On the way to Venice, we stopped in Verona for some sightseeing.  Verona is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

This 14^th C residence with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard is said to be Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta),  although the romantic balcony was actually added in 1930 after the house was purchased by the city.

Statue of Giulietta dal Cappello – touching the statue’s right breast is said to bring luck. 

We had lunch overlooking the Adige River.  Kris learned how to ask if we could eat outside in Italian! 

The Verona Arena is a huge 1^st C Roman amphitheater which currently hosts concerts and large scale opera performances. 

Another hour and a bit of driving and we have arrived in Venice.  We returned Giovanna at the depot just across the Ponte della Liberta; we will spend the next few days on foot, as most of the Venetian islands are car-free.

Venice is divided into six traditional neighborhoods, called sestiere, coming from the Italian word sesto meaning sixth.  Our hotel is in the Dorsoduro district, in the south of the city.  It is called the student district due to its proximity to the University.  

Unfortunately upon purchasing our vaporetto/bus pass we discovered that there is a transit strike today and only emergency services are running. What should have been a few minute boat ride to the hotel turned into a half-hour walk dragging suitcases up and over numerous canal bridges. We were very happy to arrive at this gorgeous hotel.

Our room on the 2^nd floor has a great view of the pretty Rio de le Terese. 

Dinner tonight was gluten free pizza (for Dave) along the large Giudecca Canal looking across at the Giudecca, made up of 8 interconnected islands.   

Our restaurant has an interesting quote translated from George Bernard Shaw…”le cose Migliore della vita sono illegali, sono immorali o fanno ingrassare” which means ‘the best things in life are either illegal, immoral or fattening”