X Meeting Club Panerai (Viareggio/Italy) part 3: La Spezia and the grand final

Hi all,

will continue with the 3rd and last part of my report.

After a short (and pretty loud) night we travelled to La Spezia by bus. Our target was the Museo Tecnico Navale.
Some of us have visited it in the years before but it is always worth to come back.



I had the chance to meet Maria (the daughter of Mario Arillo who was the first owner of my 6152/1 watch) again.
Together with Umberto Panzeri (left) and a friend of the Arillo family, who is also a museum guide at the Arsenale.



Giancarlo was translating the interesting explanations of Sig. Menichetti.



During the walk thru the museum we spotted some interesting Panerai dials...



...while Mr. 90210 was sent into the SLC transporter to tell the story of his lost passport again to himself - Sig. Menichetti kept him waterproof inside...



The garden of the museum holds also a memorial. "Ai Sommergibilisti caduti per la Patria"



The names of the lost submarines are written on the wall, which holds also the "Ambra", commanded by Mario Arillo.



Back inside, Sig. Menichetti explained the MTM torpedo speed boat (a 6152/1 on his wrist spotted, youbet!)



More Panerai stuff on display was found... It was a very interesting visit for us, thanks again to Giancarlo for translating and Sig. Menichetti for being our "Club Panerai Museum Guide" for that morning.



History lessons makes hungry, so after the "Arsenale" we went to Le Grazie into a nice sea food restaurant. Lars ready for another great lunch



Giancarlo, Graham, Ralf, Christian and Ron.



We returned to the hotel in the afternoon and the time went very quickly.
The grand dinner on saturday was the final. As the weather was not on our side for an "open air" dinner, we went inside the hotel, which is like a museum. It was originally built as the elegant sea side villa of turn of the century artist Galileo Chini.





Gotcha, Ron!





John was checking out some sharp stuff.



Mates is Great! Asi, Eng, Mr. 90210 himself and Donnie.



Lars had to get up early on sunday, so he had to leave not too late. "Goodbye, Eric".



John Sim, "official wine expert of the meeting"...



...and the day after. Breakfast on sunday morning before we had to leave.


My thanks goes out to Piero for realizing another great meeting, also to Claudio and his crew from the hotel for a great stay.

It was great to meet friends in Viareggio again. A presto!




Italy - home of Panerai...

Thanks for looking,
Volker







representin' the DNA of Panerai