On the way to Venice, our group spent a night in the city of Verona , where we attended an opera. It was Otello and we missed seeing Placido Domingo in the leading role by one week! It doesn't matter though because the Arena di Verona literally took my breath away and the players could have all been angels because the beautiful music coming from the stage was the sweetest I have ever had the opportunity to hear. The arena is an out door coliseum and it made me feel like I had been transported back into time. The seats were of stone and the set took up the entire front quarter of the arena. There was part of a castle and a ship that were life size, and with the night sky above it felt like being in a dream.

This is one of the sets in the coluseum at Verona

Venice, Venice, Venice. What can I say about Venice ? There are not enough words. This truly is the City of Amore'. I don't care what anyone else may say, I never saw the trash (well only a tiny bit in one spot) nor the decay. It was too beautiful and full of ambiance to notice. I only got to see the city for part of a day and night but it was pure magic. The Piazza San Marco is huge and at night the various cafes and the church are all lit with several orchestras playing waltzes so that you can walk the entire length of the piazza and hear beautiful music every step of the way. The night our group was there fireworks were being set off to add to the atmosphere.

The next day the group took a ferry to one of the islands and we watched as a glass blower created a horse out of sand and fire.

Well, the trip is almost over and I'm starting to feel as sad at leaving as I did back in July, 1994.

But cheer up because there is still at lot to see in Rome and Assisi, or you can always start over at my Homepage !