The Veneto

Last week we took a last-minute getaway to the Veneto, visiting Verona, Lago de Garda and Thomas' old U.S. Army stomping grounds, Vicenza. Of course, I am disappointed we didn't make it to Venice, the city of water, but we had a wonderful time nonetheless. Some friends let us stay with them in Verona and there we visited the Arena, Juliet's balcony (and of course we wrote on her wall), a number of famous architectural anomalies, as well as a photo exhibit of Henri Cartier-Bresson's work. Verona is magical and I was very sad to leave this beautiful city, rich in history and in culture, yet small in a way that made me feel more at home than where I sit now, in our "home" outside of Torino. We also made it to Gardaland, an under-glorified Disney World. I was pleasantly surprised to find it clean, spacious, and not crowded. There is nothing like sitting next to your child as they experience the thrill of a roller coaster for the first time, whether that "thrill" was traumatizing or not. :)