Hotel Antonella Malcesine

... to Siena for a day trip and Jason nearly got arrested tryint to use a public toilet. I guess it costed 50 cents but he only had 3x20 cent coins and wasn't sure if the machine would take not exact change so jumped the turnstyle instead. Got screamed at and chased down by the italian bathroom police (a highly specialized elite force) so he put the money in and had the pee scared out of him (literally, as he ...

... on and on, usually going in circles. In between all the internal struggling, I would have moments of pure delight, like when we took the boys to the swimming pool and my Italian teacher/English student bought me a cup of hot chocolate. But hot chocolate over here is not thin, weak chocolate water that Americans drink. No, no, no. This hot chocolate is more like hot pudding, I couldn't fathom the idea of drinking it, it looked too thick. It ...

... toilet. We took the obligatory photos at the Rialto then just planned to walk towards a different section of the Grand Canal, but ended up just wandering through the back streets soaking up the atmosphere. There were tourists everywhere we went and of course shops selling Murano Glass and other souvenirs- I don’t know how they all survive. We ended up losing our way constantly until we got the Grand Canal opposite the ...

... and Tara went into the toilet and found it was one in the ground that you had to squat over so she refused to go.<br><br>We then went to have gelati and search the old city for toilets and found some near the tower which everyone refused to climb as they said they have climbed enough towers. They also refused to go into a church as well. We decided to have lunch before we went to the Roman ruins north of the river. These included a small amphitheatre and lots of ...

... We also went from having German co-travellers to Italian ones. It was certainly pleasant hearing Italian for change. Arriving into Verona, we appreciated that it was a bit warmer. We checked into a nice motel which was great as the bathroom was nice and we had our own little room where we could shut the door.<br><br>We were a short walk from the old city where you walked through the arches of the old wall to a piazza where the ...

... It was like finally my brain and my subconscious could operate at the same speed. I was seeing everything at once like a beautiful painting. I know, it sounds like they slipped me some absinthe or mary jane, but seriously, I just watch the crowd of people go by and saw each individual while I saw the whole part of the crowd. It was incredible. Same thing with the clouds, layers and layers and layers of 'seeing'. I loved it. I don't know if I ...

I am all settled in my new home. And I love being able to put out my things, 'stock' a fridge and cook my own meals. I even enjoyed washing the dishes last night. Obviously still the honeymoon period. I think it's been good too, because I've been feeling a little sick. I'm out-mentaling the sickness so far, but it was good to have a quiet afternoon yesterday and a slow morning. Plus I think it's just a head cold so I'm ...

So much so, that it is about to take the title of 'longest stay' while in Italy. I will spend 5 total nights here. Woohoo! I'm about to leave my fabulous hotel that I love to go to an apartment in the city, where I can live like a local with my own kitchen and everything. I am psyched! The only drawback is that it doesn't have internet. So I will do my best to bring my laptop with me and post updates while I'm in town picking up produce. EEEE! :)<br>

Verona may just give you a run for your money.<br><br>I'm in a glorious hotel, drinking German beer -- courtesy Olga at the front desk. And I am right in the very heart of Valpolicella country.<br><br>I've decided that in Paris and Rome I was touristing (though I recognize I didn't see nearly enough in either) but Verona is going to be relaxing time. Which I also recognize is ridiculous since I go on a cruise in less than a week. But whatever, it's my trip, I get to decide what I'm doing. :)

(Whitney)<br> We found a lovely place to stay in Verona. It was our own apartment with a kitchen and tv and living room area! We found it on a last-minute booking site and it was the same price as a hostel which was awesome! We really just chilled our for a few days in Verona. We had plans to go see Mantua but we were feeling too lazy so we just looked around Verona- a lovely town with a great main square and a first ...