http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/list.php?81Thu, 23 May 2013 08:24:51 -0400 Phorum 5.2.11 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,450498,450498#msg-450498 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,450498,450498#msg-450498A beautiful day on the Maine coast today. Fall comes to Maine like clockwork. Summers are fleeting. At this time of year every warm sunny day counts, as we know winter is coming.

Today I had the privilege and pleasure to get together with a fellow WIS in a beautiful setting, on a beautiful day. 12 miles down one of the many winding roads taken off Rt 1 often leading to idyllic locations along the jagged coast. You can see what I mean from the map. There really is no "coast road" in Maine, though one could spend a lifetime seeing the coast :-) Here is just one of these locations. Georgetown. Home to the "Five Islands Lobster Company

"




Four years ago I met our friend Carlos X. He and his wife come to Maine each summer, and we have made an effort to get together at some point during his visit. We had always said we would get together for Lobsters! Today was the day!subjectsmiley62!subjectsmiley15!

Carlos arrived with his wife Pat, and he was "double wristed" subjectsmiley65! I immediately noticed his black carbon dial Irreantum Magellan. Coincidentally, I was wearing my orange dial Irranteum Magellan. He said "you can't guess what's on the other wrist". No I couldn't.

It's a Crepas Tactico TC2 -- very nice, micro brew from Spain! Giddy-up Carlos!subjectsmiley65!



We met up about 3 pm, and we were all famished. Time to order the lobsters! Talk watches, and enjoy each others company.

And then the Lobsters arrived.





From left: my wife Betsy, Pat, Carlos X opposite & me subjectsmiley02!







The scene:





These containers in the water are chock full of succulent Maine Lobsters











Carlos brought some nice watches to view and many featuring our own Johnny T's "J-Sraps" Absolutely beautiful. Got to see JT's new Kangaroo skin 2 piece Zulu's too, and they're awesome. (JT, add more holes subjectsmiley04!)







I brought a couple I knew Carlos hadn't seen.





Carlos is scoping out the cool homes on the islands, wearing his Magellan subjectsmiley04!:



Needless to say we all had a wonderful day! We all made friends 4 years ago via PMWF and our enjoyment of the hobby. Today our friendship has superceded the hobby and that's what it's all about. We have all said this time & time again. It's the people!

Hope you enjoyed our GTG and I'm pleased to be able to share it with you! subjectsmiley67! & subjectsmiley15!

Thanks Carlos & Pat! Betsy and I had a great day my friend! See ya next summer buddy subjectsmiley65!

I'll close with an interesting shot taken from my iPhone 4S utilizing a new "panorama" mode that came with the new IOS 6 software upgrade. Pretty subjectsmiley09!

Thanks again!

Adam

]]> Riddim Driven Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 25 Sep 2012 02:27:24 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,439286,439286#msg-439286 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,439286,439286#msg-439286
Last Wednesday on our arrival - just during the height of the rush hour - we chose to wield our way through the bushes and plants. We had been standing in the hotel limo for one hour right in front of the hotel.



Once in the room, we were curious to see how the gridlock looked from above



While my wife was attendeding a seminar, my daughter and I visited some shopping malls. I was very surprised to see the list of malls she had compiled. Complete with ratings and Chinese and Latin characters. So all we had to do is to point to the Chinese name and this way we had no problem getting around town.



At ca. 19:30, the ceiling of "The Place" turned into a huge screen. Much like the Fremont street in Las Vegas



Our next mall was the "Solana". A huge conglomerate of shops and restaurants. A bit older we assumed. And the sign at the entrance underlined our feeling.



On this Thursday not many shoppers around



Like in the West, the big franchises start to uniform the shopping experience. Wherever you go, you will find the same brands



On Friday we had a private tour guide showing us highlights of Beijing. I immediately liked the van after finding this magazine



The Forbidden City is huge and will leave a lasting impression



Since it was school vacation, a lot of students everywhere



The Forbidden City's huge dimensions allowed for some less crowded areas



At the back exit, the crowds really built up again. The hill in the background is man made! They used the material from the moats around the Forbidden City. Feng Shui demands for a mountain and a river, that is the cultural background



I was very surprised to find such a good infrastructure. The highways were wide and everything was well labeled in Chinese and English. We were traveling to Badaling, ca. 60 km North West of Beijing to visit the Great Wall



For lunch we stopped at a Jade factory with a HUGE sales room



On top of it, an equally spacious dining room



This is the head of the queue which went all the way up for another kilometer



From here it is another 20 minutes to the cable car



The Great Wall was packed with tourists. When we saw the queue for the cable car to go down, we decided not to spend too much time up here. The weather would not allow for great views anyway



The wall had been rebuilt in this section. This was a very important shield to protect the capital from aggressors from the North



On the right you can see the end of the queue to go down. After seeing that, we decided to keep our stay very short on the wall



Back in town we had a look at the Birdsnest stadium (Beijing Olympics 2008)



After that we passed the Tiananmen Square. The South Gate (at the South End of the Forbidden City) is "The Gate of Heavenly Peace"



Now it was time for some shopping and dinner. I was reassured that I brought the right phone. My Samsung Galaxy S3 did a great job on this trip. After turning the phone back on, the lock screen would automatically show two digital clocks, one for the roaming time and one for the home time. I was very pleasantly surprised by the phone's travel support



The Xidan Joy City mall features the longest escalator in the world. It goes straight up to the 6th floor


There are no pictures from Saturday. The heaviest rain since 61 years in Beijing. On this rainiest of all days, we were lucky to experience extraordinary hospitality. Trying in vain to catch a taxi in front of a shopping mall, a local spotted our situation. He drove us 11 km to our hotel. Refusing sternly to accept any money. Thanks to this man's generosity, we will always remember Beijing in a very positive way.



After the rain on Saturday, we were greated by blue skies on Sunday. It felt like being in another city



The perfect day to explore the old residential areas (called Hutong) on a pedicab (riksha, tricycle). The tricycle has a battery and a motor under the passenger seat. So the job is not that hard for the driver



We enjoyed a meandering tour around the Beijing Clock Tower. Sometimes we were amazed how our driver managed to get through. The majority of the small streets were not that crowded though



This the Beijing Clock Tower. It's not that crowded here. If you want to explore the Hutongs, start here. Tell the hotel staff to write "Beijing Clock Tower" for you in Chinese and you are good to go. I told the hotel staff the name of a small street and that did not work so well. Luckily I had my phone with Android maps. The taxi driver really liked navigating this way. He was all smiles



This was the end of our pedicab trip through residential history



On Monday it was time to catch our plane. The ceiling of the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is so high, you just have to take a picture. The airport was built for the Olympic games. And it is definitely a very exciting first impression of Beijing

Is Beijing worth a visit?
Definitely YES in my opinion. I had been working here in 1998 and I was amazed how much the city had changed since. And the construction craze seems to be still in full swing. New malls and residential buildings seem to pop up everywhere. Some travel hints:

