Days 13 & 14 – O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Mary-Ann’s birthday today! As I said to her earlier “I never imagined I’d ever fancy a sixty-seven year old, but I do!!”

Intentions of a day out in Verona, about 30K east. We dry off Scoot. Nip down to the local train station. Get there in good time. Only one very patient multi-lingual lady on duty. Auto-machine doesn’t cater for the trip we need. We wait in line. Patience is a virtue. Especially when it seems every other traveler is making unnecessary small talk with her. We miss our train. Next one due in two hours. We book, but for tomorrow. Decide to explore Peschiera del Garda instead. First impressions can sometimes be misleading. We leave the touristy shops to do what they do best. Slope off along the old town wall to get a taste of the real town. Quay-side is full with gastronomiquers.

Early afternoon clouds over, so we take Scoot out up the coast and into the hills. Let Scoot lead. Not a good idea. Most back roads are dead ends. Make it back to base camp just before more winds and rain set in.

Following morning we Scoot back down to the station. Verona weather promises to stay dry. It’s about due. Knowing a little more of the local lingo would be a help. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Never more so apt as when the garbled announcement gets drowned out.  Whoever is on the other end of the microphone is doing a very good impersonation of an Italian Professor Stanley Unwin. The displayed departure times don’t marry up either. Nothing’s on time. We go for it. It seems to be pointing in the right direction. It is!

Verona is bustling. It’s Saturday. Lots to see though. We bypass the Arena. There’s a show on this evening. Head up towards Miss Capulet’s “supposed” balcony. We’re in luck. She’s in.

The archway leading into the courtyard is an obliteration of love messages. It’s been transformed into a pilgrims’ passageway. A random English one reads “Thank you for your love Romeo & Juliet. My Dave is so dear to me” Que? Hopefully this one is not a poetic romance killer.

Nestling in Piazza delle Erbe is Lambertini Tower, Verona’s tallest. Its 290 steps give us something aerobic to do. The views are worth it.

The exercise has given us an appetite. We relax and watch.

There’s a joint enterprise going on in the city today promoting eastern European countries’ artistic and cultural stuff. It’s different. Various streets and piazzas make way for hay bale races, toboggan rides, poor childrens’ games, wrestling, live music, dance and much more. It’s a good atmosphere.

We round the day off by attending Mass in Verona’s majestic cathedral.