Earlier I talked about Milans central train station. Well this is it, personally I think that it is crazy, large and so very Neo something looking like. It is pretty nuts.
We had a good ride to Verona, Listening to a few Rick Steves interviews about food, was rather interesting. We also learned that there are a number a places in Italy that foods are named after. Parma, parmasean cheese for example, and a few other places wer mentioned. Also that the Italians have pasta down to a science. Certain types of pasta are paired with specific kinds of sauce. They are very particular about this, and you wouldn't dare to go change some of these things.
Also they are very specific about their coffee. When you drink it and what type you drink, they go hand in hand with the time of day it is and what meal it was. The other we learned is about how foods are grown here makes a huge difference to flavour, things such as elevation, if it was grown in the sun, if it is close to Mount Vesuvius it would have a different minerals content due to the mini eruptions it has; including how close to the sea it is. Very interesting stuff. Take olive oil for example, another thing that they take very seriously. There are four different types of qualities of olive oil; extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, olive oil, and lamp oil. These very in quality due to the number of presses and something to do with elevation or something. Anyways it was very interesting to listen to all of the many things they were talking about in terms of Italian food. There was also a guy on there talking about how he doesn't refer to things as authentic but rather classic. This is due to the fact that food is always evolving and authenticity has changed even within the last 20 years.
The last one we listened to the ended it off talking about gelato. Well on such a hot day such as today, walking to our B&B we came across a gelato place and couldn't resist. The coolness was welcomed as we sat in the air conditioned place, in our sweat not taking off our packs so we didn't feel how gross we really were, we really enjoyed the delicious ice cream we found.
Also on our way to the B&B we walked past the main centre. We kind of skirted around it but we did go past the main theatre, where they are currently having some kind of opera festival, a stage that was in pieces some kind of. Egyptian theme. Seemed pretty neat, but we aren't in any way interested in opera. We also walked past parts of the medieval wall. Seen, in the top right hand corner and in the following collage top two left hand pictures.
We got settled in and cooled off and then decided to venture back out. We walked along the water for a while enjoying being in and out of the sun until we found a place that was decided to have dinner out. We ended up finding a nice little place, and we sat out on the terrace enjoying the evening. Except for th smokers al around us we really enjoyed the dinner that we had.
After dinner we walked up to the castle, and we got a great panoramic view of Verona. It was great, I love seeing cities from this type of perspective. Unfortunately, we were a little early for sunset, but we still definitely enjoyed looking out around. We sat up there for a few minutes just taking it in before we started on the stairs back down the hill.
I figured out that the reason I loved Prague so much is that it was a small town big city type of feel. I mean that pretty much exactly how it sounds, and Verona has a similar feel. Well really there has been many places with this feel, especially since being in Vienna, Salzburg, and throughout the smaller big cities in Switzerland. Moving into Milan was hard because we were really enjoying the small places. Weird though that Milan was really one a few last big cities that we will be in.
We continued on our way eventually making our way back home but stopping along the way to see what the outskirts of the old town of Verona has to offer. Europe does well at keeping old town, old town. Again I refer to Prague, where we spent most of our time in old town, but the part of the new town we saw still had a certain feel to it. Many city centres are based around old town, but have expanded due to what they end up finding a niche in.
Italians are slow moving people. They also have zero care in the world on helping you if you can't understand anything, even them being ticket people. They can't speak English they don't even try to use hands or anything to get their point across. This has already been frustrating but hopefully it doesn't stay this way.
Unfortunately today while walking through a park a bird tried to play chicken with me, without informing me first. Flew straight at my head and just over as I ducked away. I am getting real sick of their antics. No matter what anyone says they are only making my fear much greater. Luke keeps trying to tell me I can take em, which is also a lie because they would peck me to death even if I tried.
Verona has a specific type of annoying bird. Almost cricket sounding. They like to hide in the trees and just annoy you from afar. Although I appreciate them not flying at me, and really just staying clear altogether, these sounding birds are annoying.
We had a big day today, training to and walking around Verona. Tomorrow will be a great day here, I am looking forward to. The language gets me every day, it is such a a great sounding language. Part of the people watching will include eavesdropping because there is something just so elegant about it. Can't believe it is already July and we are already in Italy. Glad we have so much time to really see this country.
And so the adventure continues...
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