Weekend in Cape Town

Barbara and I arrived in Cape Town at mid-day Friday, and the view from the plane approaching the city was sobering, an unusually dry, arid landscape, as the prolonged drought has left the city's reservoirs less than 30% full, and with only 100 days supply of water remaining.

Saturday was a day of rest to recuperate from our 24 hour journey from Falmouth. Amanda and Jon arrived mid-day, and in the evening Barbara, Amanda and I, together with Elsevier's Dean Eastbury, were the guests of Roger and Janet Thomas (see posting of 19th April) at their home in Constantia. A great evening of good company and an excellent ostrich potjie, accompanied by fine wines from Rustenberg and nearby Kleine Constantia. 

Janet, BW, Barbara, Dean, Amanda and Roger

Sunday was cloudless and very hot, not great for the water shortage. Conference sponsor Zeiss ran a whole day workshop on x-ray microscopy, attended by 42 delegates, a record for a workshop associated with an MEI Conference.

And then Process Mineralogy '17 got underway late afternoon with registration and welcoming cocktails in the exhibition area.