Day 21 13/4/06 - Italy

Verona -> L'azise -> Verona -> Rome

Highlight

• We woke to very early to make a trip to Lake Garda. We stopped off at our 1st "little" castle town, L'azise, overlooking Lake Garda. We watched the sun rise over the lake, some fishermen going out for their work, the town slowly waking up and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the morning air. Magical. This place is very tourism oriented too, a summer resort town. I'm glad we went at the off season, to have the lake all to ourselves.
• After our morning excursion, we enjoyed another huge breakfast at our hotel, then started on our long drive towards Rome. The scenery started changing as we drove along, the mountains turned into the rolling hills of Tuscany. We had a looong time to enjoy the view, as we were stuck in a traffic jam for more than 1.5 hrs. So much for getting to Rome on time. Good thing I budgeted lots of time for the process. It did mean that I missed out on going to a McArthur Glen outlet though!!
• We thought the driving was ok so far, until we got closer to Rome, the drivers got crazier and crazier, from going on a split road with no markings, to a 2 lane road somehow turning into 4 lanes. Traffic rules obviously mean nothing to the Romans. Cars were parked anywhere and everywhere, at places you didn't even think was possible. As long as there's enough space to fit a car (or sometimes not even that), there's a car there.
• Slokky can't drive and kept getting lost. He tries to be "considerate" and is scared all the time
• The weather has been the warmest we've experienced so far, it made everything more pleasant and somehow more beautiful... maybe except for the rubbish and graffiti that I am now coming to accept as a part of life.
• We had to head to the Vatican to pick up tix for the masses on the next few days. Slokky got to walk up the steps to the bronzed door, and all the tourists thought he was some star or something and started snapping pics of him. All the Vatican guards saluted him as well!!
• Well, St Peter's Basilica was amazing, but I am so surprised at their lack of security... (more on this later)

Food

• Verona hotel breakfast (see yesterday's entry for details.
• Blood orange juice.
• Marinated vegetables (9.24).
• Our first "tourist menu" dinner at Antico Trattoria Pizzeria (10):
  • penne all'arrabiata
  • lasagne
  • veal Roman style
  • tripe Roman style
  • various vegetables
  • baked potatoes