Verona, my first Italian experience

My first foray into Italy was to the small city of Verona, the home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Fortunately there is a lot more to see than Juliet's fake balcony and tourists rubbing her statue's right breast for luck in love. I arrived in Verona after a few hours on the train, it was raining and starting to get dark out. I found my AirBNB apartment without too much trouble, but wanted to make sure I was on the right street. I asked a lady who was walking near me to check and see, but she didn't speak any English. So I pointed at my map and at the street sign, and she seemed to confirm that I was in the right spot. She kept asking me questions in Italian but I could not answer her! It's odd (and awesome) how people will keep trying to help using their language, even though it's clear that I don't understand. I was still confused and annoyed though because my host was not answering the door bell. I thought perhaps there was some mix up. So I went down the street a little ways and found a betting shop that had people in it. Fortunately one person in there spoke English and helped me out. He even let me use his phone to call her. My host was stuck in traffic (Italians stop walking when it rains) and was an hour late. But once she got there everything was fine.

After I settled in a bit, I walked downtown to have my first look at the city and grab some dinner. It was a quick walk, and I had my first view of a Roman arena. I had dinner on the main square, which was surprisingly empty. My waitress was a 19 year old girl, and was curious as to why I was alone. She asked me if it was fun traveling alone, and didn't I get lonely. She wanted to travel, as well, but hadn't yet left Verona. I was surprised at that because I assumed everyone in Europe traveled as much as possible. I told her it was fun traveling, but that of course it gets lonely. I ordered a hamburger and fries simply because I was feeling homesick, and at one point she came up to me with a worried look on her face and asked told me I looked sad. I wasn't sad, but apparently my "trying to remember something that happened 3 days ago" face is a sad face. Oh well.

The next day I grabbed a Verona card (after trying for almost an hour to find the darn tourist office), and visited some sites. I saw the famous Arena, the third largest in Italy, the castle, the Roman Theater, and more. Along the way I had a delicious lasagna for lunch, and ran into some American students studying abroad. Verona was a beautiful city, and a good way to ease into a new country and a new language. It is also where I spent too much money on a new handbag (Italian made!).

The Arena in Verona, Italy. My first, it was awesome.

Inside the halls of the arena.

Ponte Pietra, leading from the castle across the river to a nice park.

There is also a modern art exhibit at the castle, which I was
not allowed to photograph, but these glass stones outside give
an idea to to beautiful glass art I saw inside.

An old window with broken shutter in Verona's old town.

Part of the Roman theater along the banks of the river.

A nice park I found near sunset.

A view of Verona from across the river and up on the hill. There were Veronese watching the sunset.

An olive tree.

Another view of the Arena.

Old marble walkway in the Roman theater. It's amazing that
stuff like this still exists.