• Avoid rush hours: 06:30 to 0900 and 16:30 to 19:30
• After 22:00 beware of pickpockets in busy areas. Wearing a backpack might not be ideal
• Always let the hotel staff write down your destination in Chinese
• Carry the hotel name in Chinese for the trip back
• There are not enough taxis during rush hour and rain. Plan your trip accordingly
• If using the Subway, be prepared to walk big distances under ground

The citizen of Beijing were very friendly. We had just been in Shanghai in April. I have to say that today's Beijing is cleaner and more attractive then Shanghai. 15 years ago, that was completely different. We will definitely come back to this great town again. And in the mean time, we hope that the city planners get some good ideas and money to make the traffic flow easier. However as a tourist, you should be able to plan your excursions to avoid traffic. And then, Beijing is definitely a very attractive travel destination.
As for visiting the Great Wall: inquire with a travel agent to visit some less frequented areas. The hotspot is the access via cable car from Badaling. The next time we will look for a different section of the wall with fewer crowds. The Ming walls stretch over 8'850 kilometers, so that should be easily possible.]]> Reto Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 30 Jul 2012 08:34:02 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,389123,389123#msg-389123 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,389123,389123#msg-389123
Been kinda absent from the forum for a couple of months. First it was because work has been Crazy Busy since November of last year then right after Thanksgiving I got sent to Switzerland on business for 3 weeks, got home exactly 5 days before Christmas luckily I did a little shopping in Europe and thank God for Amazon. I attached a few pics hope you like.

My Ride from DFW



Monday thru Friday was pretty much business but the weekends I headed out

Basel Train Station



First Stop Lucerne Switzerland















Then on to Freiburg Germany











Then on off to Colmar France







Then Back to Basel









Spent Several Evenings Here



And finally some window shopping









And I alternated between these two for the entire trip



]]> ARupard Travel Reports by PMWFersThu, 19 Jan 2012 16:51:10 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,319337,319337#msg-319337 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,319337,319337#msg-319337




The target is a little mountain called "Rigaud's Head".





A very calm place subjectsmiley11!subjectsmiley01!



What that thing? subjectsmiley02!





Approching..





Note that nice color..







At the summit!



The other good place to visit.



Sector watch is liking that place subjectsmiley02!



















Need more? Nothing more subjectsmiley09!



I think i posted a lot of pics but enough for Ricky, i hope subjectsmiley02!subjectsmiley04!]]> wodo Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 17 May 2011 06:29:39 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,315627,315627#msg-315627 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,315627,315627#msg-315627
P.S. I'll be updating this thread with new posts.

Day 01 Part 1

Day 01 Part 2

Day 01 Part 3

Day 02

Day 03

Day 04 Part 1

Day 04 Part 2 subjectsmiley73!

Day 05]]> cmoy Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 02 May 2011 11:01:06 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,289809,289809#msg-289809 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,289809,289809#msg-289809









]]> Julio Travel Reports by PMWFersSun, 20 Feb 2011 07:50:40 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,285125,285125#msg-285125 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,285125,285125#msg-285125
A few pics I managed to get ( very few indeed ), before it was not so easy to make any more pics !!!!!!!!! We had our salad and more, few drinks, subjectsmiley15! , all is fine, ...................


This is my friend , Lefteris , with me , holding a great fresh plant , nemed kolorabi ( derives from German languange) , really good in the salads you see below !!!


Here is Joseph from Germany, has been visiting Matala for more than 30 years , a good fisherman I must say and a good friend, with the Taverna owner and friend of us, Vagellis from Northern Greece , great guy and a good cook , ......subjectsmiley02!





The kolorabi plant we were saying about, just taken from the garden, refreshing , oh yes !!!!, ...... subjectsmiley02!



We call them koukia but the closest word in English is Horse Beans, delicious as a smashed form !!! subjectsmiley15!



As fresh pic as possible, a few hours before, Matala in a good winter day, the river has moved half the beach but the waves that will come next time it is bad weather will restore most of it ! We had our good time right where I took the pic from !!! Very few of us, very quiet....subjectsmiley01!




Fresh onions are always welcome , a great thing for almost any kind of kitchen ......subjectsmiley01!




One more plant we use in the salad, no idea of the English name !!!!







JOHNNY T SPECIALS !!!!!!!!!!! Peppers ! subjectsmiley15!




Potatoes feeling not so good after a few colder days !!! I still think we shall manage a satisfiying harvest ( private use ) ! subjectsmiley01!




Roses love water and sun and tolerable temperatures !



....just the salad ......









This is not illegal but almost impossible to find in the markets because the people who work where the animals are slaughtered take it at once ! It is special pieces from the neck of Lambs and also their ...testicles !!! For people who do not know about , it may look weird but , believe me it is a great gourme plate for ...few !!!subjectsmiley15!

We had these and the heads from Lambs and walnut pie from home and all is fine !
Thank you for looking here ! subjectsmiley15!subjectsmiley84! subjectsmiley65!]]> IF Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 07 Feb 2011 09:15:18 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,279554,279554#msg-279554 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,279554,279554#msg-279554



















































]]> IF Travel Reports by PMWFersSun, 23 Jan 2011 04:44:21 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,271865,271865#msg-271865 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,271865,271865#msg-271865

The detail of the re-created castle is awesome.


We, uh, were not always made to feel welcome.


.
.
.
.
We took a side trip to Cape Canaveral. First stop, the astronauts Hall of Fame.
Hey, I see Alan Shepard's Speeedmaster. Sorry, guys. It's hard to take watch photos behind glass.


NASA-issued Casio and Omega watches from a later era. The museum could not afford batteries for either.


Holy Cow! I turn the corner, and what do I see?

It's a big Speedy.


Off to Kennedy Space Center... Here's the business end of a Saturn V first stage. Built to provide 7-1/2 million pounds of thrust for 2.5 minutes. Awesome!
]]> Anonymous User Travel Reports by PMWFersSun, 02 Jan 2011 20:15:02 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,270090,270090#msg-270090 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,270090,270090#msg-270090so our very own flat reto was on a spa in Dallas TX ( BLUSH! ) but we soon decided he needed some 5 star treatment. So off we get him on a Carnival Cruise to Mexico. :D

he could never have been better. Drove from Dalls to Galveston. It was all hush hush before we boarded the ship (and we were late) so didnt get time to get the camera up for him. But once the orientation was complete. Flat reto got our in the starboard side to see the ship sail off.

