10 New Things

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"There is no world without Verona's walls, 

But purgatory, torture, hell itself.

Hence-banished is banish'd from the world,

And world's exile is death."

                                 -William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet 
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Shakespeare's obsession with Verona is one that I can appreciate. I am truly beginning to fall in love with this city.

Today after breakfast we walked to our school, Idea Verona, (which is only a ten minute walk from my apartment (1)) and had orientation. We learned more about our classes (2) which will start on Monday. I am taking Italian 101, photography, painting and art history. I cannot wait to start my classes.

We ate lunch at a cafe that served us three courses: pasta, meat, then dessert. And we obviously had to end the meal with a shot of Limoncello. This is typically served after meals to aid with digestion and cleansing the palate (3).

We learned that Verona is the largest producer of wine in the entire world (4), so we don't believe there will be a shortage of vino in the next few months.

During our walk we saw beautiful architecture, Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's house), climbed the tallest tower in Verona (or rather took an elevator up to the top) and walked on some ruins that date back to the Roman Empire (5). I am still amazed at how old everything is and how much history can be found in just one town.

The V-Shaped symbol on top denotes that this particular building was in favor of the Emperor. A square shape would have stood for favoring the Pope. (6)

Everything in Verona has so much color. 

Juliet's balcony! 

If you write the initials of you and your significant other on a lock and attach it to the gate at Juliet's house, it is said that the two of you will be together forever.

It's tradition to rub Juliet's right breast for good luck! (7)

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the Sun!

It is  my lady! O, it is my love!"

View from Torre Dei Lamberti, the tallest tower in Italy. (8)

You have to climb 368 steps to get to the top! 

We later braved the grocery store and made our first Italian purchases. We got real creative with pesto pasta and wine. 

At 8:00 pm we had a dinner that lasted over three hours and then all went out as a group. We headed to a bar that Claudio suggested called Campus. Inside we were surprised to find pennants and t-shirts from American universities all over the bar. There was even an Illini flag hanging on the ceiling! (9)

But the biggest accomplishment of the day was walking home with my roommates and not getting lost. (10)

I think I'm gonna like it here.