Openings at Biennale

Thursday morning was the opening of the Australian pavilion entry "The Pool", followed by many other countries during the course of the day. Our opening began with an Aboriginal ceremony, the a few speeches and the usual drinks along a canal.

The Oz pavilion is new and quite dramatic in black. Inside the exhibit is very simple and dramatic with a pool, decking and lounge chairs. It's a place to sit and reflect as light dances off the pool and the storytellers, such as Tim Flannery, Paul Kelly and Shane Gould tell of their feelings about pools.

Having a look through other exhibits it does stand apart. Many others are more traditional, with project models and the like; some are very serious in tackling political issues; while some are completely baffling.

After being suitably confused, we sat down at the very busy restaurant on the waterfront where Kez had arranged a table for 20! We finished just in time to take a slow boat along the Grand Canal to the Austral bricks bar for the last two hours of free drinks.

Back to Kez and Franks apartment to watch the sun set over cheese and bickies, before walking back with a slightly wobbly boot. Obligatory stop for gelato on one of the small bridges completed a full day.