Galveston is a nice old port with lots of ships. The weather was cold but not too bad



looks like we had some old sail ships as exhibits. maybe next time :)



our home for the next few days



the ship sailed off pretty fast, we were on board and a quick lunch and drink got us in the darkenss of the night. It was wet the first night but hey, Flat Reto is water Resistant :D

the ships funnel


and the wet empty deck staircase



the ships atrium was real nice art deco, but constantly changing colors was not us



back in the room we had a friend to greet flat reto



Day 2

we were presently surprised as to the weather, really turned nice and warm, oh dear we just got one shorts along the way :(



flat reto was hungry from his travels, so... there we go again





and then we went to the bow of the ship....


flat reto posed with his trusty travel pal (another frequent traveller :) ) can you guess who it is?



and to soak up the sun





with so much of fun and relaxation, sunset came fast









back in the room FR met some more towel friends





Day 3

Cosumel, MX
and here we get docked up at mexico, FR decided to hitch a hike on land
We actually dock with another carnival ship. so loads of people and loads of confusion :D



Thats our ship


and flatreto sharing the wrist and the blue waters with another swiss brother





city streets


and shopping


Flat Reto decides to soak more sun


we now get in a car and drive down to the Mayan ruins, flat reto was not interested in the mile long walk,
oh well, he got carried by me most of the way



and met some interesting friends


the pyramids were cool



and so was flat reto


and we ran back to the ship, just in time



to catch the sunset




and get on the trip back



and meet more friends on the way :)





Thanks for reading so far. :D if you still with me and want to host flat reto send a mail to flatreto@gmail.com and we will get you on the list.

happy travels.. :)



]]> anjizkit Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 28 Dec 2010 10:42:29 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,262593,262593#msg-262593 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,262593,262593#msg-262593








First order of business is to hire a glass-bottom boat and head to the most famous structure in
Cabo, the archway at the very bottom of Baja California through which one can be in the sea of Cortez and look through the arch at the Pacific ocean, and visa versa.



Along the way, beautiful private beaches...



Local residents.....



Another landmark known as the howling wolf, or the Baja peninsula upside down.....



There was also a moving show going by the glass bottom of our boat. Some people saw fish....



I saw a marvelous, ever-changing palette of art more beautiful than what mere mortals can create...









After our boat tour, we hired another driver that took us to tour a typical resort







From a certain angle, the pool seems to flow right into the ocean!



We next went to a beautiful beach. Check out the cleanliness of the sand!!





By this time it's time for a late lunch and for joining that craziness that is Senor Frogs. Folks, I'm not supposed to drink alcohol for health reasons, but how does one say no to such a nice clown!







Back on the ship that night, I believe the alcohol was still doing its work



Well, that was our last stop before another full day at sea and then arrival on the 19th in Los Angeles. On this last day at sea, we had our Blackjack tournament finals at which a dude from Dallas cheated and beat me by $400, $7400 to $7000. I got a T shirt and a bottle of champagne for my second place finish.

No more pics, except a borrowed sunset from another night. This concludes this series of travel photos. Thanks for looking and I sincerely hope you enjoyed them. Better yet, if you ever have the opportunity to take this cruise, do it. You will not regret it!

]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 06 Dec 2010 17:39:47 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,261903,261903#msg-261903 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,261903,261903#msg-261903


Huatulco is a relatively newer development in the southern coast of the Mexican riviera, characterized by recently built resorts and beach oriented activities. This was a short stop for us and compared to Alcapulco and Cabo San Lucas, still coming up, there was nothing too remarkable about it. Here are a few pictures before moving on to Alcapulco.









I may be getting out of sequence on the towel animals, but I believe this was the one this night.





Bright and early on the morning of November 15, we arrived at the splendor that is Alcapulco Mexico! This was just as I had pictured it, large resort area with large, high rise hotels and beautiful beaches and marinas.







We proceeded pretty directly to the most famous tourist attraction in Alcapulco, the cliff divers. These guys were spectacular! They climbed the cliffs as if they were squirrels and then took turns doing spectacular dives from various levels of the cliffs. I took only videos of the actual dives and when I figure how to upload them to you tube I will make a separate posting.









The divers range in age from early teens to early 30's. Apparently the diving eventually takes a toll on their bodies and head and they seldom dive later than early 30's. In one of the pictures, you can see the only girl diver diving that day. she was fourteen years old.

They made themselves available for photos after their dives and they were also tipped very generously by very impressed tourists.



This Diego Rivera mural is on the facade of a house belonging to his mistress, Dolores Olmedo and is considered to be a treasure of Mexican contemporary history. Created in 1956, made with colored mosaics, stones and seashells, it is regarded as one of the most important cultural works of art in Acapulco and was one of the last works that the artist created before his death. In it are featured the Serpiente Emplumada Quetzalcóatl (Feathered Snake of Quetzalcoatl), a sphinx and an Aztec god.





Style-wise, I preferred this Rivera Mural on the wall of an old hotel in Acapulco.



The Los Flamingos Hotel was said to be the favorite hangout of Hollywood celebrities, especially Tarzan's, who had his own home-away-from-home there.











A favorite party place of foreign visitors is Senor Frogs, a drinking establishment that now has locations in many ports in Mexico. Infantile, outlandish behavior is not only tolerated here, it is strongly encouraged and facilitated. Fortunately, on this stop, yours truly maintained his dignified adult decorum and limited his activities to taking a few pictures.







A bit more sight seeing of the very wealthy neighborhoods and all too soon, it was time to re-board the ship and head out to our last stop, Cabo San Lucas.





Thanks for looking.]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersSat, 04 Dec 2010 01:44:19 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,261248,261248#msg-261248 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,261248,261248#msg-261248


The score, $12,100 indicates what I was able to earn, starting with $2,000 and playing seven hands. One more day of qualifying rounds and then the top six scorers will play in the final. No way I can be knocked off, so I am now guaranteed a seat in the championship round in a few days. Stay tuned to see how I did!

Of course, the day ended with a new friend, this time, a real swinger! :D!





Bright and early on November 13, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.



Our driver this day is a gentleman of Mayan descent that fled his country as a youth to avoid being forced to serve under the revolutionaries. He later returned and now fishes for a living and conducts tours on a part-time basis. He was extremely connected to the Mayan community and shared his world with us very eloquently and graciously on our two hour trip to Antigua..





Many volcanoes along the way, several with a worrisome smoke plume at the top!



Also saw a rock that is said to be a mayan man's profile



First stop in Antigua was a Jade factory. Guatemala is said to be home of the hardest, highest quality Jade in the world.





The city itself is a 1600's era Spanish Garrison that is still much in its original form. Many colorful buildings such as this hospital



And this school



A former university that is now a museum





Roughly translated, the sign reads, "This is the edifice of the Antigua university of San Carlos, founded in 1675. From here radiated the culture to the entire kingdom of Guatemala."

The central, most secure part of the garrison



The public pond where citizens bathed and washed their clothes.



The city cathedral



A fountain in the town square



Music in the square



And perhaps the most ornate Church I have ever seen!







Typical street



These are the local taxi's. They were everywhere!



You may have already noticed many of the local Mayan people in previous pictures. They were amazing!













Of course, you know I love to photograph flowers. Check out what happens to these ladies slippers when they are pared up like a pair of slippers!





Other flora







Antigua from a nearby hill and volcano in background



All too soon, time go back on-board.



Don't remember what the towel animal was that night, but I do remember the sunset!







Had a wonderful, culture enriching day! Tomorrow morning, Huatulco Mexico!

