Blogs from Verona, Veneto, Italy, Europe - page 16

Arrived in Verona by train late in the afternoon on Sunday. Were told by various travel books that the best way into town was by bus but after sitting at a bus station for 15 minutes we finally said heck with it and took a cab, it was worth the 8 euro. The only entertainment at the bus station was the big screaming match going on at the bus station across from us, these two ladies going at it while the guy and a kid just stood there. Kind of funny really, thank goodness they left right after, on the same bus, too funny. Verona is a nice little town but because it is some type of holiday weekend here not a lot open. Also think because the opera is going on they raised the ... read more

Geo: 45.1511, 10.929Left the quiet hostel, seems like I am the only 1 there. At least I get a room to myself. Walked to the train station and caught a train to Verona. Walked from the station to the touristy part of town, came across the city gates. And then, there in the middle of a large open space was the huge arena of Verona! It was pretty cool and amazing. I wasn't' expecting it to be like this. The arena was built in the 1st century-its so old!! This was a really nice piazza. I walked to the castle, called Castlevecchio, such an original name as it means old castle!! Inside the castle is a museum and I wasn't really interested, so I went back to the arena. It is a really huge arena and ... read more

When I arrived at the Verona Porta Nuova train station, Lucia, the owner of Villa Monteleone, was waiting for me in her car. Twenty minutes later, we were at the winery--home for me in Italy. As I was leaving Verona, I realized that I had not taken a single picture during my stay. For me that is even more of a sign that Monteleone is home in Italy. How often do I take pictures when I go back to my parents in Evanston? Usually rarely. My time at the villa was great to just slow down, relax and catch up with old friends for two days...and very importantly, to do some laundry! Other than all the kids around the winery getting older and growing up, very little seems to have changed at the winery itself. What ... read more

Yesterday I went on a little day trip to Verona, and it is considered one of the most beautiful places in northern Italy for a reason! It is just how you might picture a little Italian city, all pretty buildings and balconies, lots of steps and parks with fountains. Throw in a Roman-looking ruin with strange Egyptian sphinxes out front (a play they are doing) and you have yourself Verona. I even went to Juliet's house! It's pretty amazing, there is a courtyard and on the way in is an alcove absolutely covered in love-graffiti! Paper notes and hearts and Ti àmos all over the place, it is quite astonishing. I even went up into the Capulet house where there is all kinds of memorabilia, things from the Romeo and Juliet films of the 50s and ... read more

Verona was on the map long before Shakespeare decided to write that story about those famous teenyboppers, Romeo and Juliet. While Romeo and Juliet have made Verona world famous, in my opinion the city has a lot more to offer than the supposed house of the Capulets. Verona is located about 120 ks from Venice and about an hour/hour and a half depending on your train connection. Kennedy and I woke up at 6:30 to catch the early triain, but of course we missed it by 10 seconds . Luckily we caught the next one and sat beside this delightful family from Wales most of the way there. I have to say we have met some really cool people on this trip. The train station is an easy 20 minute walk from the city center, where ... read more