On Watches, Friendships, Travel, and Stereo BPs. Amsterdam GTG.

Thank you for the wonderful report and pictures Bill. I am very happy that you also took a decent shot of the audible determination of the different BP's. This one does better credit to the watches.

One thing scared me a bit. In general, I take all the pictures at home so I am never in them. While looking at yours and the others too, I really notice how BALD I am becoming!

@Michael: I don't know of a reasonably haute cuisine typical Dutch meal. Most typical Dutch meals are composed of mashed potatoes with different kinds of vegetables and a piece of porc sausage or something similar. Just stick to the Dutch cheese and maybe some beer and other alcoholic beverages (kruidenbitter, jenever) and have a nice foreign main dish.

If any Dutch member disagrees, please correct me and maybe I will learn something as well!

Kind regards,

Clemens

MF, a Dutch meal....as in Dutch cuisine?

Well, whilst our Belgium neighbors would claim that the Dutch do not have such a thing as Dutch Food. I can argue differently, and after living here for more than 25 years, I'm convinced that it's a close tie between boiled potatoes (which the Dutch have perfected and can dish up any one of 37 different varieties!) and this delicacy.

Hollandse Nieuwe - Maatjes Haring

typically it gets presented up like this.

By ladies like this.

And get's eaten like this.

Now, as much as I like the stuff (and I do).... I really could not envisage subjecting our foreign guests to such delicacies! And besides, can you imagine the damage done if some of that herring oil dripped down onto Bill's nice new Santoni strap on his PPC while Bill tried to master the art of eating Dutch Herrings?

Bill - that's a great photo essay. I remember visiting Amsterdam a few years back and this makes me want to return... or at least go on another o/s holiday!

It's been said before, but it is really apparent that the real value of the forum is enabling these get togethers of like minded people.

Bendy and I have tried for one down here, but our schedules didn't line up. However, if anybody makes it to our antipodean shores, we will surely put up an Aussie GTG to be remembered:-)

Mark,

I gotta try that next time I am in Amsterdam. Hope I don't choke!

Great report, Bill and amazing photos! Thanks for taking us along, your post complemented to perfection the previous ones on the Amsterdam GTG.

Thanks for the great photos Bill. It was a big pleasure meeting you. You should give us more often a good reason for a GTG;-)

... and I am really pleased that my 500th post is related to our GTG

Wonderful report Bill. The first half brought back great memories of our trip to Amsterdam last Fall. It's my favorite of the places we've visited in Europe. The second half ably demonstrates what this forum is all about. Kudos to all of the attendees, particularly the wives for putting up with this insane hobby.

David, we should always appreciate our ladies and we do.

Having said that, I'm not so sure it's always about them "putting up with our insane hobby". Why, simply this....

...the wives in the room were wearing these two watches!

Ref. 3531 Baby Portuguese with sapphire case back :

Both exquisitely beautiful watches with a diameter of 35mm and thickness of 8mm.

And if my wife had been there, then she would probably have been wearing this around her neck on a nice chain.

IWC Cal.64 Half Hunter Savonette

Movement diameter of 26.3mm and a thickness of 4.1mm.

Mark,
I agree with David. I suspect that if Mrs.L had been there, she would more likely be thinking of strangling you with that nice chain.
Just kidding.....