Verona……we love Verona!

The morning started the same except I slept until 8 am, after reading my 4 fabulous comments after the 7:30 church bells rang. Thank YOU to my readers!! It’s SO comical that I am the cook on a trip if you know me…..I only do breakfast and have mastered it if I can toot my own horn. Again fried eggs “Macey style” for all 3 Cohen girls and a salami cheese omelette for me. Sydney slept the longest and little Tabby ate breakfast all bundled in her blanket with me at the table. I serenaded Sydney to get out of beg while telling her there is no wake up time for tomorrow.

The morning started after exiting our apartment with a brisk walk, morning and evening today was with a little chill but the daytime was warm. We have seriously mastered the maze and know our way like the back of our hand with some serious team work to navigate our way across this town to the train station. Over the Rialto bridge we go to cross the Grande Canal. We pass by many regular Italians on their way to work, impeccably dressed, school children gathering in a square. These Cohen girls LOVE dogs, the ooh and awe with each puppy that prances by us on our 30 min morning walk. 

We arrive to the station early, Laurie Sue Shelton style and get our tickets purchased. We have time to relax at a nearby cafe as I need a coffee. UJ, you would be happy since texting with you about that green goodness you enjoy I had a pistachio Croissant, omg!! The girls thought the green creme looked scary, I would have to agree but, it was delish! Along with my American coffee, yesterday I used my last pink pouch and had to use regular sugar. I poured in 3 packets as it’s strong. I pre-warned them all I may be on fire today!

We board our train, get situated and have been discussing astrology. I’m traveling with Tracy, a Virgo- Tabitha, a Sagittarius- Sydney a Cusper, I say she more Aquarius although she is a Pisces if you go by exact birthday. I have shared many stories about my daddy and they are not sure they believe astrology. At 12/14 it’s an interesting conversation to say the least. We sure are keeping the talking at full speed never a dull moment around here 🙂 we have all reviewed our dream travel lists. We chuckle at an Asian girl sitting nearby has those spongy curly rollers in her bangs, doing full make up on train with eye lash curler and all while using her phone camera for the mirror. Funny stuff. 

As the train pulls out of Venice station the magnificence of the fact it’s truly an island is mind blowing. All of a sudden there are cars and highways, so bizarre and actually surreal for a moment. We are on our way to a completely new day in VERONA!! 

We have arrived and are super excited for our SEGWAY DAY!! The girls have never used, Tracy and I are pros. We meet Andre/Andrew, who looks like an Abercrombie & Fitch model with crystal blue eyes and a gorgeous sandy color thick hair. He is half Russian and half Italian, the oldest of 3 kids in his family and so kind to us. We get our very own private 2 hour tour with him. It’s an understatement how much we saw in Verona…..we saw ALL the main sights as we buzzed around like speedy Gonzales. After a short lesson to ensure we know how to operate this coolest mode of transportation on earth we are following the leader. Never could we have seen it all on foot.

We buzz through a green beautiful park with a fountain in the center and famous ruins. The only negative of the tour was all the history is being told via a recording by a monotone boring voice in my left ear. I learn better through stories with meaning.  I’m more interested in allowing my eyes to take it all in, avoid traffic, and see the dreamy architecture of colored shutters enclosing every window sill. These streets are what paintings in our Italian restaurants come from. Like serious pretend picturesque beauty! We pass churches, the Duomo, the famous Brandy Melville store the two teens go nuts over, we remember where it is and add it to the bucket list. Back on the Segway to go over a bridge and take in more priceless views, theatres in the distance, more ruins, green trees, lush beauty, water rapids in all shades of blue- green. Breathtaking!. I have Andrew be my personal photographer and he helps me pose with magical views. We snap a selfie of us together. I love him, hearing his family stories and learning why he enjoys Russia better than Italy. A very smart 25 yr old and he is the owner of segways. We make our way to the oldest castle in Verona that is mid evil with a moat, ride over. I take in the live guitarist playing and singing beautiful Italian love songs. He sounds incredible. We witness a young girl sunbathing in rocks, looked SO uncomfortable, don’t worry- I got a photo. We visited Famous Romeo & Juliet’s castle, I paid extra to climb to her balcony and take my photo. They say if you touch Juliette’s right breast you will be locked to love forever. Of course all are signed up to be photographed touching the boob. We did too 😉 Total tourists. So many red locks tied to the wall, letters written to Juliet’s team. It’s real….you can write a love letter and get it replied to by the Juliette society. Pretty neat. Such romance!!

On our way back to park the segways and end the tour Tracy had a fall, very unusual on a Segway, she wasn’t hurt and recovered quickly. We are laughing but concerned. It was sort of crazy, had to be there moment. I notice out of the corner of my eye a sign that says Franklin & Marshall, my dad is making his presence known. Where he went to college if you don’t know 😇 I stop to take a photo and get a warm fuzzy feeling. We say bye to Andreas and we’re starving. Make our way back to the square for our best meal yet in Italy. Too bad Vicki Bowman is not here with me, tmi 😉we started with the popular Aperol Spritzer, and I ordered Prosciutto & Mozz along with Eggplant parm.  Both delicious…..tabby’s tortellini were yummy, Tracy noodles clam sauce, Sydney pizza. We were all sooooo satisfied. They usually like to boycott restaurants in the squares, think too touristy and perhaps not fresh food. I picked today in the square and we were all happy! We sat and relaxed over food and loved our friendliest waiter yet!

