Italy (Part III, Verona)

Sunday started as a typical Sunday. We rolled out of our beds with aching heads, trying to remember all the highlights of the night before and seeing who caught what on camera. The quick risers (as well as quick learners) were rewarded with hot showers. Our morning walk around town was to Basilica di Sant'Antonio. As Team 705 knew all too well, St Antony is the patron saint of lost things. While living on Belmont we cursed him quite frequently because there was always someone who couldn't find their keys. In Padova, the pilgrims were a bit more serious, and the church was quite lovely. After a snack (of course, pizza and coffee) we met Andrea, a friend of Giorgia's that we had seen the two previous nights. He joined us on a road trip to Verona.

When we arrived in Verona, the first thing we did was have a snack (panini with prosciutto and mozzarella) at a cafe in Piazza Brá, while gazing at the Roman amphitheatre across from us. It is such a lovely structure. It is currently undergoing a bit of renovations, but it is the opera house for the city of Verona. I would have loved to see a show there. Instead, we got our quad workout for the day, climbing up and down the stairs to check out the views.

Our next stop was Casa di Giulietta, but on the way over we had to get some gelato. Casa di Giulietta is marketed as the infamous house of Miss Juliet Capulet, of Romeo & Juliet fame. I am a bit sceptical about this residence, considering Shakespeare wrote fiction. Regardless, it was a nice house with a lovely balcony. In the courtyard is a statue of Juliet where superstition declares one should rub her left breast in order to find a new love (though I would assume that her heart would be under her right breast).

To relax before heading back to Padova, we stopped for a drink and a snack as night was falling on the city. I had the best bruschetta that I have ever eaten. Rather than being topped with tomatoes, this had only lard and pepper. No, that is not a typo, I ate the creamy fat from the underbelly of a pig. It was excellent. It had so much flavor, which was expertly enhanced by the lightest dusting of fresh cracked pepper. Washed down with an aperitif of Campari and orange juice. Back to Padova for dinner.

When we arrived back at Giorgia's flat we found a note from her mom saying that there was beer in the fridge and dinner in the oven. It was so sweet. Giorgia's father arrived for dinner as did some of Giorgia's local friends, so the house was full as we had our final night in Italy, feasting of course. After dinner was coffee and sweets and packing. Packing? None of us were looking forward to the 5AM wake up call the next day.

The alarm rings. Giorgia walks in to wake us up. So soon? We doze all the way to the airport, get coffee to wake up when we arrive. We conspire to take Filippo home with us. Then we sit and wait. And wait. We count the minutes until we can get on the plane and nap. Only Imraan seems excited with his sports section of the paper, and Elena, who has a remarkable sense of humour for someone who has spent the past month being sick.