Check Verona off the list!

Wow...today has been one hell of a day! Almost so, that I thought about sleeping and not typing my blog tonight but I knew I just had to write it all down before I forgot any juicy details! I got onto the train at Conegliano with no problems at all. I managed to even find my connecting train in Venezia Mestre, even with the boards saying it was going to Milan. I remember a conversation that Gianna and I had about this...the boards say the city that is the last stop on that specific train. In order for you to know if it is the right train, you need to know if the city you are going to is on the way to the final destination. Thank goodness, I knew that Milan and Verona were in the same direction so I was saved. I got off the bus in Verona and found my way over to the bus station to head to the city center. Unfortunately, there was not a single bus in the terminal for awhile. I figured they were not running today because it was Sunday or there were few busses and I would be waiting for a long time for the right bus. So I thought I would walk...bad idea! I thought I was going the right way at first because I followed to few signs I found. But then, there came a very strange intersection with way too many signs, all pointing in different directions for the center! I just chose one and hoped that I chose the right one...that was a negative. I ended up in some neighborhood ghetto where there was nothing but a closed cafe, a broken down gas station, and many high rise apartments with all their laundry flowing out their windows 25 floors up. I thought about turning around and just trying to find another route from the station but that would take forever to walk all the way back. I finally found a place for lunch and also found a bus stop that had just arrived when I finished eating. I had no idea where it was taking me but I thought it was much better than walking! Of course, it was definitely the wrong bus...it was taking me away from anything that sounded familiar and I snuck off very quickly at the next stop. I didn't understand how the payment for the bus rides worked and I didn't have time to figure it out so I just hopped off and hoped they weren't chasing after me! After walking another long trek, I was about to have a breakdown when I heard someone speaking English at a cafe around the corner. I rushed to them and asked them if they could point me in the right direction of the city center. Luckily, they had been motorcycling through the town all morning and told me right where to go. They were a nice couple from Miami and I was very happy to have ran into them! They thought I was really nuts to be travelling by myself but I thought it wasn't too bad! After I crossed a bridge and creepily followed behind some people that looked like tourists, I finally found a big church! I have learned from experience that if there is a big church, the city center isn't far away! The church is called "Basilica Di S. Zeno". It was just beautiful inside with a courtyard, the original clay floors, and very detailed art and architecture. There was a crypt downstairs that smelled awful, rank and a moldy. There was a dark alter with lanterns and then a casket with someone in it! I couldn't tell from far away if it was a real person or not...it couldn't have been but it sure looked like a real priest or a saint! It was the only church that I have ever had to pay to get into. Usually the churches are free to enter so I don't know why this one had a fee...maybe to see the dead guy in the basement!?! In front of the church, there was a HUGE street fair going on with all sorts of stuff. It looked like a lot of antiques and things I wish I could bring back with me if I had a U-Haul that could make it across the world with me. I actually found two Beatles records that were in perfect condition and I just had to buy them. One is "Let It Be" and the other is a greatest hits album that I don't have. I am excited to listen to them when I get home on the record player Mom! I kept walking through the streets until I thought I saw a sign for the center. I kept walking and again, found myself lost! I went into a bar to ask the man inside if he knew where the Castelveccio was and he looked at me like I was nuts...I was one street away from it! Man, I really should have only gone one more street and I would have been there. This castle is amazing!!! It is so big that I'm shocked I couldn't see it from miles away. I didn't really get the whole story of what they used it for or why they built it away from the city center so I will have to do more research on that. It was the best place to take lots of pictures! After I left the castle, I somehow found a street called Via Roma, which connects to the arena and the city center! I wasn't lost anymore and felt awesome! It only took me about 3 hours to get there but I made it! The arena was so spectacular, like a mini Coloseum. It is so old that most of the original walls have crumbled away but they have rebuilt it over the years and it is wonderful. The stairs to get to the top are so big that you have to go on your hands and knees to actually climb the last couple steps...or at least I did! There was no way I was going to go toppling down the arena steps! They