Piazza delle Erbe
Juliet and I were married April 30,2009. At the time I was the owner of a travel company based in Southern Italy. My work really did not allow for us to marry as soon as we would have liked and in fact we had to return to Italy just after our wedding for work related trips and to meet friends whom we had planned to show Italy prior to finalizing our wedding date. In essence, May 2009 was technically our honeymoon but was much more like a working vacation with friends and family.
The Famous Arena of Verona
Two of our dearest friends joined us on our trip up to Verona and ultimately Alto Adige. On this little sojourn in Verona we had the pleasure to meet our now wonderful friend, Nicolas Emery. Nick lives in Verona year round and works as a trip designer and guide for the wildly successful Travel for Teens. If you have teenage children and would like them to experience travel in Italy or Europe at large, Travel for Teens is the top company operating trips of this nature today. Ned Clark is the VP of TFT and here is a link to how to find him. I have experienced first hand the level of service and safety these folks offer and it is exceptional. I wish they had been around when I was 16 
Juliet along the Adige River
Nick and I hit it off immediately as he is a talented photographer (here is his photo blog) and speaks flawless Italian. These are the kinds of allies I seek when I am abroad.
Our First Lunch in Verona - Bugiardo means Liar (strangely that was one of the first Italian words I learned)
We return to Verona this year to run around the Veneto wine country with Nick and to finally meet his very lovely ragazza (girlfriend) Giulia. Both Juliet and Giulia have birthdays around this time so we will most definitely celebrate with this:
Prosciutto
or this…
lovely little meats from the equine family
This is going to be a wonderful discovery time for Juliet and me. I hope you enjoy this little taste of Verona and there will be much more to come upon our return.
Are these all their kids?
I'm a sucker for a creepy puppet photo
This Sculpture as so Anachronistic and Flexible
This place is in great shape for nearly 2000 years of age
A windy day along the entrance to the Arena
Every Great Roman Amphitheater has a Great Coffee Bar
About Michael Housewright
How awesome, Love Piazza Erbe, in 1998 I spent 10 weeks with an incredible family from Verona…have been back 5 times since. Piu bella citta en il mondo. Verona is my home away from home…to be honest it’s Dossobuono, a small village 6km from Verona, but who’s counting?
Luke, should I check out Dossobuono while I am there? Thanks for the cool comment
It’s pretty small, easy to get there via bus, or train, but there isn’t much there. A couple of hotels, a Mexican restaurant, gellato, pizza, typical fare. A nice church. 30 minutes of site seeing, a meal, and you’d be back on your way. I love Dossobuono, but it’s for the people, not the sites.
the best reason to love a place
Wow, Verona looks absolutely beautiful! I LOVE Prosciutto. I used to work in a 5 star restaurant (Fareway’s, on top of Massanutten Mountain, if you’re ever around), and we would put it on our specialty salads. I’d always snag a few slices for myself! What is the place in the picture where you say: “This place is in great shape for nearly 2000 years of age” ?
that is the inside of the Arena Amphitheater from my other photo and the header photo
Oh wow. So these places are still in use! I’ve yet to leave the country, sadly enough, so things like this continue to surprise me. I can’t think of anything that old anywhere near me :/
if you dont live in Italy, China, Egypt, Greece or India there likely isnt
time for you to travel my friend..make it happen
Maybe I should put Verona on my Bucket List
It is really a wonderful town. We look forward to digging deeper into it this time around
Any other travel plans for this year?
well, we are 25 days in Italy then back for some serious Colorado exploration. Utah and Arizona after labor day. Then likely LA or SF – home to Texas for weddings – maybe a NYC trip. then off to Asia in early 2013
Wow! That’s a lot of traveling!
that is why we are The Blissful Adventurers
A bit like Cosy Travelers
both for sure
Love the windy day pic… kind of haunting
it was a haunting feeling in there for sure..ghosts moving about trying to avoid the hustle
I hope all of you have the most amazing time! Safe travels to you both.
I want to start saying, ‘Bugiardo’ now!
you should say it all the time…I do
I love the shot of the windy afternoon too. And the only time I went to Verona I was treated to a night at the Opera in the Arena … Full moon, haunting music, and a totally unforgettable experience. The Opera was Nabucco by Verdi, and after the slaves chorus, which was fantastic, they stopped, and simply sung it again for the audiences enjoyment! Where else in the world would that happen?
