Ah, fair Verona!

Sorry about the title. I just couldn't resist. It really was fair anyway, the city is lovely and we were blessed with great weather and sunny skies. The following picture demonstrates just how lovely this place really is.
So we set out on Friday and didn't arrive until later in the afternoon. Immediately after our arrival we found our way to the hostel and dropped everything off. The hostel was a lovely reddish color that made me happy. The building was just so Italian. The whole city was just really Italian (shocker, I know). But it was helped by the fact that there were fewer tourists than other places I've visited.

entering verona

We explored Verona for a bit while searching for the recommended dinner place. There's a long street filled with just about every designer outlet imaginable (and a Disney store randomly enough) that leads to the street that holds Juliet's house and a plaza that has a market every Saturday. Dinner was nice, I had gnocchi with "phildelphia" as most places here refer to all cream cheeses and cumin. There's something about the gnocchi dishes here, as with my gnocci and truffle dish, the first half was exquisite but by the end it felt like too much. It is too rich and thick for large portions. After dinner, cappuccino ensued. Then back to the hostel for some much needed SLEEP.

the room

Breakfast the next day was slightly disappointing-- I've been spoiled by hotels! But it worked to fill me and there was a good kind of cereal that I enjoyed. After collecting ourselves and our possessions we headed out into Verona. First stop: ancient Roman amphitheater:

outside (taken the night before, hence the dark lighting)

inside from the bottominside from the top

Climbing up and down this amphitheater was INTENSE. The stairs were really steep and slippery especially since parts of the climb did not have stairs and we were forced to climb the seats. Shows and concerts still take place in this theater which is awesome.

Next stop: Juliet's house. After some gelato of course! I tried mint and didn't really like it. It was too strong. The other flavor, a hazelnut a chocolate blend was good though.

the famous balcony

Yes, I left a note to Juliet and taped it to the wall leading to the house and took a picture with her statue, though I forgot you're supposed to rub her breast. But I'm too lazy to put those pictures up right now so you'll just have to do without (and I don't have much time left). Use your imaginations people. We searched for Romeo's house but, after a disastrous hunt through Verona we only found a plaque quoting Shakespeare next to a door. There is not actual place the way there is for Juliet's home. Bugger.We wandered along the river (whose scenery added to "fair Verona"):
The Duomo in Verona is a pink/red color that made a nice contrast to the green Duomo I'm used to seeing here. Flanking the main doors are two griffins. Not an image I often associate with churches but it added to the place's charm. As far as a church in Italy goes, Verona's Duomo was unique and pretty. It will stand out in my memory from the phalanx of other churches that I've seen while here.

from afar (thats me over there)
from close (you can just make out the griffin on the right)

After the Duomo we meandered our way back to the hostel to grab our bags and get our butts to the train station. Of course, what is an Italian afternoon without some cappuccino? So we rested a little at the same stop as last night. On our way back we ran into an old friend: Dante! He lived here for a few years after leaving Florence. The train ride home was exhausting, but we made it better with a visit to Il Vegetariano where I had a nice broccoli and ceci soup.

Before you go, on the train station before leaving Alaina and I broke down and tried the tiramasu milkshake. Lets just say... fail. It did not taste like tiramasu at all, just like a cream or a vanilla milkshake. Not gross but not good and bland. Oh well. I'll just have to have real tiramasu now won't I?
btw im not going to edit cause im in a hurry. youll just have to enjoy it this way :)