Sleepless Nights Spent Discovering Verona.

A little over a month ago, after months of overthinking, I undertook my first solo trip, my first stop being Verona.

Not many people know that the famous play, Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare was based in Verona, Italy. Let me put it this way, after spending a little time in that magnificent city, I cannot even imagine that play being based anywhere else. Way to go, old man! 

My journey to Verona was one that was both: extremely long and exhausting. I took a train from Dornbirn, Austria to Lindau, which is at the Austrian tip of Germany. I, then, took another train to Munich Passing, from where I changed to a Schnell-Bahn that dropped me to the airport. 

I flew from Munich to Venice for 36 Euros, from where I then took a train to Verona, which in turn cost me another 10 Euros, and another two hours of my already short trip.

I reached the Porta Nuova train station in Verona around 4:30 pm. It took me another thirty minutes for me to walk to my Air B&B, which would have taken exactly three minutes by bus.

Once I reached my accommodation, I did all the necessary things- turn on the air conditioner, change out of my sweaty clothes and FaceTime my parents.

I finally got out of my room around 7 pm to head to the Verona Centrico, where all the action takes place.

Once there I made my way to Piazza della Erbe. I have to admit, a market in full swing is not what I expected to find over there. That evening I decided not to click pictures and to just enjoy my surroundings. Verona is what one expects Italy to stereotypically look like - cobbled streets filled with colourful old houses with beautiful flowers draping the balcony railings, outdoor restaurants and cafes filled with tourists and locals alike, cooling off after a hot and exhausting day with the Veronese drink- Spritz.

I then enjoyed some Bruschetta and a Spritz at a restaurant near Piazza della Erbe. I have to say that I find 12.50 Euros a little to much for an Appetiser and a drink that was practically a local drink.

They even charged me for the bread!!!! 

The bread!!

Your girl just had 80 Euros for the span of three days, including the transport charges.

So, yes, your girl was being extremely CHEAP. 

Hell, it took me months to save for this trip.

After dinner, I walked around a little more. It was finally getting dark. 

P.S. I love summer for the longer days.

Back to the point, I had promised my Dad to be home early, so around 9 I leisurely started making my way back to the bus stop from where I came.

*drumroll*

The last bus had left a few minutes before I reached.

It cannot happen. Right? Especially since my Google Maps showed me that there should be another bus leaving in 5 minutes time to take me back. So, naturally, I whip out my phone to recheck what I read, and *dum dum duuuummmm* it dawns on me that: one, in Europe the public transport timings change in the night, and two, the bus that is supposed to take me back to my B&B leaves from some other bus stop.

WHATTTT???

Google Maps says that the place is only a few minutes away but since I do not know the area and since it was already dark, I decided to go to the next big Piazza - Piazza Bra. It was the biggest and the most happening place in Verona, so it is just common sense that there should be a bus that will travel to my intended destination, right?

Nope. No such luck.

Now the problem with Piazza Bra is that there are quite a lot of shady people, who come out after sundown over there. By the time I reached the bus stop over there, you know, that I am already hyperventilating, but for my sake I put on a brave face and try to figure out a way back home.

The second problem with Piazza Bra is that along with the shady people, there are a LOT of tourists, who were just as clueless as me.

In the end I just ended up taking a bus to Porta Nuova, hoping that the last bus of the night had not yet left. 

At Porto Nuova, which was filled with even shadier people, I was at a loss as to whom I should ask about how I should make my way home.

I just asked the least shadiest person I could find, and as my luck would have it, he too had no answer to the question I held so dear to me, 'Which bus travelled to Santa Lucia?'.

So there I stood, hyperventilating, when the Gods, finally, felt sorry for me and sent a bus that stops at Santa Lucia. Thank fuck!

My Air B&B was not in the main city, meaning that it was somewhere pretty deserted. Now pair that with it almost being 10:30 pm with me, a girl, who does not speak the language and was so exhausted that she would not be able to throw a punch to save her life. 

To say that I was shitting myself the entire way; from the moment I got down at the bus stop to the time I reached my room would be an understatement.

Well, I reached the apartment without any instances occurring. Just when I start thanking my stars for letting me reach home safely, I realised that the main door of the apartment does not have a lock.

Why, God? WHYYY??

After a couple of minutes of cursing in the dark hallway, I make my peace with the situation and settled for just locking my bedroom door and praying that no one breaks in the wee hours.

Fast forward two hours later, just as I find my eyes drooping shut, I hear the main door being opened, and someone entering.

Although the rational part of my brain said that it was probably just another guest, renting the other available room in the apartment, it did not stop me from shutting my phone and hoping that the person assumes the apartment to be empty, just in case it really was a burglar. :P

I know, I know I should have listened to my parents when they told me that I was too young to watch all those horror movies. I guess, it is a little to late for that now. X_X

Me writing this blog proves that I made it through the night (Phew, right?).

All in all, that first night in Verona was definitely an experience that my parents shall never hear about.

Stay tuned for my next day in Verona. :D