Some Favorite Italian Moments

. arrival in Verona, to be stunned by the view above

. meeting a pair of Chinese dragons from the previous night’s Turandot outside the Arena

. bits of old walls showing through new plaster

. slices of local cheeses, one with herbs

. the trumpets & torches deployed grandly in Aida

. the Nabucconezer Pizzeria

. farmhouses spotted from trains

. Verdi’s salumeria (salsamenteria) and pizzeria with mozzerella di bufala

. the peace of Sant’Agata

. the stern old woman who took my hand

. two copies of Anna Karenina in Italian in the B&B

. the idea of the Treviso fish market

. violins playing in la chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore

. coming upon the canal with letters afloat

. the Sunday bells, as always

. our quiet backwater in Venice with an occasional motorboat, Franciscan friar, terrier

. the 10^th century crypt floored in water

. the island of glass

. glass chandeliers in the Murano church

. suddenly in the night the Arsenale with its pride of lions

. the closed museum which we’d all walked far to see

. La Fenice in the rain

. crossing the canal by traghetto

image:  Christie B. Cochrell, View from B&B delle Erbe