Italy - Verona

I thought I would escape the UK winter by popping off to Italy for a week. Foolish me. I experienced more solid downpours in Italy than I have in a year in London! Although you wouldn't beleive it from the lovely blue sky in the photo below!
I flew in to Verona for 1 night, and was a bit worried I would miss the last bus to my hostel as the plane was the last flight, but just made it.

I spent just a few hours in Verona for some minor sightseeing, and no sightseeing is complete with some of our fine feathered friends hanging out in front of a picturesque bridge.

Verona is a charming little town, with the centre set in a very small u-bend in the river which makes it great to walk around.

It's true what they say - you must get up bright and early in Italy to enjoy the colours at their fullest, and the righ earthy tones of the buildings were indeed majestic in the morning sun. Most of the buildings were half in shadow though, which was not good for photos.

Twas in a restaurant they met,

Fair Romeo, sweet Juliet,

They had no money to pay the bill,

So Romie owed what Julie ate.

Here we see Juliet's famous official balcony. However, as she didn't officially exist, this can't officially be her balcony. Now I'm officially confused!

I always pictured it being over a lush garden, as compared to the tiny courtyard it is in.

Juliet herself. What I did not know at the time, it is good luck to rub her breast, as you can see by its fine sheen. Oh well, guess I missed my chance to cop a feel! Darn!

Lovers leave love notes in the entrance to the courtyard on the wall, and 1000's of these notes cover the entire available space.

The central piazza in Verona borders on this Roman Colloseum. On the right you can see a giant metal arm coming out of it, which ends in a giant metal star on the ground. A strange combination of old and new.

Inside the colloseum. No fights today, but on my last night in Italy before flying out, there did seem to be some Opera on the go.

Gateway to the city centre. On my final night before leaving, There was a big festive market in the piazza. Strangely, with stall upon stall to visit, all you could get were sweets, and pancakes with Nutella. Not a single pizza, pasta, boerewors roll or any savoury food to feed my poor starving stomache :o(