Leopardi Hotel Verona

Hi there, ok, so its been ages since i blogged......busy times in florence....<br><br>Right, the highlights that you have missed so far....<br><br>we spent a week in Impruneta (suburb of Florence in the begining of the Chianti region) at Steph and Barbara's summer place. So nice and relaxing being in the country side.<br><br>We took full advantage of being around during porcini mushroom season (YUM!!) We ...

... the budget out so I can work with them. Anyway. Wednesday of that week Alessia and I were supposed to go to Garda Lake, but she got a job and wasn't able to. So, Friday came, and I decided "I'm not going to sit around here another minute. I'll go by myself." And am I glad I did that. <br><br>I briefly looked at the train schedules before I rushed out the door to catch the bus into Brescia. I got to the station, bought my ticket, and waited ...

... across the square and to enter the cathedral. It was crazy with people walking through the water (getting wet), people pushing in and police actually trying to get some order. We decided to get out of that area quickly as everything was overpriced. We headed towards the Rialto Bridge and came across toilets which cost 1.50 Euros each person which apparently is the going rate. So for 4 of us, it cost $12 AUD just for us to go to ...

... painting in them were common. I&#8217;m not really into Italian art, but there were a couple of Bellini&#8217;s paintings which were a standout. The castle itself was impressive, including the bridge that crossed the river from the castle. After we left the castle, we searched for a kid&#8217;s playground that we read about, plus Tara wanted to go to the toilet so we thought there would be one there. When we found it, the playground was really suitable for small ...

... 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 ...

... you soon!<br><br>Oh, Oh, OH! Rudi and Gabi, as you know Mauro and I have been exchanging emails. I am sure you will not find it at all surprising that tonight I sat in a pub for a mere 20 minutes and in that time saw Camaronesi have a hand in scoring two goals. He truly is magnificent. But I think I am the Jessica to his Romo. ****, neither of you watch American football. Let's just say I am the Posh to his Beckham. Capito? Capito.<br><br><br>

... the city. We are looking for English book stores and seeing the sights along the way. Unfortunately all of the bookstores are closed so we end up just enjoying this great little city. The Arena looks like an intact version of the Coliseum. The city walls are very cool. We see Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House) from Romeo and Juliet (takes place here in Verona). The balcony from which Juliet supposedly stood was added to the building in 1935 so like the story it is a mix of fact and ...

... t believe what we were seeing, I have never seen rain like that before, or since. It was hammering the floor and stung when it hit you. Hundreds of guys selling umberellas and rain macs appeared selling them for 5 euros each, so we stocked up! I was desperate for the show to start, I knew the rain would make it even more memorable, and it really did. As we got into the arena, and everyone started taking their seats, the colours ...

... where we saw Shakespeares fictional Juliets supposed balcony. I also rubbed the breast of her statue in the courtyard which is supposed to bring a new love...you never know. We entered the roman amplitheatre which wasnt as impressive as the one in Avignon and toured walked around a Basilica with great frescos and a corpse in a glass coffin in the crypt. Oh...and had the most amazing gelato EVER! Off to Venice tomorrow...

... toast and tea and having a scratchy throat. Sarah will have more about Verona on her blog, which is listed under my favorites as "azmarine." Things I found out about Verona - It's nice, but forgettable (especially if you're sick). The story of Romeo and Juliet was not created by Shakespeare, but by another poet many years earlier, and he based his poem on reality. All of the things marketed as R&J-esque ...