Via Sottoriva - Verona

I read about Via Sottoriva before Angela and I headed out for the day in Verona. This was one area that I knew I wanted to see. Via Sottoriva is a street in Verona (one street in from the river, leading to Ponte Pietro) and it is beautifully lined with historic buildings and the traditional archways. The colorful stretch was lovely to walk through... lined with little restaurants and shops.

Ponte Pietra - Verona

Ponte means bridge in English. One of the main bridges in Verona is the Ponte Pietra. Angela and I really enjoyed walking around Verona on a gorgeous day... we walked along the river and to the Ponte Pietra... heading to an overlook of the city that is located on the other side of the bridge. Below are some pictures taken of the bridge, as well as from the bridge... the view was great!

lovely VERONA, ITALIA

From Abruzzo, Angela and I took the train to Verona. What a great city! I really like that Verona IS a city, yet it is small and incredibly walk-able. We arrived late in the evening, had a full day the next day (my birthday!), and then just the morning of the day after... and it seemed like a good amount of time to explore and see the sights.

Below are some photos from our full day as we walked around:

Verona's arean (coliseum) is great... it is central in the city and there are often shows and concerts in the evenings (of course... there were no shows the two nights we were in town... but shows surrounding our time there! ha... next time.)

One end of the arena/coliseum:

We walked past a few libraries!

This one is the antique archives and communal library:

Library and Archives:

the piazza in front of the duomo:

Piazza Erbe:

personal connections...

I was in CoOp, the main grocery store in my little town of Opera, and saw Massimo - one of the guys that works in the produce section. Massimo is super nice - he first helped me last Fall (when I had just moved here)... I was looking for hot (chili) peppers. From that first time - on, he always gives me a smile and a hello... calling out, "Ciao Stazy!"

When my parents and brother, Sean, were here last Christmas they met Massimo as well... and he loved meeting my family. Massimo especially loved Sean. The two of them connected right away.

On his last day in Opera (or at least the last time he was in the CoOp before leaving Italy), Sean said that he had to go find Massimo to say goodbye.   : )

So now... Massimo saw me and asked how my parents are. ...He then asked how Sean is doing ...and told me (in Italian) to make sure to tell Sean that he says hello!

I think it's really awesome that connections and friendships can be made even when fluent communication is not there. In this instance, something about their energy or personalities... or something... spoke to each other.

My dad is great at forming these kinds of connections as well. He will use what Italian words he does know and have people smiling, laughing, and speaking back.

My mom gets in to town today - YEAH! She is, unfortunately, landing about 5 hours later than she expected but I plan to meet her in the city soon and it's a beautiful day in Milan today  : )  She'll be here for the week ahead and I'm really, really looking forward to soaking up some Mom-time!

FISH LUNCH at Silvana and Vincenzo's!

When we were invited to Silvana and Vincenzo's house for lunch, they asked us if we like fish. YES! SI!

Vincenzo said that the entire lunch would fish(es)... and he was right. Amazing. We had six different types of fish made a variety of ways. This is truly one of the best meals I've ever eaten.

Primo (first) course - pasta with fish:

Secondi (second) course - four different plates of fish:

These stuffed prawns (shrimp) were absolutely amazing, mmmmmm:

Cold salmon with onions, tomatoes, and a juice sauce... amazing!

Angela, Christopher, Denis, Gina, Silvana:

I was already stuffed and then Vincenzo brings out a huge platter piled with aluminum foil packets. I asked what was inside and he said 'a surprise' - haha. Inside was a breaded fish... teeth and all! I felt like I was back in Vietnam but without chopsticks. This was awesome. We basically picked at the fish to get forkfuls... so soft and flavorful.

Aaaaand, of course, rounding off the meal with a caffe!

Silvana and Vincenzo's FRUIT GARDEN

Silvana and Vincenzo have a really beautiful backyard with many flowers and fruit trees/plants. Below are some photos of their fruits. Vincenzo asked Angela if she wanted to take a lemon home from his tree... and her response was perfect... "Perche no?"... Why not? Haha.

Clementines

Strawberries

Oranges that don't look orange:

Banana plant:

Lemon tree:

Silvana and Vincenzo's FLOWER GARDEN

Silvana and Vincenzo have a really beautiful backyard with many flowers and fruit trees. Below are some photos of gorgeous flowers:

old-but-still-beautiful rose: