for your visit and thank you IWC Forum for being such an amazing "virtual" place that so positively influences on "reality".

For António and Jaime, Godspeed my friends! I am missing you already!

love this. great to see GTGs popping up all over the globe, and in such high frequency too.

great to see the pics and put a face to your name also Jeronimo.

Thanks, Shing! This was really very nice.

And I'm in great need of a haircut... :-)

Cheers!

That's great Jeronimo. Wonderful to see forumers getting together all over the world. Who wants to be on the planning committee for the Antarctic GTG?

One thing is for sure, one meeting with Tony is a meeting you never forget! I have no doubt it was excellent fun and a good time for every one.

Nelson

Hello Jeronimo, thank you for sharing pictures and impressions from your GTG in the Tropic of capricorn. Knowing Antonio, it must have been a good entertainment value besides the watch themes. :-)

Kind regards

Jeronimo, I bet Antonio has a lot to share. It's always fun talking to him and hearing his thoughts. Wonderful gtg.

fantastic... really great to see!

regards,
thang

Thanks, David! Would love to be on that committee, count me in! ;-)

Indeed it was, Nelson. We are already planning another one!

Thanks Hajo, it absolutely was. ;-)

Yes it was KS, thanks. Antonio makes great company and it's particularly interesting hearing about his adventures and misadventures around here in the 70's.

Thanks, Thang!

Jeronimo,

Thanks for posting, as has been said, it is always good to put a picture with a name. As for Antonio, he is a one great interesting guy. Met him at SIHH this past January and still remember our political discussion over breakfast.

Regards,
Kevin

It is posts like this that make this Forum come alive. Always fun talking watches with like minded friends in far flung places.

Thanks, Kevin. Its really my pleasure to share with all of you.

Absolutely, Alan. It really is this type of thing that transforms this Forum into such a special place. And it's particularly nice for me, since I spend most of my time out here "off the beaten path".

+1

I absolutely agree with that assessment. Tony is one of a kind. In a very nice way.