In fair Verona, where we lay our scene

My sister is studying in Verona, Italy, and it was our first stop on our Italian Adventure. This is the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; however, Shakespeare never visited Italy.

This is the view from the Campanele in Verona (bell tower). We were in a slight hurry as there was a sign at the bottom saying the bells would ring at the half hour and hour. Since you walk right by two sets of bells, we did not want to find out how loud it would be! We didn't hear them ring even when we got down with a couple minutes to spare! It was an amazing view!

Mom (Baba), Dad (Daddy Dean/Big Dean), and Wiley in the Arena in Verona. It was built by the Romans. There was a gladiator outside of it with a tattoo on his leg smoking a cig(arette). I don't think he is an authentic Roman Gladiator... Today, you can see Alicia Keys or my personal favorite Rod Stewart perform there. You can also see opera there as well. It was really neat to see an arena as well preserved as this one. I cannot imagine how cool it would be to see Rod Stewart there! Anyone want to go with me?

Just a pretty little street. I love the shutters in Italy...they actually work!
The wall leading into the courtyard where the "Casa di Giulietta" is...there is a balcony there as well. These are all love letters tacked up on the wall. Not as romantic looking as it sounds, but there is a movie (Letters to Juliet) coming out soon about this wall.
You can also pay to visit Juliet's tomb and balcony. My astute sister who is a semi-native now of Verona (she has been asked directions there) points out that Juliet is a fictional character, and of course her tomb is empty as she does not exist. She marvels at those who pay to go and see the balcony and/or tomb. ("It's like paying to go see a broomstick that belonged to Harry Potter.")

Rumor has it that if you touch Juliet's right you-know-what then you will have good luck. Obviously my almost four year old had to get in on that.

Back to the Arena, we found this little door where we imagined the animals might have run out. Wiley decided that they probably were elephants, so he continued to run in and out pretending to be an elephant and on occasion, a lion. He also loved that there was an echo in the Arena if you were loud enough. He didn't trust the Arena to do the echo every time, so he would make his own echos. "Hello!...hellooo...helllooo...helllo!"

Rockin' Robin, do you recognize that dog? He has been all over the place...puddles and mud in London only to be scrubbed clean to take to Italy the next day where he was promptly drug in the grit around Verona.

Verona was a very low key town. It is larger than I expected with more tourists than I thought there would be. (But not many at all compared to Venice and Florence) It was a perfect introduction into Italy! Writing this, particularly the title, really makes me miss my Shakespeare classes in college. I guess I will have to sign up for something similar in London as well as see the Globe! What is it about Italy that makes you suddenly want to learn more about the arts?

Ciao, bella!