That would blow me away. I am sure my wife and I would be both be weary and teary from the emotion of a moment like that. This is a great story and I am so glad you found my blog. I am eager to dive into yours!
Yes, It was an amazing moment … and to add to it Ialy was playing in the world cup (football) on the same evening. During the performance, you could hear every time a goal was scored (by Italy) as the whole town erupted!! It could have spoilt it, but somehow it just made it all the more real!!
I went through something similar and I will have to blog about this. I am so glad you are following my work and that I may see yours. I hope our paths will one day cross in Italia!
I found myself staring at your prosciutto picture for 10 min
… dinner time for me. It is nice to see through your pics how much you love and appreciate Italy 
. I will try to transmit my fascination with Italy in mine… It is one of my most frequent holiday destinations.. You are welcome to have a look at some of them 
I look forward to it. I rarely holiday in Italy. For me, Italy is where I go to recharge my creativity, find the parts of my soul that do not escape the boot, and to be the me I love the best. I am on holiday from myself when I am here and working and when I am in Italy, I am simply home
Sad that we did not carry on to Verona with you guys!!!
It will be there when you come back again. You would really like Nick
Prosciutto so delicious and ooh Verona that brings back such sweet memories ! Nice shots …
Thank you I am glad you enjoyed it. How are things going on your blog?
Hi ! Yes I have always loved Italy and your blog makes me want to travel again to those lovely places…Still have so much ideas buzzing in my head just need time and the right “mood” to blog …
Very cool! I look forward to it when you are in the mood
Ah yet another fantastic blog, I’m in love with Verona! Beautiful photography and a wonderful story.
Thanks GG! I am so excited you enjoyed the post. It is a great town
You made my day!!! I was in Verona and loved it. I walked past the arena and couldn’t believe I could just go up and touch it. It was remarkable. I did this at night while the arena was packed full of people for a concert. I was also at the river ( we stayed at a hotel with the river right there. The craziest thing was to sit at an outdoor cafe’ on a narrow cobblestone street as motor scooters and small cars raced by inches from where you sat. Thanks for the pics. Loved them!
You are very welcome Wendy. Yes, the surrealistic state of being in touch with a great monument is one of the reasons I am always returning to Italia
I want to eat so much Prosciutto that I go into a coma and when I awaken a month later, I immediately start eating it again.
this stuff melted like butter..I would be happy to keep feeding you the prosciutto through the IV while you are in the coma
Death by prosciutto!
no man..LIFE by Prosciutto
That certainly is a creepy puppet . . . *shivers* Puppets and clowns — I just can’t look at ‘em for every long or I begin to think their eyes are following me. Now, I do like that anachronistic sculpture. I believe I used to be able to do that . . .
Happy Thursday, Bliss-Man.
Wow..if you can still do that ask Mike to photograph it. It would make a killer subject for your Tuesday – how to posts
I hate puppets, dolls, clowns, mimes, and people who work in funeral homes. All of them are just a bit too creepy for me
Wonderful! Verona is only one hour from home and yet so far from where I’m living now. Thanks for posting that!
Wow, where are you living now?
In the middle of Norway
wow! and you are Italian? that must be quite a shift
Such a great place! i love verona! great pictures too!
Thank you very much and thanks for stopping over to the blog!
Love the Arena photos. The new Header makes the blog look more austere – austerely chic. It must be the black and white with that faint touch of red. I almost expect to see models in haute couture wafting through the ancient stones and staring haughtily at your camera. Then your other photos bring back real life and quirkiness.
This is such a cool comment! Thank you. I have my own fashion model of a wife with me on all my trips so I can certainly see the image. Love the hat Lady Marilyn
That hat dates from the First World War. It is part of a drawing or painting on a postcard that was sent by my great-uncle to his sister, my grandmother, in 1916 (from memory). The Australian Army didn’t exist until this war and the Australians and New Zealanders joined forces to fight as British soldiers. They were all volunteers. Great-Uncle Tom was on convalescent leave in Maesteg (Wales, down South) with a soldier friend, where they were given a civic reception because my great-grandfather came from there (ran away from home at the age of seven and ended up in Australia). Tom bought the postcard there, which I think had been printed in Germany before the war. The whole picture is on my first post (december 11, 2009) if you would like to see it. The card is now in a private war museum in Belgium but I still have the scans of it.
that is the coolest story ever told on my comment page. I am going to read your 1st post
The first post has nothing to do with the card as you will see.
