Verona and the Opera

Back in the beginning of August, we traveled with the R family to Verona, Italy, a drive of about 2 hours. We stayed only one night, the sole purpose of which was to attend an Opera in the Verona Arena, a 2000-year-old Roman Coliseum. We made it to Verona by lunchtime and enjoyed a nice Italian pizza/pasta lunch at a restaurant near the arena. Then we wandered around the town, which isn’t too remarkable, looks just like a standard old Roman town. Verona’s touristy claim to fame is that Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet is set here. Tourists flock in droves to a fake courtyard and balcony and we joined them. Verona was just meh, that is until we were sitting in the arena for the Opera. The R family’s oldest daughter, C, had the kids and so it was adults only for a nice dinner out and then of course, the event of the weekend, Aida. Our seats were crap because we planned the trip really last minute and had to go with what was left, so we were sitting stage right and almost at the top of the arena. The arena itself was old and amazing and I just kept thinking about how cool it was to be sitting in 2013 in a nearly 2100-year-old Roman Coliseum, watching a super flashy, modern version of an Opera set in ancient Egypt. Before the Opera began, the peasants in the stair seating (cheap seats), following tradition, all lit small candles. Except for us, we had no idea about this tradition. The sky was darkening and the candles lit in this old arena made for a beautiful scene. Then the Opera began and the voices of the singers carried their Italian wailing all the up to us in the nosebleeds. And after 4 hours, 3 intermissions, and lots of drama, Aida concluded at 1 am. It was a late night, but we check marked a square on our European tour bucket list!