Adelaide Trip - Day 5

The final day in Adelaide, well really the morning before returning home, and after the late check out (thank you hotel!), I decided to walk the couple of blogs to Chinatown to kill some time.

After detouring down a lane way and finding a great Chinese grocery store that seemed to sell everything, including the little dishes that I use for mixing gouache in. These small dishes (which I think are used for dipping sauces) are great for gouache as they don't become impregnated with the pigment. I came to the end of the lane way, onto the main street and came across this very distinguished looking fellow and his companion.

Crossing over the road to take a photo of the gate / entrance to the lane way and of course came across this sign with some lovely Ondine lettering. A walk well spent.

And of course, what I had walked across the road to actually photograph

Then it was off to the airport and home!

Adelaide Trip - Day 4

I had been looking forward to this day, as this was the day I was going to the Art Gallery of South Australia to see their advertised exhibition More Ink Than Ocean.

With anticipation I headed to the Art Gallery of South Australia to see the exhibition. It was raining on the way up and North Terrace was a little wet but the buildings are still magnificent.

The volunteer at the information desk seemed to be quite surprised that I had come all the way from N.S.W, to see the exhibition, even after explaining that I was very interested in calligraphy and practiced Western Calligraphy. When she took me through to the room, I could see why. It was just that, a room. I had been expecting a much bigger exhibition with more pieces in it. I was disappointed, as this had been the reason I had come to South Australia, though the room next door, which housed The Power of Pattern: The Ayako Mitsui Collection, proved to be a pleasant surprise.
So I would suggest that if you are thinking of coming to this exhibition ensure there is something else on in Adelaide that you also want to see.

The weather was now matching my mood, damp and grey and after lunch I decided to head back up to the shopping precinct for some shopping therapy when some how I found that I had wandered in to the State Library of South Australia. I had been viewing an exhibition in The Institute Building and wandered down a corridor into what turned out to be another part of the State Library.

Now they say that every cloud has a silver lining, and the State Library turned out to be mine.

Hopefully I have this correct (you can confirm on the State Library of South Australia's website) but I think I had found myself in the Mortlock Wing of the Library.

Elegance at its height.

Housed on the ground floor of this wonderful wing, is a social history of South Australia. The history covers many varied elements of South Australia's rich heritage, arts, political, and of course wine. Turning a corner to another display case I came across these beautiful manuscripts, which totally brightened my day and were a pleasure to pour over.

Each manuscript is the property of the library and were photographed with no flash, so as not to affect the documents in anyway.

I was now very happy and had seen some beautiful works of calligraphy. All of these manuscripts were in the Winery section, and I had to laugh, when reading the explanation of one of the documents,  to find that it laid out the consequences for monks who sampled the produce.

On the walk home from the State Library and Art Gallery, I came across this sign for a cafe not far from the hotel. I loved the Art Deco feel to it. Some days it pays to lift your eyes to the sky!

Adelaide Trip - Day 3

Day 3 didn't hold much in the way of calligraphy or lettering so you'll excuse me if I side track and instead show you the beautiful country side instead.

Today was a trip to the Murray River (the South Australian section) and a short paddle boat cruise on it.

On the way down to the Murray, green farming land in September.

Our boat? No sorry this is hotel paddle steamer that plies the Murray at this point.

Instead this was our version.

Steaming up the Murray River

Further up the Murray River.

After lunch it was a trip up to the look out to view the Murray River from a different angle. Looking up river.

From up here you gain the sense of how big the Murray River is, I feel.

And this is looking in the opposite direction. The Murray had not had much water through it at this time and looked like the smaller rivers needed to give it a good feed. Rain really needed.

I thought this was Cherry Blossom but it actually turned out to be almond blossom. It was very pretty but my photo doesn't do it justice.

Ahh, lettering!

The last stop of the day was to a chocolate factory where turning a corner outside I noticed this lettering on the wall advertising their wares. Unfortunately I couldn't get a close up due to vehicles. Oh yes, the chocolate was nice too!

Adelaide Trip - Day 2

Sunday, Day 2 was an early start. We were to be woken at 6am with a wake up cup of coffee or tea but as I need a shower for a good wake up before that, I was up at 5.30pm for one.
Even though it was an early start for a holiday, day, the scenery from the cabin was really worth it.
The next photo was captured as the sun was also waking up.

The reason for the early start was an off train excursion at Broken Hill. We had the option of doing a trip around the mining town and a visit to the Miners Memorial or a trip to the Pro Hart Gallery (a famous artist once working in Broken Hill).

As I had never been to Broken Hill before I opted for the option to see the city and visit the Miners Memorial. As we were delayed, the trip around town was a little quicker than usual and as the day was overcast it was difficult to take photos of the Art Deco signage that doted the streetscape. If you get the chance to visit the city, look up at the signage as you'll see some lovely examples of Art Deco lettering.

The above photo is part of the old above mine head. We were told that the mining is now all under ground, which was a little spooky thinking you standing on a working mine and you didn't know it.

The above two photos are the actual Miners Memorial and the dedication of it. I was interested in the shape of the memorial, designed to represent the mine itself and made of materials found in mining. The memorial is dedicated to those that gave their lives to mining in Broken Hill, including a 12 year boy. Some jobs are beyond words.

Back on board and it was time for a great breakfast (the meals are fantastic on this train - congratulations to all those who create them) and being a calligrapher I couldn't go past taking a photo of the name of the restaurant car and its decoration.

This photo was taken while waiting for breakfast to arrive. My fellow diners were most forgiving of me taking photos, especially once I told them the photos were for my blog.

Not match in the way of calligraphy for the rest of the trip but the landscape change the further we travelled into South Australia becoming greener and greener. Crops and grapes were the order of the day. I was busy taking lots of photos of the landscape as it changed over the trip and making notes about possible uses for the photos and calligraphy

The trained arrived in Adelaide, South Australia about 4pm and then it was a quick taxi trip to my hotel for my stay in Adelaide. I had booked into the Peppers Waymouth, Hotel http://www.peppers.com.au/waymouth/
The hotel had just been taken over and my experience with them was great. From the minute I arrived, to the moment I left, the service was attentive but not imposing. Room, and restaurant plus bar were superb. I just had to take a photo of bathroom from the bedroom. All boded well for a great stay.