Alyn met me at the Verona train station at 9p.m. We’re meeting for the first time but I had no problem spotting her because she looks exactly like her sister, my friend, Ruby. She told me that her sister is on European Erasmus program and that I can visit or travel with her. Alyn and I exchanged couple of messages in facebook before my trip, but I forgot where she is based. With my plan-as-I-go style, my trip has been kind of erratic with schedules and directions. It just so happen that when I posted my unhappy status on Budapest, Alyn saw it. Turned out that she’s in Verona, 1.5 hours away from Venice.

 

verona

 

While I never planned to go to Verona, I ended up staying for 3 nights. It was a weekend so Alyn had time to spend with me. We even went on a day trip to Lago di Garda with her friend. Anyway it made me feel at home to be speaking in Tagalog the whole time and eating rice for breakfast.  :-)

 


The beautiful town of Verona is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy. The city is named a UNESCO heritage site because of its urban structure and architecture. I was told that the reason this city has so many beautiful structures is that it had been ruled by many, everyone built something, and nothing got destroyed–very different from the previous places I visited where only remnants of the past can be witnessed.

verona italy

 

verona italy

 

Verona Italy

 

Verona is also known for Romeo and Juliet as it’s the setting for this famous play of Shakespeare. The city obviously bank on this and LOVE (Romen & Juliet souvenirs) is marketed everywhere.

The Casa di Giulietta built in the 13th century  is one of the most visited site here. Its tiny courtyard is packed with tourists with the highlight being a bronze statue of Juliet where it’s supposedly good luck charm for love to rub her. But any mood for love disappears with the pervert clowns rubbing Juliet’s bronze breasts (as in photo).

 

love

 

“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”  — Romeo Juliet opening line