Italy: Verona (and a million photos….)

Verona is a slow city. Not slow like when you have to wait, but slow like when there’s time for everything. The cobblestones make a dull sound under my steps, and sunlight sits deeply between the houses. A creamy espresso macchiato here isn’t anything special, just a natural part of the day — like the air or the noise. In some shops, handmade Italian hats or leather shoes line the shelves, yet my favorites are still, hopelessly, the bakeries, cafés, and bookstores. We peeked into the courtyard where Romeo and Juliet’s names meet on the wall, but for me, the best parts of Verona are somehow the balconies heavy with flowers, the roadside bike racks, and the stony alleys. The little streets are quiet, warmth seeps from the walls, and every coffee has its own scent.