“...IN FAIR VERONA WHERE WE LAY OUR SCENE...”
~Wm. Shakespeare ~
“WeeeWaaa… WeeeWaaa…WeeeWaaa… WeeeWaaa”
“Attenzione…attenzione…questa strada e chiusa...”
“WeeeWaaa… WeeeWaaa…WeeeWaaa”
“W T F!!!!!’
A very groggy Chucky springs from the cozy bed in Hotel Aurora, stubbing his toe opening the balcony door only to find police cars cruising by, lights flashing, sirens and loudspeakers blaring… and then, as if by magic, hundreds of cyclists come rushing down the now closed lakeside street of Lungolago Cesare Battisi; it takes a full 5 minutes for all the riders to pass, followed by chase cars with spare parts, ambulances for picking up broken parts and the last polizia with flashing lights-reopening the road.
Yeah… now THAT explains all those bicycle related exhibits and booths in the middle of Desenzano last night. Known as the South Garda Road, this was the Final Race of the Long Distance Road Championship where riders choose one of two courses that can run as long as 126 km, at altitudes up to 1144 meters [3753 feet]. Ok…Time for breakfast.
Dragon Lady decides to grab a quick shower… we'll maybe not so quick, the shower is so small, that maneuvering is difficult, it was all she could do to spin like a top, barely able to reach around to wash her back without knocking the water controls on and off.
Downstairs, the Front desk at Hotel Aurora doubles as a bar [liquor or coffee] serving as centerpiece for a typical Italian B&B style continental breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, prosciutto, Salami, pepperoni, cheeses, croissants, pastries etc and after a leisurely collazione we finish packing and head out for Verona.
Welllll, almost… Letting her frustrations with Google directions be known loud and clear, Navigator Illy manages to direct us onto and off the Autostrada to
“Ok, where is this underground parking you speak of, I don’t see it?”
“Because its underground… and we just passed, it”
“And you didn’t turn in?”
“See the sign à Senso Unico = One Way… we have to go up here and come back around.”
“You missed the turn, go here…wait no there…ooofff…eeekkk… watch the bicycle!!!’
[The oooofffing & eeeeking has started again since exiting in Desenzano; {remember NOWAT-Italia2001?} expect it for the rest of the trip - here after abbreviated as “O…O…E…E…”]
Several turns later, we glide down the ramp finding a spot next to the exit stairs, and head out to find our first stop, Casa di Giulietta.
We'll almost… DL notices we forgot the spare camera battery when she changed travel bags so Chucky hot foots it back down and up and NOW we’re off.
Finding Giulietta’s house was easy enough with the cut and paste map Chucky made from Google Maps. Then the requisite pics of the kids and the Dragon Lady leaving their names or “Notes to Giuletta”, on the wall adding to the graffiti and of course Chucky and the Dragon Lady clutching Giuletta’s right boob to ensure everlasting love [not that we ever needed the help, but every little bit… etc.]
Next stop…“Ooopsssss, watch that next step!” [She’s tripping all over
Piazza Erbe, a large ornate Plaza in the heart of the centro storico, where we find another festival going on… “il Festival Internazionale dei giochi di strada” or Street games festival, featuring jugglers, dancers, musicians, stret artists doing their thing. There's also organized children’s games as the piazza is filled with tourists and locals alike, mom, dad, kids, Grandparents, and... OK… LOTS of people doing lots ‘n’ lots of stuff. Hey, that’s what these piazzas are for!
 |
| Dante |
“Oh lets go this way, there is something “Que Cute” down there!”, as we stumble on the church of Santa Maria Antica built as
Now the long Trek to CastelVecchio, along the river, which is now an elaborate Museum and gardens with lots of Pre & Post Renaissance Art, etc, and lots ‘n’ lots of steps, stairs and scary [for the acrophobic Dragon Lady] narrow battlement walk ways.[Remember Blue Type signals Links to details] |
| 'Cent Anni from Verona |
It is also where a very tall and elaborately adorned Roman Centurion accosted DL for pictures. They always find her.
At the Ponte Nuovo we spot hundreds of padlocks strung on wires across the river. A few years ago an italian romance movie started this tradition. The couple in the movie pledged their undying love to each by locking a padlock to a bridge, then throwing the key into the water. (Cue the orchestral crescendo and whip out the hankies!) A short walk puts us back at Piazza Isolo parcheggio. After paying to exit, we stay too long studying maps and directions, get stopped at the uscita, and Chucky has to back up, park, and go pay more to get out.
More girare-u’s [“damn Google Directions”] looking for the Autostrada A4 for Modena/Milano/Bologna - always a fun experience… since Italian street signage is sometime sketchy, sometime pretty good… but Google Maps is unaware of construction. Chucky needed to ‘improvise’ as usual –
DRAGON LADY NOTE: But that’s a good thing. He religiously studied Google Maps of Italy before we left the USA
We'll continue with our trip to Montale and Agriturismo Il Pianaccio in the next NOWAT, this has already gotten too long.
Stay tuned for Mrs Toads Wild Ride… Up the “Scary” mountain road.
Ciao 4 Now
Uncle Chuck & The Totally in Love with Verona
Dragon Lady
Dragon Lady
Sipping Fine Tuscan Wine, munching Sharp Cheese & Great Crusty Bread
As always a great commentary of the experiences...I feel I am there with you! I know this is no easy task and does take a lot of time...thank you for sharing when you can! :)
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