Adelaide

November 5 - 8

It was lovely to relax at Sal and Mary's and sleep in a real bed for a change.
On Thursday we went into Adelaide city centre and visited the art gallery, which had a retrospective exhibition of John Brack's work. One of Brack's paintings has the distinction of commanding the highest price to date of an Australian painting at auction.
Unlike most artists, he was extremely articulate about his work.The quotes beside the paintings for once really explained his goals.

Sal took a break from her tasks and showed us around her workplace next door, the University of Adelaide.

Friday was a day for rest and relaxation although I went to the Central Market in the afternoon to buy provisions for dinner. It's a great undercover market and reminded me of the old Paddy's Market in Sydney in its heyday, before it was forced to move in the name of "progress" to a modern and soulless venue.

On Saturday Sal took us on a drive through the McLaren Vale wine-growing area.



One vineyard (where a recent Leonard Cohen concert was held) divided their rows of grapevines with rows of red roses.



Sal treated us to a fabulous lunch, and later took us to meet a couple of her friends on a delightful farm. We wound up at Willunga Beach before going home.







The remains of an former pier, backed by low sandstone cliffs, suggested ancient ruins to me.



By Sunday the temperature had ramped back up into the high thirties, and news stories were full of how the week to come would break a 114-year record for consecutive days of heatwave.
Sal and Mary had planned a party in the afternoon and we got to meet more of their friends. Fans, blinds and closed windows kept the worst of the heat at bay and a good time was had by all.