ROME
8-13 December 2005
 

There had been torrential rain throughout the day of my arrival, and I got soaking wet. But the next morning Rome was bright and sunny. This is the view on Friday morning from the balcony of my guestroom in the Swiss Institute.
 

Saturday morning trip to the Cantoria in the Sistine Chapel. From left to right: Ludwig Schmugge, Laurenz Lűtteken, Jűrgen Heidrich, Birgit Lodes, Alejandro Planchart, Klaus Pietschmann, Kerstin Helfricht, Gundela Bobeth, and Sabine Ehrmann-Herfort.
 

Saturday afternoon: on a walk through Rome with Christine and Kerstin. They were both burned as witches in a former life. By some coincidence, this is when I happened to be the Cardinal and Grand Inquisitor. But we’ve left the past behind us.
 

Saturday afternoon: on the turret of the Swiss Institute. Left to right: Warren Kirkendale, Reinhard Strohm, Christoph Riedweg, and (looking the other way) Kerstin Helfricht.
 

Saturday afternoon: on the turret of the Swiss Institute.
 

Saturday night: with Alejandro at the conference dinner. After some discussion we agreed that Guillaume Du Fay must have gotten his driver’s license some time around 1419.
 

Sunday morning: Iain Fenlon's paper. Around the table from his left: Gundela Bobeth, Jűrgen Heidrich, Nicole Schwindt, Alejandro Planchart, Laurenz Lűtteken, Birgit Lodes, Reinhard Strohm, Klaus Pietschmann.
 

Last-minute shopping on Monday night, and here I run into five Santas!
I don’t think they were real Santas, though.