Cape Town

We arrived yesterday afternoon and got settled into our hotel, registered for the conference and attended the opening ceremony complete with a government minister. All necessary but forgettable. I, at least, got a sock knitted on the plane.

Today Jo went off to his sessions and went to find the SA Art Gallery having first confirmed that it is in a safe part of town. It is. There are "security" folk on most blocks and scads of happy looking tourists enjoying the warmth and sunshine. The locals would enjoy a good rainfall. They haven't had their winter rain this year and the drought is now 3 years old. The grass is still greener than Sydney's. 

The Gallery is beside the Company Gardens which are lush European with grey squirrels and local geese with goslings. I thought to sketch the park but every bench was occupied. Eventually I found one with a view of what started out as the tool shed of the gardens but later was converted into some  official's residence. (So said a passing tour guide.) 

Lesson learned: White buildings behind white fences are too hard for me. Passers-by, including school girls, were sympathetic.

The Art Gallery had some fabulous fabric.

This is raffia cloth made for a King

This afternoon I visited the Victoria and Albert port area. It is like Birkenhead + Darling Harbour + the Rocks on steroids. The yachts that are racing around the world are resting there for a few days. The advertising said they "are people just like you" . . . . not an iota like me. 

It must have been a fascinating area before it was gentrified.