Escape to Verona

Enjoying the quiet train ride to Verona

 Early the next morning we found out that two large cruise ships had docked in port, and all their travelers would be disembarking in Venice.  That would be about roughly six thousand people disembarking on this tiny island. No wonder Venice was sinking!  For this reason we thought we would take a train trip to Verona.  It would be better than fighting the lines to get a vaporetto.
     We got dressed and went down to a nearby deli to buy food for our trip.  As we stepped out of our hotel, we saw the flood of people schlepping their suitcases in a constant river passing before us making their way to various hotels down the narrow street.  After buying our food for the trip, we headed toward the Santa Lucia Train Station.  Going there was like a salmon swimming up stream in a torrential flood.  We dashed and dodged our way against the continuous traffic coming at us, finally making it up the stairs to the station.
   

Slow and fast trains

Two fast trains that have engines on both ends so they come and go without turning around!

        We looked at the log and found a slow train that was leaving in ten minutes. We managed to get two tickets and rushed to find the correct train. There were ten trains and one just began pulling out. We had just missed it as it picked up speed down the track.  So back to the station we went to change our tickets.  We were sent to another section of the station and got in line.  We told our sad story to the clerk, and he said that he would exchange our ticket to a fast train going and coming back.  It was due to leave in a half hour. It would cost 50 euros more but we were in no position to quibble.  So that was fine.  We carried our precious tickets to the waiting train and relaxed.
       When the train left the station, it was so smooth we hardly knew it was moving.  These high speed trains run on electricity with electric cables strung along overhead.  They have special rails called high speed rolling stock and dedicated high speed lines.  The advantage over planes is that the rail depots are near the center of towns and can link smaller distances than planes.  Also they are more eco friendly as they do not use gas.  I wish we had one of these to link Tampa to Orlando to Miami, and back to Tampa across Alligator Alley! This was the first time John had been on a European fast speed train.  He loved how quietly it rolled at a speed of 200 mph. We thought the slow train would give us more time to see the countryside but now on this fast train we would have an hour more in Verona.
       As we got under way the scenery changed from urbane industrial parks to open green fields of agriculture.  Lovely fields of poppies and manicured fields of vegetables were displayed as far as the eye could see.  Also there were many vineyards and tree farms with all types of decorative trees.

Bright red poppies

Agricultural field

Vineyards

     We arrived Porta Nuova station in Verona and took a local bus to get to the Piazza Bra in the center of town.  Because Verona straddles the Adige River in Northeastern Italy and is in the crossroads of many traveled roads, it has been claimed by many people in its past like a political football.  The Romans occupied it in the 300 BC and used it as a military settlement. It was taken over by the Visigoths after the fall of Rome.  The Goths claimed it until it was overthrown by the Lombards in 569.  Charlemagne crushed the Lombards and the city became the vacation sites for the rulers of Italy's city states through the Middle Ages. When Napoleon took over Italy, he made Verona part of his kingdom of Italy.  Upon his defeat, Verona was claimed as part of Austria. In the second World War it was claimed by the Nazis.  When they were defeated by the Allies, Verona was again part of Italy.
   

     We entered the Piazza and took a stroll on the Roman basalt, tile road around the lovely circular grounds with a soothing fountain in the center.  It was fun just to sit and watch people pass by speaking a variety of languages.   We saw many groups of students an well as other tourists.   The Hop on Hop off bus was stationed at one end picking people up for their tour of the city.  We had a limited amount of time, so we chose to follow our own map an head for the sites near by.
   

Students from the US exploring Verona

 The Arena was first on our list and it was situated across the piazza.  We walked towards it and met several interesting people along the way.

His group was from Argentina!

John though he was a Lady!

The walk way at the base of the Arena

       The Arena was built by the Romans around 30 AD. The word "arena" means sand for the sand that was placed where the fights would take place.  Its length of the building is 139 meters and 110 meters wide. It seats 25,000 people in its 44 tiers of marble seats. This was the site for gory gladiator games that were so popular that every seat was filled with the wealthy rulers in the low seats and the poor and women in the top. During the Middle Ages the Arena was used to view executions by the Inquisition and jousting tournaments.  Now Rock concerts fill the stadium. We made it a point to walk all the way up to the very top to get a good view. This wasn't easy as many of the seats were partly destroyed by centuries of people who tore up what they could for their own building needs. Also some seats were destroyed in an earthquake in the 1200s.
 

Still in use today as an ampatheater for concerts.

The stage in front is set up for the evening's Opera

     Reaching the top, we happened to meet a couple from Germany and an American theater teacher from Belmont, California who was teaching a summer course at a near by university.  We all looked down at the stage where the stage hands there were preparing for the evenings' opera by bringing huge statues supported by cranes to place on the stage.  The Opera is a big deal in Verona and people from everywhere come to the Arena to see spectacular Italian Operas such as Verdi's Aida. I made it a point to see this event on my next visit to Verona.

John points out the nice seats!

Now he points out even better seats under cover and the orchestra pit.

Large props brought down with use of cranes.

Measure the size of this prop with the people in the front.

     We left the Arena in search for Juliet.  Shakespear must have loved Verona for he set two of his plays in this local: Romeo and Juliet, Two Gentlemen of Verona.  We did some window shopping as we wen to along the narrow streets.

Two ladies from Kalamazoo

A typical narrow street with no cars.

Check out these amazing boots!

Suspended in mid-air...How do they do it???

Europeans must love worn out old Jeans! You find them in the nicest shops!

  We finally found the tunnel leading to Juliet's Balcony.

John adds his name to the list of admirers.

We arrived and joined in with other tourist admiring the statue of Juliet.

Tourists streaming in from the tunnel.

We took turns getting our picture taken with Juliet.

"Touch me here and you will return to Verona"

And me too!

Here is hoping the lovely lady will grant our wish to return again!
We made our way to the bus stop after more window shopping, and rode the bus just in time to catch our train back to Venice.  We had a most enjoyable day and could now take a siesta on the smooth train ride back dreaming of sweet Juliet...

Time to take a snooze!