Sunday 11 March 2001

Made it to Rome yesterday, mostly hassle-free. Chris missed his connection in Paris by 5 minutes and ended up stuck there for 6 hours, only reunited with his luggage this morning. Marie had had the foresight to book a table in a great restaurant for last night, so we all ate very well, feeling a bit underdressed for a Roman Saturday night compared to everyone around us.

And for today's free day, the sun shone, the breeze blew, the Colosseum and the Forum were beautiful, and even the roads were closed - it was a pedestrian Sunday. Another stunning meal at lunch, courtesy of Paula's recommendation this time: with her usual style, she booked the table not in her name Chateauneuf, but as Castelnuovo. I came back, slightly sunburnt, to the hotel for a siesta before our party at the British Council. Brendan Griggs has the good fortune to live in the flat above the Council's offices, complete with huge roof terrace, so we stood under the stars and watched the moon rise. 

Now tomorrow we're going to have to do some work.