Boat ride from Venice to train station
The boat ride from Venice to the train station started off with a little tension as “we had a train to catch.” We were denied entry onto boat one because we could not find our masks hidden in the deep deep caverns of one of our suit cases. We had to wait for the next boat. Now there was concern that we were going to miss our train to Verona.
Alice rushing to the water taxi from Venice
A child from Germany waiting for the boat
Photo taken from the water taxi to the train station
Enjoying the view
About 30 minutes later we got on the boat and had a wonderful boat ride to the train station. I so enjoyed the view and took many photos and videos.
Train ride to Verona
When we arrived at the train station in Verona our first goal was to again attempt to resolve our cellular and internet woes. We first found a small KIOSK in the station that was selling CIM cards. After checking my TMobile phone it was discovered the CIM card would not work on it, probably because it was locked. We then went downstairs to a Vodaphone store and discussed purchasing a NEW Vodaphone with a 30 day CIM card. Unfortunately, they did NOT have the properly priced phone available. We passed and then proceeded to get in the taxi cab to our hotel in Verona.
Train station in Verona
Taxi cab to bread and breakfast
Our taxi cab ride to our bed and breakfast in Verona was a little alarming as we were nearing our destination and could see we may not have been in the best part of town, In either case, we dropped our bags off at the B&B to check in later when the room was available.
Our B&B in Verona, blocks away from the Colosseum
Lunch in Verona
We had lunch at a wonderful little pizza joint just a few hundred yards away from the Colosseum. The pizza was simple and the sauce was fantastic.
Time to to to the bathroom, Again I was faced with walking in on a JOINT bathroom, opened up the door and observed women in the bathroom. I quickly closed the door figuring I must have gone in the women’s bathroom, The pizza man turned me around and told me to go in, Deja vu from my experience in New York when we went to the broadway show Moulon Rouge when a stream of women including Alice walked in the mens room. So much for privacy.
About Verona
Verona is one of the most popular and beautiful cities in Italy. The city of love, the fictional home of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet which houses the Torre dei Lamberti and the Verona Arena.
Verona is in Veneto, one of Italy’s twenty regions. It is located 75 miles (120 km) to the west of Venice and very near Lake Garda, the country’s largest lake. The Adige river runs through the city.
Arena
The Verona Arena is one of the most noteworthy Roman amphitheatres in Italy. It is the second largest, after the Colosseum in Rome and it resembles it greatly. During the summer months, the Arena is used for concerts and operas.
The amphitheatre has the form of an ellipse, measuring 498 ft (152 m) in length and 403 ft (123 m) in width. The maximum attendance is 15,000 people.
Verona Walls
"There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence banished is banish'd from the world, And world's exile is death." Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet" Act III scene III. In the photo, the doors of the ancient city walls.
The Walls and gate of Verona where Romeo was suspected to go through
You were either a soldier or built walls
The Colosseum under construction
Our initial walk around town
Walking around town was an incredible experience. I was so amazed by the big walls surrounding the city and of course the coliseum.
The children of Verona practicing their musical instruments
Practicing guitar
Photographic art by Tom Schmuki
Sheet music study by young student
Alice found another Zara
We walked through the center of town and yes, Alice found a Zara store and more jackets she wants to order. More on this later. Zara, you have a fan!
Back to the room and rested for a couple of hours
Internet woes continue
Internet and cellular woes continue with very poor B&B reception and little or no cellular connection. We were unable to read our emails, do our work, and for me continue my blogging and photographic edits.
An evening of Opera at the coliseum
After a short nap we decided to leave for an early evening for dinner and photography. We walked toward the coliseum and noticed a fully staged choir, orchestra and OPERA singers preparing for a concert soon to happen, How cool is that? We listened, observed and I was so jealous of the patrons that would be able to get in, sit down and enjoy the show, Alice and I discovered the show was FREE but only a few tickets available, Now we have the tickets in hand and are prepared for an experience of a lifetime.
You must not forget, we listen to opera and classical music nearly every day, I sang classical and opera in high school and college after receiving a vocal scholarship. This scholarship was earned by singing 6 OPERA arias all in different languages. We were thrilled.
The concert included a full ensemble professional orchestra, opera choir, and of course the 2 stars of the show, a male and a female opera singers.
Click this link to view and hear our night at the opera
You can click the following link to enjoy a video of the signs and sounds of the opera, What a night!
Video link to Opera (2 minutes) - Youtube
Incredible dinner at the Colosseum
After the concert we sat down at an adorable restaurant adjacent to the coliseum. The food and service was just incredible. Take a look at some of the food.
Walk home
Our walk home to the hotel will go down as an experience neither one of us will forget. The path to our hotel room which I was determined to take was not acceptable to Alice. She simply did NOT feel safe as she observed possible hoodlums lurking in the dark. Perhaps I missed them. In either case, there was some tension that took a while to be resolved.
Breakfast at the B&B
The breakfast at the B&B was fantastic and probably our best breakfast to date on this trip. I am in love with the Italian Nutelo on fresh croissants.
Our final walk about town
After breakfast we knew we had to get as much as we could in before our next train ride to Florence in the afternoon,
Alicia at the Colosseum
Another artist hard at work
These walls are so impressive, and smelly!
Visiting Juliet's home
Our visit to Juliet’s home was on Alices bucket list and I found it to be very interesting and incredible. Clearly I did not even know that these characters were not just fictional characters by Shakespeare but she actually lived there. Take a look at some of the photos.
Now it is time for some shopping
I purchased a very nice belt and Alice purchased a tee towel.
Wonderful lunch at tapas
Resteraunt name was: TapaSotto in the heart of the city, WOW, WOW. Another great meal. It seems each small meal “Tapas” the last. We love to go to a Tapa’s restaurant in the heart of Delray beach called Papa’s Tapas.
After lunch we had to rush home and get a taxi to the train station. Amazing this is all happening with little art NO internet or cellular connectivity. The frustration continues.
Train ride to Florence
Alicia getting ready to board the train from Verona to Florence
The train ride to Florence was in “first class” and took about 1.5 hours. These trains are nothing like the Miami Tri-Rail. They are clean, big comfy seats, fast and we even got some service of drinks and snacks along the way. I was again reminded to pull my mask up on my face during the ride.
Just another Tommaso and Alicia day. Ciao