Best Western Hotel De Capuleti Verona

... the lake. The food produced in this area of Italy is another of the many highlights, the number of cheeses, ham and wines to sample seems infinte. The area has all kinds of diverse scenery and vistas to enjoy. I have been visiting this area for over 5 years and have come to the conclusion that the aesthetic and cultural assets are hard to beat.

... porridge with mushrooms and mozzarella which was sooo yumm,and then tripe and polenta which was also good.
They like their polenta here...

Checked out Juliette's House as it was included in the Verona card we got, but it was pretty **** and not worth paying for separately. She never even lived there...

Verona is a nice little town, but 1 day was plenty enough and time to move on to Milan

... of undying love to each other. Makes for quite a sight really. There were nice markets there and a sort of mini colosseum which is still used today for concerts.

There was also a statue of Juliet which is meant to bring you good luck if you rub her right breast. Her right breast is very polished!

Jumped back on the coach to the next stop!

We left Trieste, and set off for Venezia, and to visit some of Dad's friends who had visited Vanuatu a couple of times on sailing trips. Since they have always live on boats, their house was so small and almost looked like living on a boat as well! It was so cute, and very unlike a typical Italian house!! We had lunch there....mmm...moustache fish!! Haha ...

... t go after that). All was fixed by a gelato in the main square though :)

Then spent a week in central Florence with the most fab view ever, right over the ponte vecchio. Saw some of my favorite sights in Florence, took Jason to get a haircut, ate a ton of pizzas and good food, and all and all had a fab time in Florence.

Have been passing the time giving Jason Italian lessons and he's doing ...

... ants nest. not the best pitch we have ever had. We spend the first day lounging by the lake, this part of the lake is dirty and nothing like the romantic picturesque images we were looking forward to. nevertheless it was relaxing the food was good and the beer was cold.
what more could I ask for?
a pitch in the shade away from the ants and the children, too much to ask?

... cool down. It was about half an hour's drive away so the boys eventually met us at Jenny's and we all headed off there. As it was a Sunday and hot, not surprisingly many others had the same idea so the place was packed but we finally found a great spot under the trees and had some lovely swims in the various pools. We had to buy some bathing caps as it is compulsory to wear them in Italian swimming pools. I'm afraid various family members refused ...

... to the park for a relax, before heading off to an afternoon milonga and later a performance by a famous bandoneonist and superlative guitar player, and a fantastic Argentinian singer.
At the Agriturismo that night the lady says that fewer guests have turned up than were expected and would we like dinner - we are still full from lunch but Roberto and I sit down and she brings us a big bowl of risotto, then the biggest T-bone steak I have seen in my life. It is ...

... in time before the opera started at 9pm. We had cheapie seats which were right near the top of the arena on the stone steps - luckily we managed to get a space, as although the arena is massive, there were thousands of people there. Just as we sat down we were overcome with a massive attack of hunger (we hadn't eaten for 8 hours) and although there were drink sellers making there way around the arena, there didn't seem to be any food - so Cam did an amazing dash ...

... are very delicious, probably the best I've had so far. My first right choice was to visit an old friend from SF who has been living here for the summer, studying the language. I came to Verona to meet him, not having intended on visiting this city at all. I've found out that most people don't intend to come here, they just end up here, and it's a pity that no one plans on visiting because it's a gorgeous town. Just touristy enough with lots of ...