Thanks for looking]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 29 Nov 2010 18:35:59 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260652,260652#msg-260652 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260652,260652#msg-260652




Of course, every day ends with a new friend in the room! I love baby seals and this one liked my Navitimer.





Next morning we're off bright and early with our friends again.



Local color coming the other way! I'm really going to like it here!! :D!



Costa Rica has an amazing abundance of wild life and beautiful flora. This stop will be all about these things.

White faced monkeys





Don't remember what these were called, but a relative of raccoons, if I remember correctly





Crocodiles! These guys were easily 8-10 ft. long!





Birds







Flowers, LOTS of flowers!! Enjoy!



































Check out this canopy!!



We were very happy! On top of the world,...... almost literally!!



Back at the ship we have a snail waiting for us!



Escargot tonight! Naw, he's too cute. Besides, he likes my GMT.



Tomorrow, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala!

Thanks for looking! :)!]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 29 Nov 2010 18:38:14 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260405,260405#msg-260405 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260405,260405#msg-260405




As you might guess, this was one of the highlights of the cruise and the cruisers were out in force. Yikes, from my vantage point, it looked like a senior citizen convention!



we were assigned the right set of locks, directly behind a weird looking ship that is a special automobile carrier



The entry from the Atlantic is through a single gate named Catun and consists of three locks which elevate the ship 85 feet from the level of the ocean to the level of the canal. In the next few photos, we will watch the ships in front of us progress through each of the three locks. Notice the relatively elevation of each ship from one photo to the next to get a sense of movement. The whole process takes over two hours.













I was so intent on watching the goings-on in front of me that I was surprised to see a Holland America cruise ship going through the left locks just behind us!



Finally we clear the third lock and are now at the elevation of the canal. It is a fresh water lake created by reservoirs and by a huge job of excavation across 50 miles of land from one ocean to the other.









This entire passage is slow and leisurely and one has much time to look around. Could this gentleman be wearing a.....





Course I'm representing pretty well also with my PO! :D!



We are now approaching the continental divide, the highest place on the land at which water flows to the Atlantic on one side and to the Pacific at the other. This is also where the most serious excavation took place and where many workers lost their lives.





A whole different crew from the Panama Authority takes us through the exit locks on the Pacific Ocean and here you can see them boarding.



The exit is a repeat of the entrance, but in reverse, so I won't take you through it again. In the next few photos, you can see that there are large ports on both ends of the canal and much freight comes off ships and crosses via train and get's redistributed to other ships on the other end. Here you can also see the spectacular skyline of Panama City beginning to show up.







Here we also go under the Bridge of the Americas, one of two bridges connecting the northern and southern American continents. The other was at the continental divide a few photos back.



Finally we emerge in the Pacific ocean and the majestic skyline of Panama City is off to our left. Another "Aw shit!!" moment! I had no idea!



It has taken all day to travel 50 miles and it is good to be in smoother waters after the choppiness of the last few days in the Atlantic. Ahh!



Back in the room, WTF!! Has our room steward gone mad and left us a vile sign??!!



Whew, what a relief! When looked at from the right angle, it's just an eagle! And a cool one at that!



Tomorrow is a day at sea and the following day Costa Rica. Stay tuned!

Thanks for looking!]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersSat, 27 Nov 2010 00:26:08 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260188,260188#msg-260188 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,260188,260188#msg-260188
Camera: Pentax K100D (their entry level DSLR from probably 5 years ago)
Lenses: Mostly the 18-55 kit lens, f/3.5 - 5.6. A few were from the 55-200 telephoto zoom/ f/4-5.6
Exposure: Mostly taken on Program with manual override or auto exposure lock in the rare few instances when the matrix metering couldn't figure it out.
Focus: Mostly auto, on the center point, except the killer whale show. Things happened too fast; that required going to manual and pre-focusing


Here is the Corvette we rented for the first few days. It was a great highway car and DAMNED quick, even on the wrong gas. (I suspect the previous person cheaped out and put 87 octane into it)









Here are some from Seaworld in San Diego:

Kate and Shamu:















Kate petting a stingray:


Kate petting a starfish:


Is this its mouth or butt? Probably both:


Why the long face, little fella?






This one, I didn't intend to be blurry like this, but I liked the surreal effect any way:


From the killer whale show:















More from the other parts of our trip will be coming soon.]]> Smaug Travel Reports by PMWFersFri, 26 Nov 2010 23:35:24 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,259888,259888#msg-259888 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,259888,259888#msg-259888
Wow! Was I blown away when I first saw the Cartagena skyline! A shuttle driver in Miami called it the little Miami, but this may be Big Miami!!



Cartagena is actually two cities in one, the modern shown above and an old walled fortress that goes back several centuries. We hired a cool dude named Marcos to show us around.



We started out in Old Cartegena, which is a beautiful old city with colorful, narrow, cobblestone streets













Some on the cruise purchased an optional tour via horse buggy



That's me in the black shirt. For my shore excursions, I generally wore my Vostok given to me by Jinxed and NOT-YET modified by Dave Murphy!



Remember I mentioned this was an old walled-in city.





As in most old, historical cities, the cathedrals are among the most beautiful buildings.





WTF!! Could this have been me in a previous life??!!



Break time with some new friends. These two couples live in Minnesota and upstate New York, but they both also have homes in St. Johns Island. Hmm, wonder if they would like company??....



We went to the modern city also, but quite frankly, the cool part was the old city, so no pictures.departed Cartagena late afternoon...



Saw a little more typical scenery on the way out...



Pool time again...



Another visitor in the cabin that evening



Showed my Planet Ocean to my new friend, he liked it! :D!



Tomorrow, The Panama Canal.

Thanks for looking!]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersSat, 27 Nov 2010 01:08:47 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,259537,259537#msg-259537 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,259537,259537#msg-259537
The cruise is for 15 days, originating in Miami Fla on November 4 and terminating in Los Angeles on November 19.



Leaving Miami port











Official fly-over escort



Choppy waters from the fringes of hurricane Tomas. The boat really rocked and rolled, but no sea-sickness!





Two days later, first stop, Roatan Honduras!



Welcoming commitee



My band was waiting for Mrs. T and me. We rocked for a while



A stroll down mainstreet. Not too remarkable









Before you know it, time to get back on







A little time poolside



With Alberto, a WIS from Panama



Finally back in the cabin where a surprise awaited us!



Tomorrow, a tour of Cartegena Colombia]]> JohnnyT Travel Reports by PMWFersWed, 24 Nov 2010 04:47:39 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,257278,257278#msg-257278 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,257278,257278#msg-257278

































]]> Wen Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 15 Nov 2010 17:24:53 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,238874,238874#msg-238874 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,238874,238874#msg-238874

Very annoying.

And while I know Tam would take car of it gratis, I was at home on Sunday with my tools, and I'm pleased to say, after taking the bridge off [see 3 screws below ;)] and making a few minor adjustments to the geartrain, and then, after numerous nearly-accurate attempts to get all 3 of the pinions seated on their seperate jewels at the same tim, which certainly proved to be a considerable pain in the ass, but I got it done. :D



Success! It was back to looking like a 24 hour watch should: oddly. ;)



But WAIT, my Brother WIS, because it gets better...