I struck up a conversation with a stunningly beautiful woman sitting alone next to us. She was elegant and stylish. She shared she is from Brazil, here in Italy 9 days total- truly here to visit her 23 yr old niece who is an architect major studying in Florence. She is gonna visit her for 4 days. I had to know her sign, birthday 2/8, one day before Bruce, and she was never married, no kids, idolizes her nieces who she is the god mother too. I shared my role as super aunt to my 6 girls. She stated it was a choice for her, not sure I can say that yet?! None the less she is oldest of 3 kids herself and dressed with serious success. I was impressed by her and intrigued. Super friendly and warm hearted. Her name was Yvonne, in her late 50’s or maybe early 60, she looked good.

After we left our yummy heavy meal, I ate too much and don’t feel well. I suggest we climb the stairs of the clock tower to see Verona with a view. We all enter…..the thighs begin to burn, omg, we are doing this, most tourists choose the elevator but I’m determined and always in need of exercise, which I must say we exceeded today. After a little huffing and puffing we all made it to the very top. We snapped a million pics, stared in awe at the beauty of this real true Italian town/city. It’s like the perfect size place to be….one day was perfect, especially on a Segway- highly recommended. In the square I bought my signature magnet and a cashmere royal blue poncho/sweater. I loved it!! Me not usually the shopper have loved SO many clothes in the windows we pass but know they are beyond my budget so why tease me. I just look, admire, and stroll. I could see doing lots of damage here if given the chance. 

As the girls explore Brandy Melville, I sit outside and make my blog notes. I people watch and observe so many men and woman and both exchange hellos with the Italian smooch on each cheek, it’s a noisy loving exchange. So beautiful! This is the city of LOVE! I hear more church bells, sounds of vespas, motor scooters, and the smells of food- fresh baked bread and yummy whatever over powers the faint cigarette smell. The aromas nearby are wonderful. There are beautiful people everywhere, hot men and beautiful ladies. 

The Versace mannequin is a to die for striking outfit, Gucci windows are done up, we are taking it in and decided to exit the main green park like square lined by cafes and beauty. 

We venture back to find our gelato spot that is supposed to be best of Verona. It doesn’t get my vote but again hazelnut on a cone is hard to disappoint. Slurp, suck, we make our way back to the train station to purchase tickets home. Our feet hurt from wandering around the old yet beautiful cobblestone and rock stone streets. I purchase a cheaper train ticket than before and tell them it will be ok, Tabitha wants to know the difference between 2 nd class and 1st class. I say no guarantees but I promise we will get back to Venice maybe with an adventure. I find the platform number and am impressed it’s still a train, hoping I didn’t buy bus passes, lol

Tabby is so nervous, it was cute and funny. As we approach it’s just a much older train, upstairs and downstairs and it’s packed, not many seats open, especially 4 together. There was a bit of a different family crisis going on while I’m hysterically laughing and marching them up and down stairs for a seat. My delirious ness comes out and I’m embarrassing them. I find us a perfect spot upstairs after walking through 3-4 cars. 

On the train, I’m sitting by Matteo, a kind friendly Italian guy, turns out he is a winemaker, study’s enology. , just finished his harvest and is going to meet girlfriend in Venice for 2 nights. His specialty is Merlot grapes, gave me 2 names of Italian wines to try,,,unique to his region, cannonau, it’s red….also Lagrein, red, from the Tyrol Region ,He is enrolled in a masters program and hopes to move to France to work in Champagne. He says Italians would kill him for saying but he thinks French wine hands down blows away italian. Such a cool guy, also a pieces, March 15, is the oldest of 2 boys, never been to US, but shared many stories with me about his other international stories, we enjoyed our warm nice conversation. I tell him he must visit NYC and do the New England area as well. Described the grand canyon to him. Cohen kids have never been to GC, they think I’m making AZ sound so great and overwhelming him. There vote is he should drive the CA coast from top to bottom. They were born in San Fran. Different coasts for different folks. 😉

We have arrived back home early, no one is hungry, I’m seriously full still. We snack at home and get in pjs by 9 pm, a total treat. We rent our car online for Thursday…..pray that although they say manual, it will mean automatic otherwise we’re in trouble, ha. 

The WiFi is down, which was a tragedy until I figured I could write this in notes, and pray it copy pastes to blog once back one……say a prayer 😉 this is my happy place at the end of the long day. Curled up in my bed writing. I found a cafe alone and am connected to send this post and another note to our hosts that the server is down. 

Today is the islands of Murano & Burano……until after…..

Love you all

XO