Verona, Italy

We just returned from our first USO adventure to Verona, Italy.  We weren't sure how we would do on a group trip, because you go by their schedule...and little R likes to go by HIS schedule!  We left at 12:30 a.m. on a big 'ol bus, and drove all night.  We arrived in Verona around 9:00 a.m.  Little R was a champ and slept until the sun came up!!  We had a group tour of the city (which little R wasn't too impressed with), and then the rest of the day was free time to explore on our own.  We left Verona at 6:30 on the big 'ol bus, and drove late into the night...arriving back home around 2:00 a.m.  Again, little R slept from his normal bedtime (around 8:00) until we got home.  Then we transferred him to his bed, and he slept the rest of the night!  This boy does NOT mess around when it is time to sleep!!

The trip was definitely an adventure!!  There were some scary moments going through the Alps in Austria...hairpin curves and a big 'ol bus are a scary combination!!  And I don't know if I have mentioned the way Germans drive...but it is CRAZY!!  Very aggressive, very fast...and of course, our bus driver was GERMAN! : )

But Verona was absolutely beautiful!!!  Beautiful landscape, beautiful buildings, beautiful weather, and a very interesting history.  Everything I imagined Italy to be!  And the language...so much prettier than the German language!!  We had real Italian food...spaghetti and pizza and lasagna...and it was yummy.  We did some window shopping, some souvenir shopping, and saw Juliet's house and balcony, and Romeo's house.  We walked the streets, just admiring the architecture...it was amazing...not a modern built home in sight!!  We bought some local wine...not sure when we will ever drink it, but at least we have it! : )  And a stop for ice cream rounded out the day!! 

We learned a lot about the story of Romeo & Juliet.  I have never been a Shakespeare fan simply because I get caught up in the language and can't follow the story!  But there's a neat history of the stories written about the lovers, and then Shakespeare taking those stories and creating what we know to be Romeo & Juliet!!  Very neat!

We also learned that in Italy, they eat horse meat!  T was horrified when the tour guide mentioned this, and pointed out the restaurants where it was served, in case we wanted to try it!  We also got to see a protest on the main square later.  And what were they protesting???  The inhumane treatment/slaughter of animals!  Right up T's alley!! : )  They had some pretty descriptive signs, and they were playing a stereo with sounds of lambs and horses being slaughtered.  They were demonstrating right in front of a row of restaurants...where people were eating outside!!  It was interesting, to say the least! : )

And now I will leave you with some pictures...and I will apologize in advance for the number of pictures posted...there were just so many neat things...I couldn't narrow it down!!

View of Verona from the church tower.

Inside the Roman arena...now they have operas here!

R likes the bus!!

The city wall and one of the city gates

Pretty!

City gates

Waiting for the tour to continue...

T & A enjoyed the day!

The Roman arena

R & the Gladiators

T & A and the Gladiators

There were so many pretty pedestrian streets...but all were full of people!

Juliet's house and balcony in the background

Window shopping ONLY! : )

More window shopping...I LOVED the dress in the middle, it was so elegant, all lace...trying to convince one of the girls they need to be married in this dress!! : ) 

Part of the Roman arena

More window shopping...

Frescos...pretty...hard to believe these are hundreds of years old!

Dante

Finally a street not filled with people!!

Waiting for the tour to continue...

Postcard perfect!

R and I actually in front of the camera!!  Ugh...why did I choose horizontal stripes??

Stairway in the tower of the cathedral.  Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the top...got shaky and pale...had to retreat!  Luckily T is not afraid of heights and went to the VERY top!  R and little R made it almost all the way.  A retreated with me to make sure I was okay! : )

More window shopping!

LOTS of people everywhere!  Before the day was up, R was over his limit of crowd tolerance.  But he persevered, and we made it through the day with no outbursts! : )