Buona Pasqua

This was the first time we have stayed in Verona for a weekend. And I'm very happy that we did! I feel like I know my 'hometown' that much better and feel very rested! I'm going to have to be rested. I counted and for our second spring break, we'll be gone 12 days and 11 nights. We head out Wednesday afternoon for Florence! I'm looking forward to seeing everything we learned about in our first block of classes. Thursday night we wanted to venture away from our go-to bar and started the evening at Camelot. The owner dated a girl from UGA a couple years back when she was on the Verona program and he is very nice to us! After Camelot, a few went home and a few of us stopped by Campus to check out ERASMUS night. ERASMUS is Europe's version of study abroad. It's more like an exchange, however, and most kids stay for an entire year.
Friday morning was the first morning I've woken up without an alarm! It was so nice. The team this weekend was a little smaller, only six of us, but we managed just fine. We went to the Roman theatre (different than the arena) and walked up to the top. This is probably my new favorite place in Verona and I will definitely be bringing the mama there when she comes in just 2 and a half weeks! There is a small park at the top and we just sat there enjoying the beautiful weather! It was the prettiest day in Verona thus far. After, we did what we always do when in town, get gelato. Mom, get ready for this...
That night we wanted to go out to eat. Marco, our nice desk-man and one of our friends, suggested a place and even came with us. I had some unbelievable duck and Marco picked our some fabulous wine. Now don't be getting Marco confused with Martin. Martin is our trip coordinator and Marco works the desk. Anyway, Marco had horse meat and everyone who tried it said it was delicious, but I wasn't ready to try it. Maybe next time.
Saturday was supposed to be a yucky day, and it was, so Kari, Katie, and I planned to check out the mall. We missed the first shuttle there, so the only one we could take was at 4 PM. This turned out to be ok though. We had been warned that the grocery store would be closed on Monday because it too is a holiday just like Sunday. So, we got the essentials until it would reopen on Tuesday. The mall was packed. And the best part was, we found Target. Ok, fine, it wasn't Target but it was the Italian's version. We didn't have time to check it out, but we will be back. Oh yes, we will be back. Wayne's World anyone? Anyone...?
Since I was confused and thought I had signed up for a semester in Antarctica, I needed a few basic warmer weather clothes. Hello Zara and H&M. I just needed enough to get me through Spain, since it will be much warmer weather. Hopefully we'll be on par with Atlanta and be enjoying some 80-degree weather. The mall was great fun and the free shuttle bus to get there wasn't bad either.
This morning a group of 5 headed to our neighborhood church for Easter Sunday Mass. We weren't sure what to expect, but I knew it couldn't be that far off. It was exactly the same. We even had a warm welcome, "Welcome our friends from America. From Georgia!"Yes, hello, thank you for having us. Like you didn't already know we're American... Sidenote: We stick out like a sore thumb everywhere we go. It's like we are dressed in Red, White, and Blue and sing the Star Spangled Banner or something. Back to Easter. Buona Pasqua means Happy Easter and everyone you come across says, "Buona Pasqua" to you. People are very kind on Easter. OH! I almost forgot! The Easter bunny came, too! The Italian Easter Bunny that is. Would the American Easter Bunny put a wine juice box in an Easter basket...I don't think so! Maybe a Miller Light's in Uncle Kevin's...? I have some little candies and a chocolate bunny that I have already eaten the ears off of :)

It is supposedly going to rain today, but for now, it is a beautiful Easter morning. I'm excited to hear how everyone's weekends were. There were a few others that stayed here that we would run into from time to time. One at Lake Como. A couple at Lake Garda. And there were two groups in Cinque Terre. I am so excited to go here with the mama. The people that have come back from the 5Terre have LOVED it. I can not wait!