Of course, as an English major, I love to learn about great literature, and visit settings for my favorite stories. But this time, it was the little romantic in me who wished to see and swoon before the balcony where Romeo “woo-ed” Juliet. In all honesty, we’re not even sure Shakespeare existed, so of course, this is a “guess” of where it “may” have happened… well… err.. it doesn’t matter!
The beautiful part of the balcony lies in the love letters that the present lovers, dreamers and hopeful singles from all around the world, who have written to their lovers of present, past or future. People come from all over the world to see this balcony of such a legendary love story, and leave their own promises or hope for their own real life love story to come true. Some were in languages I couldn’t decipher, and some were just plain poetry. Even though Romeo and Juliet may have never lived or loved, it is refreshing and comforting to see such an outpour of hope for the reality of love and relationships. In an age of digitized romances and rampant cynicism, how nice it is to know that one timeless love affair inspires millions to make a pilgrimage to this place, to cherish the hope that someday, there may be a real life Romeo waiting for us outside our balcony. Of all that is traditional, practical, right or wrong, and there may actually be someone who inspires such beautiful poetry as this, and who dares and dreams to love eternally .
Verona was also where Christine and I had a very traditional Italian lunch: handmade pumpkin ravioli, Veronese red wine, and delectable bread to go with our two hour stay. We munched, we chatted, we spilled stories and never a drop of that delicious vino.
A lovely day in another quiet Italian scene—and a day that was full of hope for all of us who find a real pleasure in the notion that indeed, reality tells us that romance is not dead, and true love can never die.
Also, we climbed to the top of this Bell Tower in the middle of the main piazza, and explored the city from a sky-high view. We looked far and away into the hills of Verona and beyond.
“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
Act 3, Scene 2
Happy Travels,
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