As promised, this is my “back-to-school” essay on how I spent my Summer vacation. It actually isn't too much about watches, since in most places there weren't many watch stores, and those that existed mostly sold Citizen as their high-end brand.
I started out in Rome, and had a terrific dinner at this Seafood restaurant.
As you can see, it looks like something out of La Dolce Vita –and I regretted not having a Portofino chrono with mesh bracelet with me!
Next day, we got on a cruise ship in Civitavecchia, Rome's port about an hour north of the city. With my Galapagos Aquatimer I was all set to go:
In the morning I woke up to a beautiful Amalfi coast, outside of Sorrento:
On many other days, sunrise over the water also looked liked this.
The following day we landed at Cantania, Sicily. Not a favorite place but the market was interesting:
The next day we visited Dubrovnik, Croatia. Still, not many watches at all but what an intriguing place:
Then came Kotor, Montenegro. A walled city, surrounded by a moat and with a port. It wasn't as crowded as Dubrovnik but really is becoming a hot spot to visit.
We then headed southeast and ended up in Brindisi, Italy. Again, not a highlight but a man approached us on a bicycle, with a dog in his front basket, and told us not to miss the Museum. He was right –my wife Kay and I tried to buy this statute, but the Museum wouldn't budge:
Finally, finally, we made it to the Greek Islands....the ones in the Ionean Sea which are not as well known as Mykonos or Santorini. First was Corfu, and then Cephalonia –a really beautiful place:
One of my other interests is wine, so of course we visited a winery:
I did whatever was possible to help the Greek economy ;)
Another favorite island (actually a peninsula) was Monemvasia, with a medieval wall-town on the top of a hill:
After stopping in Naplion, which we also enjoyed, we made it to Athens. Athens has a proud ancient history and wonderful people, but we were saddened to see all the signs of a severe economic depression. Stores were shuddered and graffiti was everywhere.
Still, dining with a view of the Parthenon was special:
and going there was even more special:
and I decided that I should join in Guard duty at the tomb of the unknown soldier:
I was secretly hoping that my AT could become a military watch ;)
But perhaps the real highlight of our visit to Athens was having dinner with Forum member and avid IWC fan Dimitris, and his lovely wife Maro:
Not many watches, but the Aquatimer served admirably. It was inconspicuous enough not to create undue attention, durable enough to survive everywhere, and good enough for getting wet in the pool and the sea. The Portuguese Pure Classic was seldom worn, but worked well on formal nights on the ship.
En route home we stayed overnight in London, where a small group of collectors were kind enough to meet up at 8 a.m. so we could get together. You can read that report at www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/58688/?page=1#post_420592
Great fun...special thanks to Dimitris, Maro, Thang, Greg and Ralph.
