PlaymoFriends
General => Community Events => Topic started by: tonguello on June 24, 2013, 20:06:03
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A few months ago an idea started to take shape at Playclicks: the first argentine collectors meeting.
After much anticipation and organization, we finally met in Rosario, Santa Fe province, this past weekend.
It was from the start a wonderful experience with a lovely group of people sharing the same interest: our beloved clickies. Truly a brotherhood. I couldn’t have expected more from an adult group of collectors who didn’t know each other at all, except from forums and our virtual-persona.
As this is a huge country and there were people coming from 3 different provinces it was decided that we should meet in some point at “the middle”. The city chosen was Rosario.
We were (only) 8 collectors and 1 invited seller, plus some family members and friends, so we ended up being 20. A small group to compare with European conventions for sure, but it couldn’t have been warmer, and still we were 8 more than last year! ;D
On June 21st, 4 of us met at the hotel and after the obliged hellos and presentations, we went sightseeing and to a flea market hunting for PM and later we went back to the hotel to meet the other 2 that got there that day. The hotel gave us a small conference room and we got together for chatting, exchanging goods and gifts and selling-purchasing Playmobil. I got great stuff!!!
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF4895_zps4ca89a04.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF4895_zps4ca89a04.jpg.html)
Time flew and after that we all went for dinner, family members included. A very nice and exciting first day.
On the second day another collector joined us, thankfully he shared with me a passion for architecture and photography. We all went out very early for pictures with our avatars, visiting a famous monument and then a toy shop rally searching for the best buys we could find. Can you imagine the faces of shop owners when they saw 7 men and a kid going into the shop? hahaha. It was a miracle that no one called the police on us!
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/avataresmonumento_zps23df2a9a.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/avataresmonumento_zps23df2a9a.jpg.html)
Behind beautiful avatars there lies the awefull truth :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/coleccionistasmonumento_zpsc56be298.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/coleccionistasmonumento_zpsc56be298.jpg.html)
In between, Apo and I took pics of all the beautiful buildings in Rosario that we came across. Only Apo got a Special for his daughter, I guess we were all secretly saving up money for what was going to happen in the afternoon.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF4950_zps487e6da6.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF4950_zps487e6da6.jpg.html)(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF4948_zps35b9488b.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF4948_zps35b9488b.jpg.html)(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF4945_zpsb5f80ed0.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF4945_zpsb5f80ed0.jpg.html)
We were joined for lunch by the last collector (with wife and the cutest twins ever!) and the seller.
After a quick meal we went back to the hotel for the final part of our adventure: another round of serious Playmobil talking, purchasing and exchanging and the most expected part of the trip: the group diorama.
The most fun was the live auctions we made (I won one lovely old set). It was a great idea, and the stuff went out for great prices.
The Mgorongoro set was 100% complete and in PERFECT conditions. The medieval lady was a gift, the cart an auction I won. Im super happy with what I got.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF5012_zps95c6e8b4.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF5012_zps95c6e8b4.jpg.html)
We talked about the diorama for a long time. The general wish was to make a medieval diorama, but some of us thought it was something we’ve seen all over forums and it was impossible for most of us to travel with all our steck, so the idea was dropped. I suggested we should make something original and unique to the meeting and to Argentina.
So a simple but effective Playmobil representation of the meeting came to mind . . . and nothing more argentine than a barbecue or ASADO as we call it. So we came up with this. A small and tidy co-op work that resumes and displays a wonderful experience.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF4990_zps5c506974.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF4990_zps5c506974.jpg.html)
What I cherish most from all this is definitely the people: so nice, so warm, so great and so giving that it really warms up your soul and makes you feel thankful for Playmobil. It is amazing how something considered “a plastic toy” for some, can bring people from different backgrounds together as equals; we all felt like very old friends, just at first site.
The family members that showed up for help and support also deserve praise and thanks, they were amazing too and that also shows how wonderful people was.
I hope this was the first of many more meetings to come and I hope I can meet more friends from all over the world to nourish my life and make me love clickies even more!
Once again I must say: thanks Playmobil!
:brownhair:
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That must have been great!
Thanks for sharing.
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Good to hear about the gathering and that you had such a good time, Gaston!
I can imagine it must be a long travel in Argentina for collectors to get to one another.
What is that monument behind your avatars? It is quite huge, it's size reminds me a bit of... Soviet architecture.
And where are you in the reallife group-picture? ;D
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Good to hear about the gathering and that you had such a good time, Gaston!
I can imagine it must be a long travel in Argentina for collectors to get to one another.
What is that monument behind your avatars? It is quite huge, it's size reminds me a bit of... Soviet architecture.
And where are you in the reallife group-picture? ;D
thank you guys!
