Hotel Casa Serena Malcesine

... keep up the espresso lifestyle, but if I can, watch out world. I will be the next Picasso. Although I can't paint. Well. I'll be the next something.

I don't have major news to report. It's sad when the 'same ol, same ol' is "I had one of the best pizzas of my life, I went to one of the most fascinating wine bars of my life, I wandered around and was as happy as I've been in my life..." It starts getting old to hear, I'm sure. But to ...

... some vitamin C will kick it out. And I have some succa di arancia e annanas. Not bananas as you might think, but pineapple. Go figure.

I'm going into the city to find internet and to eat at a little place I noticed the other day. It's called La Cantina De L'Arena. Which I just realized should actually be Cantina Dell'Arena, right Signora Tumminia? Anyway, it called to me last time I was there but was ...

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! :)

Verona may just give you a run for your money.

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.

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. :)

... My glass had lip marks on it, and we told him that we had already sipped the water, and he just laughed and quickly took our order. Hmmm.. made us think twice about sipping our water when it arrived.

Next time I'll stay in Verona, and visit Venice.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." ~ Romeo and Juliet

... quick visit to a local doctor. After playing charades and being translated by his daughter over speaker phone, he diagnosed me with Bronchitis and gave me a prescription for a few different things to make sure I got rid of it for the cruise. We stayed in Verona for 3 nights, much of which I took it easy trying to get better. We did have a look around the city one day, seeing Juliet's balcony and a few other sights.

... the towns and the mountains and fields. We have decidedly chosen to take the non toll roads. The drive to Verona would have been 3 hours on the highway but we took the 6 hour drive through the most gorgeous scenery I have ever experienced! 3 hours of mountain driving passed by in a second! Luckily Chris was driving because I don't know how I would have felt driving along some of those cliffs but he took his time so we were safe as can be! I ...

Today the morning started our cloudy and rainy and we headed north to Lago Di Garda (Lake Garda). It is that largest lake and considered one of the most beautiful. Artistically the region was greatly influenced by the Venetian Republic which ruled the region from 15C to 18C. We were headed to a peninsula that is at the southern part of the lake a town called Sirmione. They have a 13th C castle call Scaligers’ Castle that we paid 4 euros to be able to walk ...

... down the countless amount of stairs to the town of Verona itself, which was good because it meant that we didn’t have to drive in and find a parking spot for Fred. After walking through the main area and looking for Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) awhile, we finally found it! It was packed with tourists but a special place to see-the balcony where Shakespeare apparently set the scene was in full view from the courtyard. The entire area around it ...

... was scheduled any day soon, so no problem, right? Being Italy, though, official rules and plans are apparently only suggestions and general mirages. When we came back to the arena new posters were up signifying that there was a concert THAT night. Posters that weren't up at 1:30 in the afternoon, a half hour before they cut off entrance. Better yet - the official information booth knew nothing about it ...