Out of Order

Yes, I know.  Those last two posts are out of order.  HOWEVER...they were part of the trip and I'm not sure why I didn't put them in before.  I guess I wanted to post them for myself and my memories if nothing else. 

Shakespeare's Verona

After our fiasco day we finally made it to Verona.  Our hotel was called the Hotel Trieste and was a wonderful little bed and breakfast.  I have never stayed at one before and while the room wasn’t fancy like those in the Starwood Hotel chains, it was spotlessly clean and the rest of the place felt just like home.  There were seating areas with cozy couches and an old wooden desk with a computer on it and it all felt just like my living room.  At night I would go sit down there and do my work with a nice glass of wine provided by the staff while the kids played on the computer.  It was great.  Jake said it has been his favorite hotel he’s ever stayed in. 

I quickly realized after walking around for only a few minutes that I like the pace of Verona much better than Venice.  While there are tourists, of course, you can tell that people actually live here.  We saw school children out all over the place having field trips and the throngs of people were absent.   There were little shady park areas with benches to sit and people watch or eat a sandwich both of which we did a few times.

Besides the lack of the zillion people this place feels more ancient.  I guess I am just a sucker for antiquities.  Verona became part of the Roman Empire in 49 B.C. and actually became known as Piccola Roma.  There is an arena here which is one of the third largest in Europe.  It was used as a gladiator arena and now it is used for opera performances and shows in the summertime.  We just missed the opening shows by a week.  My kids are grateful.

Here's a shot at night of the arena

On day 3 in Verona, we hopped on a bus and went about an hour west to Lake Garda.  Fun, fun, fun!!  We just wanted to relax and swim and play in the water so that what exactly what we did.  To get to the beach we had to walk through the drawbridge of a medieval castle.   I almost got sidetracked and had to do the castle tour right then and there but the kids reminded me of our mission.  Get to the beach.    It was a much needed break from all the touring and walking.   If anyone is considering coming to Italy I would recommend staying in a place like this and taking the bus or train into the big cities.  This is where Italy feels like Italy and not Disneyland.

We did end up getting to go into the castle a little later.  The kids ran around and played hide and seek.  In a medieval castle.  How stinking cool is that?  This one we were able to go all the way up to the top of the lookout tower where, again, my imagination soared. 



Under the Tuscan Sun

After leaving the craziness of Florence we have enjoyed a few days in the quaint little village of Rocca d' Orcia.  Other than Rome, this is my favorite place in Italy.  It is peaceful and beautiful.  So beautiful in fact that I hesitated to even take pictures.  I know that no matter the settings on my camera or how good of a photographer I will ever be nothing can capture the way the sunlight lays across the valley.  There is something special about the Tuscan sun.  It like nothing else I have ever seen.  In the morning there are big pockets of fog that lay over the low parts of the hills and the velvety green pokes out the top and the sunrise makes it all have a glow.  It's kind of like those movies where they put Vaseline on the lens to make the people look more beautiful.  But it's not a movie and there is no Vaseline.  It's real and it's right in front on my eyes.  And the sunsets...there really are no words to describe the way it all looks and my pictures, while I will post them, will never do it justice. 

On our way out we drove past a huge field of wild poppies.  There was a bright red blanket of them and above them was a cypress tree lined driveway with an old stone house on top at the end of it.  Just the way the Tuscany of my imagination was.  This did not disappoint. 

Our home was adorable in every way.  Gracie was in little girl heaven with all the sweet touches the owner had all over the place.  Little tiny tea-cups and saucers and fabric napkins and little nooks and crannies for her to explore.  Every morning I came down to a set table complete with a new centerpiece every time.  It was like her own personal doll house.  She said she wanted to bring it home with her.  I wish I could.