What a lovely 24 hours we had this weekend!  GP and I took the train, (high-speed, 2 hours), to Verona on Saturday morning.  Grace gave me two tickets to see Sam Smith in concert at the Verona Arena.  And yes, you know who he is.  Watch this.

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ub7Etch2U)

Moi outside the Arena (I have no lips?)

Our view of the stage

The Arena is a smaller version of the Colosseum but in much better shape.  From April through October, it's used as a venue for concerts, opera and theater.  It was a glorious night with a light breeze and stars shining.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  That man has the voice of an angel, gospel back-up singers and puts on a great show. Then there is Verona which I have always loved though it's getting too touristy.  When I first visited it 30 plus years ago, it was a quiet, dusty little city but very beautiful.  The walled old center sits in the curve of the river Adige that curls around and almost surrounds the city.  There are hills on the far side of the river backed by the Eastern Alps, (or Western Dolomites?).  Unfortunately there were thousands of people there for the concert and it was way over-crowded.  Those lovely narrow old streets are not made for those numbers.


It was also Greyhound rescue festival or something, cause those scrawny dogs were everywhere.  They are the most pathetic looking things with their skinny little tails always tucked between their legs and their ribs protruding.  Most of them were dressed too.  I mean, come on!  What kind of self-respecting dog wears a hoodie? 

We spent the night in a b&b way the heck out of the center because everything else was booked or 5 stars.  The owners are an odd couple.  She's a young spacey English gal who must have said, "Oh yeah, yeah..", 50 times.  (I started counting).  He's a middle aged Italian with creepy Mel Gibson crazy eyes.  He drove us into the center on Saturday afternoon and all I could see were his eyes in the rear-view mirror.  Spooky.  But actually they were very hospitable.  They still have a lot to learn about running a business though.  They had no signs.  I mean NO SIGNS.  And the place is on a tiny dirt road with the same name as a longer paved road 1/4 mile away.  We wandered around like idiots for half an hour before calling them, getting directions and still couldn't find it!  Signs people, signs!

Here's GP wandering aimlessly.

 Anywho.  We got home yesterday to cold rain.  Today back at work and it's even colder and rainier. Sniff.  I prefer vacation.  xxoo me