So, I finished just in time because my wife and I were supposed to get ready to go to a party at a friends house a couple of miles away. I meet this cool dude named, Chris, and after chit chatting a little bit I couldn't help but ask, "Say... is that a 'Monster' you're wearing...?" -what, with the orange dial offset by familiar hands and all matched to a rather distinct case...subjectsmiley11!

To which, the gentlman says, "Yes it is. In fact, I saw your watch and was going to say something about it, but you beat me too it." I had been wearing this recently acquired (from JohnnyT) 6309...



So, needless to say, Chris and I really hit it off and I spent the better part of the party talking watches and cars with this super cool dude who, as it turns out, KNEW ABOUT PMWF and even had a sign on. But, by his own admission, hasn't really had time to hang out as much as he would like with work and family calling. CC127, I think? I live a pretty small town in the east bay area of northern California, east of San Francisco. I couldn't imagine bumping into another forumer here in town, but shows you what I know! subjectsmiley10!subjectsmiley09!subjectsmiley03! And, it turns out his dad, too, is into watches and has bought a few watches through Reto at the PMWC. Small world.

Chris and I exchanged watches briefly and I tried on the Orange Monster. Damn it. That was a bad idea...subjectsmiley14! Everything about it seems just right... bracelet, case, bezel, hands, dial. Hmm... I see why you guys dig these things. I think there may be one in my future...subjectsmiley08! When Chris handed me back my watch I showed another friend, Wayne, the perferated liner fabricated of Mercedes-Benz seat leather. Wayne's not a watch guy, but he does manage the service department of our area's MBZ dealer, so he got a real kick out of Johnny's strap work. It was a fun night.

Firsth thing this morning, I got a phone call from my often-refered-to friend, Sergio, who had called to see if I wanted to go to today's A's game... Are you kidding?subjectsmiley10!

Sergio, friend and beer conesiuer...


But, it's white-dial day, isn't it? So, what would be appropriate for a run to pick up Sergio, said beer, sandwitches and get to the Oakland colleseum with...?
(The time is accuate here, but the date is off by one subjectsmiley08!)




Also, any of you folk like baseball? If so, the remaining misc. photos may appeal to you...

It's always a good sign when your home team opens the game with a homerun! ;) :D


















When not wearing the blue-dialed Datejust, this is Sergio's go-to watch... (Nike)









:) :D subjectsmiley03!

So, in a nutshell, I've really been enjoying myself the last few days... and now I'm really starting to look forward to meeting up with some of you guys and the pending GTG* next week-end!
* I (and others I'm sure) will try to take a lotta pictures for those of you that can't :( )

Thanks for looking! subjectsmiley15!]]> Nuvolari Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 07 Sep 2010 13:43:32 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,226578,226578#msg-226578 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,226578,226578#msg-226578camping and outdoor fun. This was the first time camping with my little girl. She loved it!!

I took an entire box of watches with the intent of doing some photo shoots...but only managed grab one of the Citizen I wore the whole time:



Weather was a nice break from the mid to upper 90ies going
on in Denver. Got a beautiful rain on Saturday that I decided to go bike
riding in. The foot trails that line the river behind our cabin are
layered with pine needles and ride very soft and silent. My favorite
time to weave through them is during or right after a light rain. It's very enchanted forest like.





As I was riding along the foot path I rolled up on someones little "collection". Nice.





We had a good group of 15-20 add-dults plus their kids over the 3 days. I built
driftwood boats with the kids and had races. We made shiny mud balls.
Cooked over the fire pit all weekend. Took my Trangia stove and made
coffee trail side. Took a morning dip in the icy run off water to
start the day.



Had to make a mid weekend beer run. No one stopped on the way!?









I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Outside is king.]]> jinxed Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 26 Jul 2010 23:30:25 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,226057,226057#msg-226057 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,226057,226057#msg-226057Aka the Western Caribbean tour of the Emerald Princess.

We departed Ft. Lauderdale, FL on the 18th, and our stops were Princess Cays, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Grand Caymans and, as I type, we're 30 minutes from Cozumel, Mexico. Now, it didn't intentionally start as a WIS Orgy.. but that's sure what it turned into. And, yeah, it ends with my RMW Watch cherry gettin' popped. subjectsmiley11! But let's not get ahead of ourselves! subjectsmiley04! So without further ado..


The first thing I learned is that you don't even have to disembark the ship to find a Fine Watch. No indeed! There's a shop on the 6th deck that can help.



Swatch group products are featured heavily, and the new Auto Chronos were prominently displayed.



Prices were in the $350 to $400 range, depending on model. Japan was well-represented, though Citizen was 3-to-1 over Seiko.



The top line here (at least to my mind) was..





...





Mind you, the store themselves seem to think it's . subjectsmiley12! Certainly they push them harder than any other marque.

The Longines that tempted me most seriously was..



..this one. Ye olde Platinum Card was really a-itchin' terrible. subjectsmiley02! However, I was determined to shop around first, and anyway this was way too far past the PMW limit for me to seriously consider it.. at the time, leastaways. subjectsmiley01!

Another brand that really attracted me was..



... They are on me 'short list' of Marques to own, and they've got some beautiful pieces (though my photos were crap).

Some familiar faces, too..



..I didn't even bother to check the price.



More Tags...



But OH! that F1 Ltd Edition!



Again, was represented o'er probably 3-to-1.



They wanted $240-something dollars US for a OM! subjectsmiley10!



And those s are startin' to wear me down! subjectsmiley14!



Bottom end here is .


I tell you, though, those the sure a temptin', too, and quite good value for money!



And, o' course, the star of the show,



.



Bugger! We're out o' here! subjectsmiley03!



The following day, I found the time to take some HWS of the two I brought to the dance with me.




The aged & weathered sign on the dock was a portent of things to come...



I stopped in the first spot I saw to enquire as to whom handled Omega. A modest establishment where ..



On the way, however, I happened by this establishment..



..and never got around to those s.



The salesman was a treat, and produced a battered copy of a '70s tome on JLC & proceeded to give an excellent overview of The Manufacture.

The watch, an all-Ti Master Compressor Navy Seals Ltd Edition (1500 pieces), was awesome beyond words. subjectsmiley05! Perhaps the most impressive bracelet I've ever seen, it features on-the-fly micro-adjust similar to the PloProf, but on both sides of the butterfly clap, each with ~ 4mm of adjustment. Set to 'full out' the watch fit me perfectly.



When it came time to talk price, I told him about the PMWF (I'd already outed meself as a JLC fan of some repute, lusting over the JLC Mk XI the way I do. He was amazed that I even knew of the JLC version (IWC did make the majority, after all) and we got along famously after that. subjectsmiley01!