The whole picture means the whole story? and you have scans of the card? I am sorry I got a little confused..
That was my fault. It does sound confusing. My first post is called “Controlling Puppy Love” and the postcard has dogs on it. I used it to illustrate my post. The lady in the hat is holding a dog (presumable female) on a leash and there are three other dogs (presumably male) all looking up at her. The post doesn’t talk about the card; the card illustrates the post.
The corniest memories last the longest? Dire Straits “Romeo n Juliet” being played on a street corner. Maybe it’s compulsory.
I really like the Indigo Girls cover of that song. When you are married to a Juliet all kitsch is compulsory in Verona
Verona is a VERY enchanting place! When i stood on Juliet balcony I got this very weird feeling hahaha I actually shouted out “oh Romeo Romeo, Where fore Art Thou Romeo?” It was epic.. hahaha
if you really did that, YOU are epic
hahahahaha yeah I did, you should have seen people’s facial expressions! It was like “O.O” and “o.O” hahahha
!
Thanks
i love it
Your pictures make me want to visit
you should go
Thank you, so much of the world through your eyes. Really like your blogs, they are very graphic.
thank you…I am a graphic guy
Cheers!
Fair Verona… and if I’m not mistaken, Shakespeare never even visited it
never
How wonderful to go back there with your lovely wife! I haven’t been to Verona and it’s now on my list of places to travel to! (Are those all their kids?? And she’s pregnant?? That’s quite the photo!!)
That lady is a trooper
Thanks for your comment and your follow on Twitter! I am excited you enjoyed the Verona shots. Travel is the best drug there is.
As always, I love your Italy posts. They stir up my eagerness for my trip to Tuscany and Rome. I leave FRIDAY-April 27! Tomorrow. I am so looking forward to this trip. I hope to blog about it when I get back. Ciao.
I am so excited for you! We arrive in Rome on May 16
Do you know where you are eating in Rome?
Verona, I can see from your pictures that wouldn’t mind (but maybe the horse – hmm, it’s more like dog to me..)!
I am sure it is going to be wonderful!
come on now…dont be a prejudiced carnivore
Love the photos! We were married April 24, 2004, and went to Italy. So wonderful. Great memories! Have a wonderful time and we’re anticipating great pics and stories. Are you planning any overnight train trips? Cheers, ams
no, but some longer ones in the day..there will be updates for sure
Verona is definitely a place for me to hit when I’m in italy! Lovely photos!
thank you very much! I hope you do make it
I love that you and Juliet were in Verona for your honeymoon.
You fared better than Romeo!
Thanks for sharing the amazing photos.
Cheers,
Laura
Ciao Laura,
Yes, I did indeed fare better than Sig Romeo!
I really enjoy the way you capture places! Great work
Creepy puppet photos? Will keep in mind 
Thank you! I am so happy you are following and I hope my posts will continue to entertain
Thanks for some beautiful views of Verona, and for sharing a bit of your personal life, and a very charming honeymoon… that sounds the best; touring in a romantic country with dear friends.
It was great. We actually went on a private honeymoon just the two of us in 2011
Wow! Very beautiful…how fortunate you are! Thanks for sharing with us
Fortunate indeed and I am always happy to share and elated when friends and supporters enjoy
Verona has been officially added to my list…it looks magical. And I loved the creepy puppet photo…why do they make them look so creepy. Puppets and clowns–creep me out and yet I always have to take photos of them since they creep me out.
I am 100% the same TBM – I do not know why, but I just need to photo them
Thank you for your interest in http://www.enjoyf.com. I just put it into the official website activities. Hope you will visit frequently http://www.enjoyf.com everyday to relax comfortably! Wish you happy weekend!
“…Oh my little pretty one, pretty one
When you gonna give me some time Verona
When you make my motor run, my motor run
Gun it coming, off the line Verona…”
Enjoy Italia, amico!
Man, breaking out The Knack on me..nice! Cheers brotha
Verona really is magical, isn’t it? We lived near there in 2009 and are going back to live in Italy next month. Your post and pictures make me excited for the new changes!
I bookmarked this post being optimistic that I’ll go and visit this lovely place one day. And i expect to be swept off my feet, nothing short off that.
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