Verona may not be on everyone’s “must see” list for Italy, but it was high on mine. Having taught “Romeo and Juliet” to both 7th graders and high school freshmen, I was anxious to see exactly what the infamous balcony actually looked like, up close and personal. I...
There had been a mild uprising on the bus the previous day when we learned that the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence was not included on our tour. Anselmo, speaking rapidly in Italian, made many phone calls while Andre drove, each call becoming more intense. At...
These tour directors are cagey people. They know we need a break at least every two hours to “use the facilities” and stretch our legs, and they craftily plan it so there just happens to be not only a toilet, but also a place where we can buy gifts and souvenirs to...
I had quickly learned in Rome that stop signs and lane lines are merely suggestive throughout Italy, but nowhere was it more evident than during the drive along the amazingly beautiful Amalfi Coast. Passing within inches of another vehicle every few minutes took my...
We started our trip south from Rome to Sorrento under a slightly drizzling sky. No matter, the bus ride would take several hours, and as we’d had stellar 70-degree weather in Rome, I figured we were due for a few clouds. By the time we reached Pompeii, on the...