Ennyway, he dared me to guess his bottom line and.. well, I honestly doubted this watch could come in under $10K. So I guessed $9K. Long story short, he came in so far under PMW x10 that it was scary. Indeed, he finally mocked me on my fixation of the 'magic 10K point' as he called it, that he offered to throw in a stunning Reverso on bracelet for just over it. subjectsmiley11!



Sure the watch was theoretically for Mis Pam. But, know what? 'twas the original 'full size' version from the roaring twenties.. I.e. a gents, if 'twere vintage. So I'm thinkin' "Hell, I'll wear that thing!" The bracelet, a sort of link-just-bigger-than a grains-of-rice, was a joy to behold. All ss HW, with a solid back Suitable For Engraving.

Now, one other thing you should know. A semi-formal objective of this trip was to find Miss Pam a Proper Wedding Ring. I.e. a whacking great .8 carat emerald-cut, with flanking .25 carat pears. She found this in Ocho Rios, and after I bought it for her, the woman was actually crying 'cause she wanted me to have that JLC. Even after I explained to her that the JLC Compressor equaled nearly three of her rings, she sobered up a bit. Then suggested going back and tryin' to swing a deal on the Reverso alone, except it's be mine wi' no pretense. In the end, though, prudence prevailed, and I decided to check out what Grand Caymans offered. And I'm glad I did...

Me first stop was the Rolex store, where I ignored the Flagship brand subjectsmiley04! and concentrated on the Tudors.






They handled Panerai here, too and, while I did ogle them..




..I didn't bother to try them, nor price them. Beautiful watches, both, but not quite what I was after. After graciously directing me to the Omega store, I set off on what should've been a 5-minute stroll, except I got waylaid at the Flagship Store, due to the sheer size of their watch department. I talked to a pleasant youth who confirmed my headings to the Omega Store, lamented not carrying the line himself and, when told that a Valjoux-derived 7750 Auto Chrono was also on the radar, his eyes lit up and he said "I've got just the thing!" and showed me several candidates, Mido and Edox among them. I scanned the rest of their impressive mid-tier selection (the usual Japanese brands, Certina, Festina, Movado, etc., I told gent that I might be back.

Another 3 minutes, and 'twas..



.. Heaven.



Just for you MOD-CENTRAL fans - check out the toolkit that comes wi' the 50th-Anniversary Moon Watch.



Almost as impressive as the watch itself!






I didn't ask the nice lady to get it out, once she quoted me the $28K street price. subjectsmiley11! subjectsmiley10! subjectsmiley07! subjectsmiley11!

Mind you, there were plenty of options..





The least expensive chrono, a couple-of-years ago model, was $2,900. subjectsmiley16! A 3-hand Coaxial Escapement began at ~ $4200. I did find a watch I liked, and after being assured that they had enough bracelet links (OEM was at least 3 links short for me), I almost said "I'll have the black-dialed Seamaster 300M diver, please". The price, at $1725, seemed A-OK for a BNiB watch from an AD with all documentation & kit. But, in the end, I had to admit that I just wasn't Loving It. I mean, the look and feel were (ghod help me subjectsmiley08!) already familiar from me Alphas.

So I un-assed The Omega Store, and headed back to the 2nd place I'd stopped, Flagship Stores. And this may be a case of Buying The Store, 'cause I had a good vibe there. Or, perhaps 'twould be more properly a case of Buying The Salesman, since, while the young lady at #3 was stunning, she was also a bit snooty subjectsmiley14! and, worse, Not Particularly Knowledgeable. OTOH, the your man I'd spoken to at Flagship had impressed me, quite.

When I arrived back he was showing a watch, but I hailed him and said "That 7750 looks better now!" and he was obviously ready to please. I killed some time looking at The high end brand..





As well as more modest fare like Ball, Raymond Weil, et al.

We had a good long talk, young Jonathan Wendell and I, and turns out my gut feeling was right - a most savvy, passionate, and helpful chap. His pet watch is one I'd never heard of, Cuervo y Sabrinos:




Beautiful, but not quite what I was searching for. After being told that, while I liked the Valjoux-7750-powered Mido Ocean* diver I'd been shown earlier, watches with Whacking Great Rotating Bezels really weren't me cuppa, his eyes lit up again and, once again, he said "I've got just the thing!". And, Lordy, he was right. subjectsmiley61! subjectsmiley62! subjectsmiley33! Finally, a watch that I immediately fell in love with. Yup, I plunked down about a Seiko's worth more than the PMW Limit for a watch. I fear I'll lose me membership in the Cheap Bastards Club! subjectsmiley11!

Alas, the beautiful strap w/ deployant was too short by a mile. Sure, I whipped out me trusty Swiss Army Knife and swapped on the gray Standard Combat NATO from the Alpha. subjectsmiley02! To my surprise, Jonathan was totally ignorant of NATO straps, and was amazed at the transformation.



So there ye have it! Me first True RMW.

I wonder, Can you I.D. it? subjectsmiley04!

..to be continued...

subjectsmiley15!

-Ricky



P.s. - sorry for not linking hi-res images as is my custom. I'm comin' at ye wi-fi in a cantina from Cozumel, and the connection ain't that hot. Took me 27 minutes to UL those images. More later!]]> Anonymous User Travel Reports by PMWFersWed, 28 Jul 2010 21:31:48 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,190060,190060#msg-190060 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,190060,190060#msg-190060
Basel 2010 Report

Jocke]]> Jocke Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 23 Mar 2010 22:45:44 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,188336,188336#msg-188336 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,188336,188336#msg-188336
San Francisco as seen from Treasure Island. This is an awsome view at night when the city is lit up.


The Bay bridge which is being replaced with a new bridge which can be seen on the far left of the pic.


Inbetween San Francisco and Sacramento is Travis AFB, where I spent a big chunck of my adult life. Here's the hanger and flight line I used to work in.






The air museum on base.






And finally I got my son to class on time.


I'll be spending some quality time with Flat Reto and will have some better pics for you next time.

Dave P]]> Dave P Travel Reports by PMWFersThu, 18 Mar 2010 15:39:22 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,170426,170426#msg-170426 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,170426,170426#msg-170426
So, left on January 2 and had a great trip. Here's a little background if you're interested.

[www.pmwf.com]

First stop on our way to Carara National Park, a shot west from the mountains with my Citizen NY2300 in the foreground.



Here are some watches they had at the restaurant/souvenier shop up there.



Got reaquainted with old friends at Carara














In our bedroom I saw the biggest wolf spider I've ever seen. Easily over 6 inches across including legs.

Here's a shot out the bus window on our way to Volcan Tenorio National Park...



where we took a horseback ride into the park



more watch content



The Rio Celeste' runs throught the park, and has ridiculously blue water, I think from copper sulfate.



This picture doesn't do the color justice.

We did get to spend one day relaxing at the beach.



Here's a shot of the Orosi Valley near Volcan Tapanti National Park.



Saw some cool critters up there as well...



and awesome plants.



Finally, here's a video that features my Citizen on a zip line through the canopy of some lowland forest.



Thanks for looking; it's great to be home.

