THE TUSCAN DINNER . We were driven out to the Tuscan Hills to enjoy a traditional Florentine meal, including drinks in a picturesque country setting
That evening we had one of our best dinner in Italy with even an Italian Opera Singer who showed us some newspaper cuttings to prove that he once sang in one of Melbourne's Theatres!!!!!
The starters..which consists of sophisticated dishes...dunno their names....suppposed to be Venetian specialities -antipasti - sliced meats mainly proscitto and salmi.
This is the guy who was 'belting' out Italian 'pops' whilst we eat! And his CD is for sale....
Daddy having his pastas in cheesy sauce 
And for those who doesn't like too much cheese they were served with tomato sauce
The most famous main course is 'the bistecca alla florentine'A HUGE STEAK of Chianna beef cooked over hot carcoal and served very rare....
See they brought this out before they sliced...withlittle baked potatoes at its side...Within seconds the whole chunk disappeared....leaving behind only the bones....missed taking a photo of the bones!!
We were served in the open air with tables laid under tents...the sun is setting so it was not hot...
The slice of beef with potatoes and salad
Some of our tour companions
.......For deserts we served delicious traditional tiramisu (said to originate from Venice ) ..a rich pudding of mascarpone sponge fingers, coffee and marsala. The name means "pick me up" After dinnner we were driven back to Sheraton Hotel
The next morning just before we leave for Verona and then to VENICE!!!
Breakfast mumsie must admit is 'lack of variety'unlike our Malysian hotels which served Japanes, English, American and nasi lemak ect ect Italy served the same thing all our 9 days there....Mumsie's cornflakes with youghet...
Scramble eggs..bacon and..... ......
This morning were're off to Verona the city of the most famous lovers in history Romeo and Juliet....made famous by William Shakespeare ...so making Verona a preferred destination for lovers and tourists...
Josephine our new tour-guide...seems in Italy the tour must be led by local tour guide and not our Tour Director Eleanor...who is from Sieana so she must be from Verona so she gotta be very 'discreet' 
At the entance of the 'famous balcony"
What is this??????
At the entance of the 'famous balcony"
What is this??????
Just before we enter the courtyard on the walls around the place there is an unbearable amount of graffiti and general scrawling on the walls, floor anything that will hold ink!! Left behind by all the"love-birds"
The short passageway leaking to the balcony is covered with slips of papers covering graffiti.
There is also a museum but we didn't go in...too busy taking photos of the famous 'balcony'
THIS IS IT THE house of Juliet with its famous balcony over looking the courtyard and the bronze staue of Juliet. The Capulet family of Romeo and Juliet fame did exists.
Another view of the famous balcony!
Dadda busy busy with his video
As you can see this is a real tourist attaction!! They (including mumsie) come from all ove the world to see this and I'm sure they did not leave it disappointed!
At the courtyard over looking the balcony
This is the bronze statue of Juliet...standing under the balcony with one of her breasts pollished...by those touching it for LUCK 
From Juliet's house, a short walk and we reach 'Via Mazzini Verona's golden mile of shopping taking us to 2 of Verona's squares Piazza delle Erb and Piazza Bra.
Most of the major Italian labels are represented at these streets and even if you can't afford them it's great to wander around and window shop!
At the end of this picture is the LAMBERTTI TOWER
As usual Buskers everwhere!
'Piazza delle Erbe' is one of the most picturesque squares in Italy. In this square there is a popular and colourful market
Closser look of some of the buildings in the square
City centre is where Piazza delle Erbe sits..Behindus is ANOTHER ELEGANT SHOPPING STREET .....
On this treet you will find some ot the most fashionable shops in Italy, where you can buy the best of 'Italian design' clothes
Never knows the pinioco originate from ITALY 
This is a pedestrian only street as you can see in the photo.
The Madonna Verona fountain....in the Piazza delle Erbe
In front of the square are many bars restaurant and souvenier shops
Mumsie loves these plants hanging around the windows....
On the way to the most famous monument in Town the Roman Amphitheatre, commonly known as The Arena
Here it is!
Verona Amphitheatre - the Arena quite spectacular...An enormous Roman amphitheatre cumbling on the outside but still functioning today....
Although the building is now used for operas and other cultural shows, its original was(as you can imagine crueler...the fomous gladiators fights!!
Posters giving the dates and times of the shows ect ect... seems in Summer this is the time when this amphitheatre is fully utillised.
This is the 3rd largest...First is the Collessuem in Rome 2nd.. .can't remember...
In front of the Arena sits the 'PIAZZA BRA' 
The pedestrian only street.....
Buskers again
It is HOT
Mumsie really likes the flowers on the balcony
This is where we joined our coach to take us to VENICE....one of those places that everyone knows.....by name..It has become soooooo famous that mumsie wanted to find out why.....so mumsie will check it out fou you.
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