First GTG in Southern Africa

+1

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

Getting to spend time with other forum members is one of the great pleasures of participating in this community! I continue to be appreciative of the unique, and genuinely nice people I have met here. Congratulations on your most excellent GTG, Jeronimo!

Thanks, Jim! This is truly a great community.

Thanks, Bill! I subscribe that.

What a wonderful story. It's great you finally met. I still remember a few posts where you discovered that you had so much in common. As others have also written, these GTG's are really special and make this Forum even more fun to participate in.

Kind regards,

Clemens

What an amazing story of forum friendship. A great testament to our community spirit.

Wonderful to see! I had a heads up that Antonio was heading out to "the old country" and my jeleousy was instantaneous! I've last been back in Inhabane around 2 years ago - far too long. How I miss the friendly locals, great nature and always smiling kids :-)

Great you guys could get together and enjoy the friendship and watch talk.

Jeronimo,

Thanks for the report and photos. It was a great gtg. Love to see the smiling faces of you guys.

Thanks for sharing Jeronimo. Great GTG.

It is simply great how this forum connects people around the world.

Thanks, Clemens!

This forum creates what I feel is a truly out of the ordinary community.

Thanks Andrew, thumbs up!

Thanks, Mark! Antonio actually mentioned you in our conversations, whenever you drop by these surroundings please let me know!

Thanks, Felix. We were having fun.

Absolutely Giovanni, I usually feel very jealous of you guys around Europe having GTGs all the time!

Jeronimo,

I'm quite jealous of the GTG you had down there. I lived in those parts for few years a while back. Inhambane/Tofo is a beautiful area. I wish I had the patience to go up to Vilanculos. The roads at the time made it an 8-hour journey from Tofo. I bet it still takes that long.

Anyway...to IWC talk. How do those leather straps handle the humidity and heat of Southern Africa? Mine won't last in Vietnam.

Todd

Hi Todd,

Actually nowadays the road is much better, one can "easily" go from Maputo to Vilanculos in around 7 hours, which is a great improvement. You just have to be concerned with "chapa" drivers doing stunts, truck drivers going crazy and drunkards falling into the road... So it's still rather an adventure and when you finally get there you're a mess! :-)
I avoid leather straps as much as possible, humidity here is murder for them, I usually prefer rubber or bracelet and save the straps for the really formal occasions. I imagine Vietnam should be even worst, never been there but from my experience in Southern China, HK and Taiwan in summertime I can guess you feel like you're inside an aquarius!

Cheers!

Hi Jerónimo, it was a pleasure meeting you, and your lovely family, and to return to my old stumping grounds from the 1970s.
The stay was much too short, circa 48 hours, the flight time too long, 22 hours, but it was well worthy it. We may do it again next year. :-)
Stay well.

Jeronimo,

You're right indeed - Vietnam is sweltering! The leather strap will be used in winter only. Fortunately, Northern Vietnam has seasons. I don't know if I could handle it if it was warm all year round.

I also was fortunate to live in the highveld in South Africa before. It never quite got down to zero degrees Celsius in the winter, but close. Unfortunately, no IWC on the wrist then. I had a Joseph Abboud (fashion watch). Actually, it was stolen in Mozambique.

Todd

...Actually, it was stolen in Mozambique.
Todd.

Hi Todd,
Many things have been stolen in Moçambique, since the mid/late 1970s. Petty, albeit dangerous, thieves are currently stealing watches and other consumer goods, while then the robbery was institutionalized and more encompassing.

Sounds like a place for a Timex boutique. LOL

The pleasure was ours, António!
Good that next year is just around the corner. ;-)

Todd, most of my watch collection along with several other not less important things were robbed three years ago... I know the feeling!

Don't get me wrong, Moçambique is a beautiful country. Vasco da Gama called it "Terra da boa gente" or Land of the good people" when he passed by on his way to India in the late XV century. This is still valid today, the former and current bad apples notwithsanding.

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Sounds like a place for a Timex boutique. LOL[/QUOTE]

Alan, I don't think even those would be safe... ;-)