That is "The Monument of the Flag", it is HUGE!! 100 meters long and probably 20 storeys tall (we went to the top!!) Famous monument, and probably the biggest in the country. The architecture style is called "Brutalism", because of the dimensions and sturdiness of the design.
The first part is a walkway over fountains and then you get to that Partenon-like construction. Inside that was taken the collectors pic. After that a huge square with more scultptures and then the tower.
It's a beautiful site at night. All dedicated to the National Flag and Manuel Belgrano, the creator of the flag and National Heroe. And it is also conected by a Plazza with the Cathedral.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF5007_zpsc7e68c33.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF5007_zpsc7e68c33.jpg.html) (http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb432/tonguello/Rosario/DSCF5009_zps738ae7f2.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonguello/media/Rosario/DSCF5009_zps738ae7f2.jpg.html)
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And where are you in the reallife group-picture? ;D
Im the cutest one of course!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Im the cutest one of course!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I've no clue who of you fellows fits the criteria. ???
If you all had been women, it would be a lot easier to determine who is the cutest. ;)
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Cool that you could get together with your fellow collectors Gaston. Must have been a good time. I like the beard guy's Motorhead shirt. :)9
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I've no clue who of you fellows fits the criteria. ???
If you all had been women, it would be a lot easier to determine who is the cutest. ;)
;) ;) ;)
I'm the down left one.
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that's great to hear Gaston, nice pics ;D ;)
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That looks like so much fun, Gaston! Very nice pics of the local landmarks. And I love the little dio you all set up! Was there that much beer involved in real life? :lol:
Was anyone else we know at the meeting, or were they all from other forums?
Oh, btw... seven grown men walking into a toy shop sounds like the start of a joke. That must have been quite a sight!
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Sounds like fun! :) Excellent diorama!
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That looks like so much fun, Gaston! Very nice pics of the local landmarks. And I love the little dio you all set up! Was there that much beer involved in real life? :lol:
Was anyone else we know at the meeting, or were they all from other forums?
Oh, btw... seven grown men walking into a toy shop sounds like the start of a joke. That must have been quite a sight!
:lol: :lol: no beer except the first night that we all went for pizza, no xs though :)
All the others are from Playclicks. Actually I didn't name them because you guys wouldn't know them. But I can introduce them to you if you are curious. :)
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Yes, I am curious! I'd like to put screennames to the faces. :P I'm sure we may run into some of them at the PCC.
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Yes, I am curious! I'd like to put screennames to the faces. :P I'm sure we may run into some of them at the PCC.
oh sure, they are at the PCC.
ok avatars pic from left to right:
Apo, tonguello, Risaspillas, Klausvader, Chiche (not part of any forum) Pisared, Pisared jr. and monkey79.
Guys pics, up form left to right:
Luciano (monkey79), Santiago (apo), Chiche, Segundo (Risaspillas) and Nicolas (Klausvader)
Down left to right:
Gaston (tonguello) and Juan Pablo (Pisared)
Leonfuerte joined us last and was not in the pic. That makes the 8. :love:
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Looks like you all had fun!
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That was a great weekend you all had, and a superb diorama, Gaston. Here's to many more weekends like this in Argentina! :**:
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Well done guys!! I'm sure you have had to much fun!! The diorama and the avatars look great!!
Thanks a lot for sharing.
George.
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Great to hear you had a good event, meeting collectors is always fun. Luciano is the one that just had PCC Collector of the Month didn't he? Thanks for sharing the photos with us
Be sure to make a Blog post at PCC so we can Feature it!
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Be sure to make a Blog post at PCC so we can Feature it!
Will do!
Yes, Luciano just won collector of the month.
We were kind of celebrities :lol: :lol: :lol:
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oh sure, they are at the PCC.
ok avatars pic from left to right:
Apo, tonguello, Risaspillas, Klausvader, Chiche (not part of any forum) Pisared, Pisared jr. and monkey79.
Guys pics, up form left to right:
Luciano (monkey79), Santiago (apo), Chiche, Segundo (Risaspillas) and Nicolas (Klausvader)
Down left to right:
Gaston (tonguello) and Juan Pablo (Pisared)
Leonfuerte joined us last and was not in the pic. That makes the 8. :love:
oh, Gaston is Tonguello?? I didn't know that!!! ;D
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Looks like you all had a lot of fun together!
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That sounds like you all had great fun Gaston, and you had some great buys too.
I liked the idea of one photo of the avatars all together, then one of their owners :)
I think it's great that people from different walks of life can meet up and get on so well just because of one common bond. :playmo:
Elaine (http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/mgqueen.gif)
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I think it's great that people from different walks of life can meet up and get on so well just because of one common bond. :playmo:
Elaine (http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/mgqueen.gif)
That's the best part :)
Thanks Elaine!
Thank you everyone!