It is warm enough even at 10 at night to walk around in a sleeveless summer dress in the Paizza Bra in Verona tonight. Hawkers are selling little spinners that launch into the sky and parachute down. Others come to the tables in the outside cafés
with red roses for sale.Here one should be dressed up. Last night at the opera in the world's 'largest theatre under the stars' the glitter and the glamour was rather wonderful to watch! Tonight even though it is late, people throng in the square, sit at cafés
and trattorias eating, drinking. They walk along the narrow old streets, and along the long street full of designer shops and ice cream kiosks. Families are out, groups of women, couples. Elderly ladies sit on benches in the small park area chatting. It is
too hot to go inside to sleep.
Alexa, Keith and I arrived on Saturday. It had been a long day.I got up@t 5 so as to be at their house well before the taxi which was ther at 7. Alexa's walking is poor these days, but once
she has her walker in her hands, she is fearsome to behold! But almost everywhere people are kind and courteous and helpful, which is good to experience. Mind you, Alexa is charming and friendly and and outgoing, so that all helps.Travel is assisted, but there
are still some hurdles. I am not sure yet, how much she can cope with but so far so very good!
The hotel in Verona is the Guiliette et Romeo. The Italians put the female name before the male! When we arrive Keith and Alexa are really
warmly greeted. They have stayed here several times and make a point of being friendly to the staff. We unpack and then meat for a meal in the cafėoutside the hotel, and then Alexa and I find our way to the accessible entrance to the opera in the Arena, which
is just opposite the end of our street. Well it wasn't great. We had to walk a long way round to get to the only place with a ramp, and once down by the arena entrances, we had to walk almost the same distance back to our entrance. People were helpful. The
staff was great. But it was crazy! Anyway Alexa managed it all and we find ourselves sitting on the end of a row. They took her walker away to store it!
Nabucco was staged in a version by a French director, who had set the opera, which is about
Hebrew slaves, in the Italian 'Risorgiment'. I have had to do a lot of searching to find out about it! To be honest it made the whole thing rather confusing.The costmes and set were late 19th century, and there were so many different groups in different uniforms
we weren't sure who was who half the time. But the music was wonderful of course, and the soloists so very skilfull. There was a huge cast and the chorus were incredibly well drilled.
Last night was Zeferrelli's Aida, which is a classic,
and a most wonderful visual spectacle, as welL as delivering in musical terms. We were on home territory this time and it was a sumptuous feast for the senses! The young soprano who played Aida was stunning. At 26 she is the youngest soprano ever to have been
given the role.
On Sunday we had a quiet day....long breakfast, and a lingering coffee watching the world go by in the square. Melon and prosciutto for lunch, and then a quiet time in our rooms. Keith decided he would leave us to it in the evening.
I had fortunately booked a little café for the evening. Others were being turned away, but we had a good meal and then made our way to the arena again. Easier this time as we had sussed it out the day before! Going home was hard as we were definitely
going in the opposite direction to the throng. Both nights we got home well past midnight.
Today Alexa de died she would like to do the bus tour. Keith planned to have a quiet day to himself! We managed the bus with help and it was good to be reminded
of the different areas of Verona. Alexa and I then had a drink and a bruschett, and finally headed back to the hotel where Keith finally joined us. He had found a delightful eating place for the evening, in a quiet little square. It was a fish restaurant,
and we all had sea bream served on Mediterranean vegetables which was delicious.After a drink in the square....Alexa had an Aperol Spritzer, they headed home, and I went for a lovely long stroll to the Castellvechio, and through some little side streets, soaking
in the holiday atmosphere. All day they have been clearing away the stage sets from the arena. Last night was the last one of the season. We wondered if it would make the place quieter today, and it was less busy. Tonight, though has been a different story!