Dan]]> DJM Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 19 Jan 2010 10:43:08 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,148869,148869#msg-148869 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,148869,148869#msg-148869


We make it back home in plenty of time to catch the noon kick off.



You can see FR is wearing his new, custom-made cheese head.



It's not even half time and FR is overindulging a bit with another local brew. Come on FR, get up off the floor, man.



Oh, jeez, now he's hittin' the hard stuff.



Man, this guy is hard core.

FR? Where are you man?

There's his cheese head.



Alright, I gotta go make sure he's not getting in any trouble. I'll look upstairs. Nope.

Where the h#!! is he. Maybe he's sleeping it off. I'll check the bedroom.

What's that on my pillow? Ooooooooh! FR, Minney, what's going on here?



Alright guys, it's been fun, but I think it might be time for FR to hit the road. Maybe one of you younger guys can host him next. I'm getting too old for this.]]> DJM Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 09 Nov 2009 21:37:18 -0500 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,145448,145448#msg-145448 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,145448,145448#msg-145448
That, my friends, is the proverbial icing on the cake.

So along comes the beginning of September and traveling on it's season changing winds is certain Swiss timepiece that lands at my door. Flat Reto has arrived.

Like the tiki from the Brady family's Hawaiian vacation...it brought a dark harbinger. Or maybe I was just overdrawn on the karma account from the previous month, but September did not go so well. I had a wonderous vacation planned out for me and my guest....paint the town red, see the sights, blow the roof off. But it was not to be. As you know my inner ear decided it didnt want to play nice and literally threw me into a loop. So my report is a little before, and a little after all that nonsense.

I thought a proper family reunion would be just the thing to start things off. FR meet Techno Sphere. My first lusted after watch, owned from new circa 1983.



Next up, is a stunning sunrise bicycle ride into work along part of the vast Colorado bicycle trail network. I work south east of Denver about 20 miles in Aurora. No futzing with these pictures...straight out of my point and shoot cheap digi. If you have not started a day outside with the cold morning air on your face watching the sunrise scorch the sky...do it. Tomorrow.





On my way home, I decided to explore some bike path I've never been on that looped me over to the north-west side of Denver. On the way I was treated to some nice fall color and decent view of the front range. FR and I clocked about 70 miles on the bicycle that day. The only gas we used was courtesy of Chipolte.







Now being that FR's landing in Denver would put it's mileage just over 50,000 I thought some more "milestones" would be in order. I had three main goals, but alas only conquered one of them.

I had petitioned The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located in Boulder for an audience to the atomic clock. It is after all one of the most accurate watches in the world. A little unwieldy on the wrist though. But although sending several emails and numerous phone calls, I was never replied to once. Strike 1.

The next attempt at a milestone was to hop on the Triumph and ride FR up the highest paved road in North America to the top of Mt. Evans for some oxygen deprivation at 14,240 ft. NOPE, they closed it early this year due to park budget cutbacks. Strike 2.

I would not be deterred on my final stop, come hell or high water, I would take FR to the the mile high marker on the steps of the Colorado State capital building. 4 times in fact. See, the geologic survey marker (one of them...more on that later) is on the west steps of the capital. This is "the" spot in Denver to pull out the soap box and spout. If it's nice out, you can bet there is someone planted there ranting, preaching, campaigning or the like. So I took a gamble that if I headed down there on a crappy, cold, and rainy day...I would have it to myself. (I find most blow hards aren't convicted enough to brave the storms.) BINGO. Totally vacant.

Denver, known as the "Mile High City", had an elevation marker (5280ft.) set into the capital steps way back when, said to mark the actual mile mark above sea level. But like I said, that was way back when they measured with strings and rocks, and they guessed it round about the 15th step. Fast forward a bit, technology advances and they can measure more accurately, and so decide to move it to the 18th step and engrave the 15th step for historical sake. Well...guess what? Just like the computer your staring at right now, the technology was outdated as soon as it hit the assembly line. SO, a few years ago they called out the survey crew again, and now believe there should be an "even more" accurate maker placed into the 13th step. I ran FR up and down ALL the steps several times, so I am sure it hit a mile high at some point.







I also had my "fixer" with me on one of the failed mile marker attempts. We shot some pictures looking west from our capital towards the Denver City and County Building.



Not to be totally without an ace up the sleeve, we travelled to Fort Collins in northern Colorado for a tour of the New Belgium Brewery. Most famous for Fat Tire Ale, this is a worker owned brewery that is one hell of a cool place. I don't believe I have ever seen a place where the employees seem to be so passionate about what they are doing. They are very worker, and fun oriented and have very deep roots into the bicycle culture, and art. OH, and they brew some beer too. I was in heaven. This place was crammed full of bicycles, hand made artwork on every wall, and a heady aroma of hoppy goodness. Totally free, an hour long, beer samples the whole way, and a full tasting bar at the end after you descend their spiral funnel slide from the upper level of the building.











Yes, I double watched it that day. Surprising that few people will comment on a solo watch, but wear two and everyone is suddenly interested in what the deal is. BTW, the "other" watch is my Debaufre GMT.

In the end I wish I could have visited some of the other places, but what a really cool thing this Flat Reto. A torch I was happy to carry, and even prouder to pass on. Maybe next time we'll get matching tattoos.]]> jinxed Travel Reports by PMWFersSat, 31 Oct 2009 16:14:57 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,137534,137534#msg-137534 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,137534,137534#msg-137534
Then it was off to my favorite tourist spot, "Portland Head Lighthouse" in Cape Elizabeth (first place I took "flat reto" too). It was the perfect Maine day, mild with a warm sun & blue sky. OK, lunch time, and off to the "Lobster Shack" for fresh haddock (Fish & chips) atop the granite shore overlooking the sea -- very nice!

Then, back to Portland for a beer & farewell -- I showed Larry my watches and throughout our time we did the WIS thing & as per usual the ladies chatted -- Perfect LOL!

Sorry for the lack of shots, & I suspect Larry will post more on his return -- A fantastic day, and once again reaffirms my appreciation & belief that it's the participants that are the lifeblood & the watches merely the vehicle that brings us together. Hmmm, may sound a bit redundant, but, you know what I mean LOL!

Here's a couple pics! Long live the PMWF!

RD

Larry's Yacht


Two WIS @ Portland Head Light



Breitling meets Orsa



Larry's floating hotel



So here's where Larry & I were today. The scenic coast of Maine :-)




That's all Folks TU! CHEERS!

RD]]> Riddim Driven Travel Reports by PMWFersTue, 06 Oct 2009 23:23:35 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,113484,113484#msg-113484 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,113484,113484#msg-113484First, let me apologize for not giving this Flat Reto photo essay the time and attention it deserves. Compared to the fine Flat Reto travelogs we've seen so far, I'm definitely gonna come up short. :-( I had good intentions, but this is the busy time of the year for me, so it was a struggle.

We'll start off with a photo you've seen before..



