Sole Hotel 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 ...

... constantly, one side saying "what are you complaining for? You're in ITALY, you are spoiled with treats and sweet people, yet you want to return home? What is WRONG with you??" Then the other side pipes up in self-defense "these kids are exhausting! It's hard being here, not knowing the language, not having friends. Even when I'm done working I am still around them, I never have the mental break I need. Give me a break!" And then it ...

... station which is where we had come in. We decided to find a cafe off the canal and have a coffee and sit down (there are few other places to actually sit). We had cappuccinos and 2 pieces of delicious chocolate cake and sat at a table, soaking up the sun. The bonus was that the cafe had a toilet for its customers, so we actually saved 6 Euro!! We had a reservation for a later train but decided to try and get an earlier ...

... artifacts. The view from the top part of the ruins over the old city was spectacular with the continuous terracotta tiles. <br><br>Our last stop on the tourist trail was going to be Juliette&#8217;s balcony for which Verona is famous as the inspiration for Shakespeare. Greg thought it was a load of rubbish and waited outside on the street (he kept on saying, "Juliette is make believe, it&#8217;s not real, it&#8217;s a rip off". It was really crowded as the balcony ...

It was still raining so we got a taxi to the train station as we were heading to Verona in Italy. A funny thing happened at the station- we were in the supermarket there when the security thing beeped as someone went out of the shop- we looked and it was a nun leaving the shop- the shoppers all were smiling. As the trained climbed across Brenner Pass, the rain had turn to snow but as we got into Italy the weather cleared ...

... it anyway. And in fact, it was COFFEE SHAKEN WITH MINT. Go figure, that's almost the exact translation. So I had my first espresso. And holy missoula, it was delicious! And afterward, I didn't have my typical coffee-shakes. Most of you have experienced java josie. And need I say more than "malignant M&amp;M?" I don't think so. But I will tell you what. I have found the motor oil that this particular engine should run on, and it is chilled ...

... But I've been drying everything out on the line outside. I don't think I've ever really done that before. It's kind of fun. Again, clearly still honeymooning. But this little taste of domestic life in the midst of my exploring has been just what the doctor ordered. Then on Friday I head to Venice, Saturday is the cruise and then a week of floating around the Greek Isles. I would have to say that life is pretty darn good.

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 ...