May 4

What a morning. Today, I went on my final trip with my school.  We would be checking out Verona, Lake Garda, Trento, Madonna di Campiglia, and taking a four-hour hike through the Alps in only two short days. The buses were leaving at 5:50 this morning. As my sleepy self was walking out of the apartment with my suitcase and iPad in hand, I completely fell down the stairs, denting my iPad, hitting my head, and smashing my sunglasses in my purse. The day could only go up from there, right? Verona reminded me of a circus town: there was a collection of street performers and tents, all obsessed with providing spectacle for the tourists. The city never let you forget that it was the setting of Romeo and Juliet (Romeo e Guilietta). Did you ever see the movie Letters to Juliet? Oh, no? I'm the only one? Juliet's "house" is famous for the statue of Juliet (rubbing her breasts is supposed to bring you good luck in love), a balcony where light through yonder window breaks, and a collection of letters to Juliet asking for long-lasting love. The letters were pasted all over the walls, as you can see above. If there is one aspect of humanity that is the same no matter what country you are in, it is the desire to have love. After taking in my fill of street performers, we boarded the bus again to Lake Garda: a playground for wealthy Europeans. The water was crystal blue (putting Lake Norman to shame) and had majestic swans swimming throughout. I sat on a bench with a cone of mango gelato taking in the sun on the shore. Anyone jealous? After a traffic-halting 20-point turn on our charter bus, we arrived at our hotel in Trento for the night. It is a college town known for its local beer.We had a great dinner (provided for by the trip) in the hotel. I walked around the city center and saw Trento's duomo before hitting the hay.