Romeo and Juliet Town
Italy Stage 07- Mon 4th July 2016 – Sirmione to Verona (43 Km)
Weather: 17⁰C min – 29⁰C max, cloudy, clearing to fine and sunny
” Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades “ ~ Unknown
It was a case of more of the same today, riding on well-surfaced, segregated bike paths and quiet country roads, through picturesque countryside, and alongside lovely rivers, for the whole 50 Km from Sirmione to Verona. But who is complaining, cycling is a dream here in the northern part of Italy. The only sad thing is that after leaving Lago Garda behind at Sirmione this morning I have seen my last Italian lake on this tour.
Apparently there was rain over night, but I must have been tired because I slept right through it. I stayed up a bit too late last night trying to work out why http errors were preventing me from uploading any media or text to my website. Amazingly the problem has rectified itself, so I am inclined to think my hosting provider’s server had a trust problem with the wi-fi network I was using at the B&B Al Londoner.
My hostess at B&B Al Londoner, who speaks impeccable English, served me up a good old English breakfast this morning, complete with Twinings English Breakfast tea, a pleasant change from all the continental breakfasts I have been having until now. When I asked her how Al Londoner got its name she said she was born in Westminster, right near Big Ben, married an Italian more than 30 years ago and moved to Sirmione where she has lived ever since. Sirmione was just a little fishing port in those days and there was farmland near her house. Now it is completely over-run by tourists.
It was still very grey when I set off about 9:30 am, but then cleared to a nice hot sunny day by the time I reached the fabulous city of Verona. Just around the corner from where I was staying last night the street that my route passed through was completely blocked off for a street market, so I just wheeled my bike through the crowd of bargain hunters and took the opportunity of stopping at a fruit stall to get some more bananas.
Apart from that getting out of Sirmione was no trouble at all, with a bike lane running beside the main road until I reached Peschiera del Garda where I branched off onto a dedicated bike path that followed the River Mincio for several Km. For the rest of the trip my route alternated between quiet country roads and sealed bike paths. I passed through several quaint little towns and stopped at one, Caselle di Sommacampagna, for a cappuccino and a delicious croissant oozing with custard.
Bike paths ensured that my entry into Verona was safe and worry free, leading me to straight to the Verona Arena which is Verona’s main attraction. Although it is a Roman amphitheatre built in the first century, it is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. The whole area around the Arena was swarming with hundreds of thousands of tourists, so you can imagine what it will be like when the peak holiday season starts in August.
Verona, a city in northern Italy’s Veneto region, is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. It is home to a 14th-century house said to have “Juliet’s balcony,” even though the building’s connection to the play is fictional.
Thankfully the Horse’s House B&B where I am staying tonight is over the other side of town in a semi-rural area. My curiosity got the better of me so I asked Carlo how the B&B got its name. In response he took me inside and showed me all the photos on the wall depicting horses ridden by his daughter who is a champion equestrian.
Rather than ride all the way back into town I ate at a humble little restaurant nearby. The lady who served me speaks no English at all and the menu was only in Italian, so I played safe and ordered a pizza. At least you know what you are getting because pizzas have the same names all over the world.
Kevin, in 1991 when staying at our house in Florence, I drove to and fro’ Florence to Verona, in one day, to purchase 3 statues of Kings for our Christmas Crib at home. They have lovely Christmas Cribs in Verona.
I notice the flowering pink Oleanders along your route. In 1965 when I first entered I wrote to Dad and enthusiastically spoke about the lovely flowering Oleanders. He replied that I had obviously not noticed them flowering at home – they were the hedge hiding the “pig stye” from house view. In fact, he said, the cows used to “get hooked” on chewing their leaves.
Lots of love and praying for you,
Nancy
Hello Nancy. I just love all the Oleanders in Italy, with their vivid pink and red flowers. They are well suited to the hot climate because they are so hardy. Love, Kevin
Only just viewed this blog. Once again beautiful scenery and the lovely Oleanders. Did not know the name of this flower before. Thanks to Nancy. Happy riding.