Italy 2014: Lake Garda and Verona

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter Monday is a national holiday in Italy, so most businesses are closed. The kids had school and David had work. Even though it was a rainy day, Cynthia, Patrick, the Bischoffs, and I decided to drive over to Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. We had lunch at Green Beach Restaurant in Sirmione by the lake. After lunch, we walked around the lake, took photos, including a mama duck with twelve ducklings, and walked around the town of Sirmione. At a wine store, we bought some limoncello, pistachio liquer, and lemon-flavored olive oil.

Patrick's vegetarian pizza

Volker, Lukas, Marcel on left; Veronica, Cynthia, Patrick

View of lake from restaurant

Does anyone know what those blue and white stakes are?

We were seated on the far right inside the restaurant.

Many scenic venues beside the lake

Patrick took this with zoom lens.

Cynthia and Lukas

Main street of Sirmione?

Put in coins, get wine.

Then we drove to Verona. We have been to Verona before and will go again, so I will share some photos of the day we were there with the Bischoffs and Cynthia. Most of these are Patrick's because my camera stopped working after two shots.


It was 4:00 when we entered the old city walls and my camera stopped working.

Booths in Piazza Bra by the Roman arena


Dating from the first century, A.D., the arena is where the opera festival is held in the summer.


This column blessed a marketplace held here in the Middle Ages. It is located in Piazza Bra across from the arena.

Via Mazzini is the busy street that connects Piazza Bra and Piazza Erbe.

All tourists head to The House of Juliet. Shakespeare put Verona on the map with his play.


Tourists cram into this area to see the balcony, touch Juliet's breast for luck, and/or buy a lock to put on the doors to prove they love their significant other. More on this later when we visit the museum.