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Garden Party We slept in a cloud. The condensation from the tree we had set the tent under dripped all night soaking the fly. We awakened to find ourselves wrapped in a cool fog. For breakfast we had more grapes. On the outskirts of Verona I phoned Patricia (the woman we had met in Sardinia). As soon as I said who was calling Patricia said, "I was just thinking about you." She immediately invited us to come and see her. I was wrong about all the traffic getting Sherry onto smaller roads. We scooted into Verona on an eight lane super strata. We probably weren't even allowed on it. But with Italy's three separate police forces, I guess they didn't know which of them were supposed to stop us. Verona had many stunning buildings. The arena was the best. But we found out they wanted money just to view it. At least they could have had a play or something going on. It took basketfulls of money to keep the arena in such a perfect state of ruin? Since the churches charged admission, we boycotted them. I thought all the churches in Italy were free of charge. We followed a walking tour. It started at the arena and took us past everything from Rolex watches on the overpriced tourist shopping street to castles and churches. Saint Zeno church had a door comprised of thirtyseven panels, each with a different biblical scene. Bruno and Iole in Sardinia had shown us they were slowly collecting replicas of the door scenes each time friends from Verona visited. Even the door cost money to view. They fenced off the area and anyone wanting a close look was required to pay. It was no charge to go into the gift shop though. You paid to get out. Hot showers! Ecstasy. It was a struggle though. I voted to wait one more day until we got to Padova and Patricia's, while Sharon and Sherry voted for the hostel. Verona and the hostel won, but just barely. Sharon tried to camp in the shower. Sherry stayed inside the dorm, lapping up luxury; Sharon and I camped in the hostel's spacious grounds. There were two German campers next to us having a garden party. It sounded as if the whole place was invited-but it was just the two of them. |
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