Yup, Flat Reto's strap was way too short to fit me fat wrist. EEK! I sorted through the many good suggestions y'all offered, and judged that Bock's advice to "Wind some steelwire thru da hole and buckle.." was easiest and most practical. I actually used a heavy-duty plastic-coated wire tie, and it worked a treat. TU! Thanks Bock!

A wide shot of Shamrock Hollow;



That photo is, I confess, a couple of years old. The place looks quite a bit different now, thanks in no small part to..



..my pardner 3M (Main Man Melvin) and that li'l Chinese dozer.



Ahhh.. no comment on that one. ROTFLMAO!

One thing that may stand out to those unfamiliar with my area of the country is the great chasm between.. well, the "haves" and the "have nots". Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation, yet you also have plenty of fine antebellum homes, and farms like..



..Grandview Plantation. This is a 2,500+ acre operation, situated 'bout 3 or 4 miles from me, as the crow flies.



That white vinyl fence stretches 2.4 miles along MS 310, and 'tis certain the fence alone cost more than did my modest 'farmette' lock, stock & barrel. ;-) Yet right across the street ye got..



..a derelict juke joint. :-) I'm told this place was really hoppin', Back In The Day. ;-)

Next stop..



..beautiful downtown Como. Yes, it is named after the Italian city. :-)



That second building on the right, the brown one with the upper deck, is The Como Steakhouse. You can get you a steak there that will rival anything you can find in Kansas City or Chicago. Trust me. ;-)

And speaking of Chicago..



..the building with the black awning is The Windy City Grille. Pretty darned authentic, they make a mean pizza, and are one of only two joints in the entire Memphis metro area that understand Italian Beef sandwiches. TU!



Ye walk-up beer store.. cheapest and coldest beer in town right there!

And, hey, Como is still growing...



..albeit not at a pace you'd call "dizzying". ;-)

But, of course, Como's real claim to fame is..


Click HERE for larger photo


Click HERE for larger photo

.. that Mississippi Fred McDowell was a long-time resident. Believe it or not, we get the occasional international tourist (European or Japanese, usually) who'll show up in town to pay their respects to ol' Fred. You can download a primer of his music HERE.

Skip James was also known to frequent the area, though his main base of operations was a bit further south. You can download some of Skip's music HERE.



We're heading north for the next shot, approaching Coldwater..




Click HERE for larger photo



The very first modern supermarket, and once the largest grocery chain in the world, there ain't many Hoggly Woggly stores left.

But Coldwater's claim to fame, like Como, is of a musical nature. The is where the great RL Burnside hang his hat, y' see. I had the pleasure of meeting ol' RL on several occasions, and he was quite a character. A lovable curmudgeon, he would talk with ya all night.. as long as you kept buying him whisky. ROTFLMAO! You can DL some of The Wizards music HERE.

Head 8, maybe 10 miles further north, between Senatobia and Hernando, and you come to The Zebra Ranch, stomping grounds of the legendary Jim Dickinson. Some of ol' Jim's music is HERE. That first track is, IMHO, THE quintessential Memphis Song. :-) His sons ain't bad neither, mind you. In fact, their "Shake Hands With Shorty album ( HERE ) is a top-10 Desert Island Disc, for me. HM!

OK, we'll jump a mile or sixty to the south, to Tutwiler.



One of the most storied places in Bluesdom. Indeed, many consider this the be birthplace of The Blues. One of the true giants of the blues, Mississippi John Hurt, lived not too far east of here. You can DL some of his essential music HERE.

Into the Delta...









Bet ya didn't know Kermit was from Mississippi... ROTFLMAO!

One of my personal favs is..



..Panther Burns. Fascinating story behind the name. Back in the mid 1800's there was a big cat living in the area who developed a taste for human flesh. (Yeah, such beasts really did reside in Mississippi, back then.) The local residents, tired of seeing their population reduced by dint of becoming cat food, broke out the guns and dogs and launched a full-scale search and destroy mission. They succeeded in cornering the killer cat in a canebrake and, after the advance force of dogs they sent in failed to return, decided there was only one course of action left: they took their torches and fired the canebrake. Legend says that all who heard the panther's cry as it burned to death were haunted by it to their graves. Indeed, it became such a defining part of their culture that they named their town after the event. Not coincidentally, my favorite blues-fusion artist named his band for the event. (Some say the town/plantation, but I know for a fact that's wrong, 'cause Tav personally told me that 'twas the unforgettable sound of that panther being burned alive that he was conjurring in naming the band.) You can find some Tav Falco's Panther Burns music HERE.

Onwards to Natchez...









Quite a modern city, is Natchez, despite the appearance. The entire town is blanketed with Wi-Fi, for instance. ;-)

And it lends it's name to one of..



..if not THE greatest "linear parks" in the world, The Natchez Trace Parkway.





Now, much as this next photo might look like part of The Trace..



..we've actually teleported back home to Shamrock Hollow. LOL!

My neighbor runs a herd of..



..these handsome critters. TU!

I'll leave you with..


Click HERE for larger photo

..my best Jittery Jim pose ROTFLMAO! and a hint as to where Flat Reto is heading next.



Thanks for readin', y'all!

-Ricky

]]> Anonymous User Travel Reports by PMWFersFri, 01 Oct 2010 12:02:41 -0400 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,102529,102529#msg-102529 http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?81,102529,102529#msg-102529I went to the store at 11. I was the first visitor to the store and was the first buyer. The new Mako wasn't on display and I had to ask around before it was brought out from the drawer. All dial colors were available, but when i saw the blue dial everything else seemed dull. I bought the blue dial from the store and exited quietly before the grand opening ceremony which was scheduled at noon. And I received a bag pack as gift :D

Hmm, would removing the hologram reduced the value of the watch? sorry, can't resist....

It just so happen that I was planning for a vacation to Bali. I was thinking of wearing my Orange Monster along as it is my official travel watch, but then I thought it might be interesting to wear the Orient instead. After all, it is a diver watch!
Off to Bali on the 22nd. After 3 hour flight delay, I arrived at the hotel.

Off to the beach


The next day I went to Tanjung Benoa for some water sports. Here's a shot from the boat


I went snorkeling, jet skiing, and para sailing.
The watch performed flawlessly, although I was having a hard time cleaning the watch from the sun lotion afterward especially around the bezel insert and the bezel. The bezel insert doesn't completely filled the space on the bezel, thus lotion and sand can easily enters the gap. The bezel itself is tightly fitted to the case so that no sand got stuck in between.
One thing that really annoys me about this watch is that the lume is so bad that I can hardly see it glow. I'd say it is non existence.
All in all, it is a nicely made watch. The bracelet doesn't feel cheap and it performed well. The clasp didn't gave in with all the jerks and vibrations from para sailing. There is no diver extension but I wasn't wearing wet suit so no problem there.
The lume is a real disappointment, especially for a divers watch. It's definitely not luminova. Heck, it's even perform much worse than tritium.
Well there you go, a little story about my trip with my new Orient. I hope you enjoy my (bad) writing.



]]> Anonymous User Travel Reports by PMWFersMon, 29 Jun 2009 19:21:43 -0400