Obviously my writing isn't quite up to Shakespearean standards as yet, so it's unlikely that I will have a city as fond of me as Verona is of old Wills.On arriving in Verona by train (Stazione Centrale) we took a bus to a hostel Nina had used once previously. It's a gorgeous 16th Century Villa, converted into a hostel with several large single-sex dorms. Sadly it was also up the side of a mountain, but the gardens and views were amazing so I didn't give her too much of a hard time about it.
The main street in Verona (via Mazzini) is much like any famous street in Europe (Champs-Elysées, Oxford Street etc.) with its numerous high class label shops and boutiques. To come to Verona just to shop would be nothing short of criminal. Being in Italy we obviously brought a slice of pizza each and went for a wander (Nina has told me numerous times that this is one of her favourite cities and that she had been there many times before, however I did begin to doubt this when it took for ever to find any of the major sites, and Veronians don't like to use signs). Eventually we located Casa di Giulietta which we visited the following day. It's here that the famous balcony in Shakespeare's work stands. There is also a bronze statue of Juliette who now has a very shiny right breast due to a superstition that if you give it a rub you will be lucky in love and life.
During our stay we also came across the 1st century Amphitheatre in the Piazza Brá, which is renowned as one of the best if not the best example of a Roman Amphitheatre, and Gladiator quotes aside it is an amazing structure. Even more amazing is the fact that they still use it for entertainment purposes, but sadly rather than gladiators fighting to death the choice of amusement is opera.Usually on this bank holiday weekend I would be at the Reading festival, however instead I had been coerced into going to the opera and seeing Aida. I was highly sceptical but we went armed with 2 slices of pizza each and a scrumptious red wine (albeit in a plastic bottle) and proceeded to get blown away. It certainly wasn't the Smashing Pumpkins or the Red Hot Chili Peppers but it was still absolutely stunning.
On our penultimate day we took a local coach to Lake Garda, about an hour from the train
station. The journey took us through some amazing scenery of vineyards and olive groves. I had my very own guided tour from Nina who had "repped" there for a summer season a while back. Lake Garda is beautiful, there is amazing food being served everywhere, virtually all the restaurants have views over the lake with the foothills of the Dolamites in the background. And the whole area was so laid back, one to recommend to any one who wants a bit of relaxation, good food but the opportunity to get a bit cultural by taking day trips to both Venice and Verona (perhaps catch the opera on an organised coach tour?).Next stop Vienna (lots of V's in this period of travel).
TTFN
Daz
