Hotel Luna Rossa Malcesine

... the city of the star crossed lovers.....saw the house and tomb of juliet and walked around this fab city. Defo suggest coming here. Had a great dinner last night of pasta and bean soup (local speciality). Jason was suggested to eat horse, so he did. I think it kinda grossed me out, especially when we saw his brother trotting by earlier this afternoon.<br><br>Anyways, off to go explore and eat now, later!<br>

... 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 ...

... caught a vaporetta which is just like a ferry down the Grand Canal, under Ponte de Rialto to Piazza San Marco where the markets selling tourist stuff were right where we got off. Katelyn was impressed with the Carnivale masks which were pretty impressive and not really that expensive (probably made in Asia). St Mark&#8217;s Square was flooded right in front of the cathedral and they had a narrow timber walkway for people to ...

... summer. Katelyn thought that there must have been a concert the night before as there were cigarette butts everywhere and some rubbish behind seats, but we had to remind her that we weren&#8217;t in Switzerland anymore. It would have been great to see a concert there.<br><br>We moved on to the Castelvecchio which is a castle or home to a couple of the noble families of Verona but is now a very important art gallery with religious paintings which always had some form 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. :)

... 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. <br>