were setting up for a show tonight so it had a lot of extra things in the middle. I have heard the shows are amazing! I walked around the Piazza Bra for a bit and then thought I would venture away to find Juliet's house and her famous balcony! I took Angelo's advice and just followed the huge pack of tourists and hoped they would lead me in the right direction! I was looking for an actual house but it really isn't...it is amongst stores down a narrow street! They were doing construction on the front of the entrance so without the crowds of people leading me there, I don't think I would have found it! You walk into the courtyard and there are walls filled with messages from people who are in love that have written to Juliet for good luck. They have a mailbox that you can write a letter to Juliet and you are guaranteed a letter back! At least, that's what I read at the museum! There is a house you can tour but it was very small and cost money to get in so I thought I could save it for when Natalie comes here. In the corner of the courtyard, there is a gold statue of Juliet and it is said that if you put your hand on her right breast, it will bring you good luck with your love life! People were crowding around it like crazy and there was no one to take my picture so again, that will have to be done with Nat. I was a little disappointed in the house and the balcony because I thought it was going to be a villa, like you see in the movies! As I made my way back down, I started looking for signs to Juliet's tomb. I didn't know the story behind it but I thought I would take a look. Again, in a very strange location and away from the city center all by itself down a deserted street. I was one of the only ones in the museum at the time so it was nice to have it not crowded with people. The tomb itself was a little strange. It was in a basement of the oldest part of the building and was open, but nothing was in it. I really need to read up on this because I don't understand...was the story true or not? Was there really two families that hated each other and the love affair between Romeo and Juliet? Was she really buried there? I don't understand it all but I will look it up and clarify! After finding my way back to the main road and drinking my 7th bottle of water for the day, I found a bus stop that looked promising. Lucky for me, the ticket lady at the tomb spoke English so she told me what bus to take for the train station. The bus worked out perfect...besides the fact that I couldn't figure out how to pay again! I was trying to put the coins in the machine but it kept spitting them out! I just gave up and quickly go off at the stop, hoping I wouldn't get arrested for not having a valid ticket! I really did try to pay! When I got to the station, I stood in line at the ticket counter and prayed that the lady knew some English so it would be easier for me to tell her what ticket I needed. She was very helpful and my ticket was the just as cheap as when I came there, 10 euro. Not too bad for a 2 hour train ride! There is an option for a fast train that has no stops and takes half the time but I didn't think it was worth double the money. After I found some fast pizza to take on the train with me, I boarded my train with little time to spare. I ended up sitting next to two sisters from Canada that were on a two week European vacation together. They were a breath of fresh air to talk to and so funny! We really could have talked for hours! We swapped stories of how we had no idea how to use the train system, the fun cities we have been to, and what we are doing now for school and work. Nisa and Hina were just the best people I could have ran into so we swapped information and have already been talking on facebook about them coming to Vittorio Veneto tomorrow on the train! They stayed in Mestre tonight but have one more day to spare before they go onto Paris and London. They asked me if I knew of any smaller towns that have great character and good food and I said YES I do, my town! Hopefully they have the chance to come and I can show them around downtown. What a great couple of girls! They actually filled me in on how to properly buy a bus ticket...you have to buy one in a tabacceria or a cafe near a bus stop! Who knew??? I guess you put a certain amount of money on it and then swipe it on the bus when you get on, each ride costing about 1,50 euro. Goodness me, well I guess I know for next time! The train was a couple minutes late arriving to Mestre so I didn't make my connecting train to Conegliano that I had planned on. I figured out (with Nisa and Hina's help) that there was another train that left about 30 minutes after so it worked out fine. Angelo picked me up from the station and I told him all about my adventures! He was glad to see me back in one piece! I took the longest shower I have ever taken here and almost fell asleep in the icy cold water! I am about to fall asleep writing these last words so I think it is time for me to go to bed! Enjoy all the pictures! There are a lot to go through but they were so fun to take, I just had to post them all. Overall, it was an awesome day and I am very glad I survived it all and did it by myself. I feel pretty good about that! Ciao and more tomorrow!