Verona!

The following day we picked up our local guide before heading off to Verona, and oh my word, I just loved it! The place was an absolute labyrinth of piazzas and alleyways with seemingly a marketplace every 10 minutes or so. There were loads of schoolkids on day trips and I had to laugh when one of the older men said he hoped our guide wouldn't get the groups mixed up. Fat chance of that, I think, given that there was probably a 60 year age difference between us and them. On the night we arrived we had had to travel through a pretty nasty storm, but Bergamo and Verona had been hit by over 100 km/hour winds for about 15 minutes and the damage was considerable, although I believe - luckily - no-one was hurt!

My favourite spot was the biggest market place (of course) and while I'm sure much of the stuff was made in China there were an awful lot of beautiful leather bags and ceramic knick-knacks too - the latter being one of my great weaknesses. I was very good though because in reality I don't actually need any more bags (or knick-knacks for that matter) so I ended up spending a grand total of just €10 for a 2027 wall calendar. Gosh, I don't think I've ever shown such restraint!

The market square!

Dante - Dante's Inferno is
mandatory reading in local
schools apparently!

A google image - we couldn't get close
to the Romeo and Juliet balcony
because of the crowds. The balcony itself
was apparently the invention of
Franco Zeffirelli, Director of the
1968 film Romeo and Juliet!

As we were leaving the market square, our guide stopped to talk to a local restaurant owner and he introduced her to a young man with Down's Syndrome that they had just taken on to work with them on a temporary basis. It's always difficult to tell actual ages of Down's people because they look so young but he was oh so dapper in his black and white outfit and black bowtie. I would have loved to have taken his picture and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have minded either, but it's just not done to take other people's pictures, even if he looked like the bee's knees and knew it. Well done to that restaurant for giving him a chance!

The last part of our morning visit was spent at the arena. We weren't able to go inside as maintenance work was being carried out, but our guide explained that they still hold concerts there, it has a capacity of 30,000 people, and no microphones are used during the concerts as the accoustics are so good!

Arena

The main square next to the arena is pedestrian only and people whiz by on their bikes at quite an alarming speed. While I was sitting having a drink an older lady came off her bike and people rushed over to help her up. Fortunately she didn't seem to be hurt but any thoughts I may have had about getting myself an e-bike kinda went out the window after that - think I'll stick to my two feet and a pair of walking boots, just to be on the safe side!