The day began sleepily after an extraordinary evening at the Frankfurt Opera House.  Mezzo soprano Cecillia Bartoli gave an exquisite performance that included six encores.  Even the normally reserved Germans were on their feet applauding as she danced her way through the last three pieces.  Her feisty and fun loving Italian nature shone through the usual reserve assigned to singers of her class.  Six or seven bouquets of flowers, and several trills at high note had the crowd beside themselves.  It was quite a Sunday evening for the local Frankfurters.

 

The transition back to the real world began with our usual breakfast and studying of the International Herald Tribune for news of any hope in the financial markets and commentary about the election.  After a languid morning, we took a long, final walk through the forest, kicking piles of leaves, enjoying the peace and calm of the trees and the light drifting through the branches.  I was sad to leave as I gathered my bags and caught a taxi back to the bright lights of the big city and my enormous hotel next to the Messe, as the group of trade show buildings that enclose the Frankfurt Book Fair, is known.

 

I then took Kate on a stroll through the familiar streets beside the hotel which is adjacent to the Goethe University and a local neighborhood shopping street.  We stopped for coffee, chocolate and water; watched the locals walking their dogs and coming home from work and generally soaked up the atmosphere.  Then it was back to to the Mariott hotel to sort myself out, get ready for the first day of set-up at the Fair and catch up on email.