An extra week in Italy

I never really paid any attention to the news the whole time I was in Italy. I sort of heard about the volcano in Iceland, but I was truly shocked on Saturday night when I found out that the airports were closed and that I would not be leaving Sunday morning.

Thank god I did not book this trip on my own and the travel agency stepped up to take care of the re-booking of my flight home. If left to my own devices, I'm quite sure that I would still be in Italy today, and rather than having a fun, relaxing week, I would have been just as miserable as the people stuck in airports.

So, we were told that the airports would open on Wednesday, and that our hotel would keep our room until then, so I was pretty excited about my three extra days.

April 18th
First order of business was to return to a store in town that had a leather bag I'd been eying earlier in the week, but was afraid to commit to, in case I found something better later on. Which I hadn't, and was actually bumming about missing my chance to get it.

So, slouchy suede bag for €35 became mine.

The rest of the day was spent exploring all the fun alleways of shops in Garda and relaxing by the lake.

Lace cammi TJMaxx - Grey top TJMaxx - Jeans Kohls - Black sneakers Converse - Bag Avon - Sunglasses Simply Vera - Scarf TJMaxx - Coat Vertigo Paris

April 19th

We decided to walk to some of the other towns along the lake, and stopped in Bardolino

It was such a beautiful day, almost 80 degrees and so bright and sunny!

And I was maybe a tad overdressed...

Floral skirt TJMaxx - Red cardigan Free People - Yellow scarf Market in Italy - Black sneakers Converse - Denim Military Jacket NY&Co. - Sunglasses Simply Vera - Bag Avon - Earrings Kohl's 

April 20th

What I thought would be my last day...

and my last night.

But then I found out we still had no flight. Only we no longer could stay at our hotel!

Lace cammi TJMaxx - Skirt Desigual - Jacket H&M - Gold Wedges Onex - Earrings Gift - Bag Avon

A new hotel was booked, sight unseen.

April 21st
We left our hotel by the lake and set out to our new one, the Poiano. Our luggage was shuttled over, but we walked. I don't know why we walked - it was a five minute drive and we should have just taken a cab. Instead we traveled through some neighboroods that weren't too nice and began to get really worried about the hotel. I was having visions of some flee bag motel and was staring to get upset -- but then we go there.

Dress Simply Vera - Gold wedges Onex - Scarf Taken for Granite - Bag Avon - Earrings Taken for Granite

It was this absolutely gorgeous resort.

With this awesome pool.

And I was feeling a whole lot better.

April 22nd
The next few days were relaxation bliss, lying out poolside during the day, enjoying the karaoke piano player in the evening at the bar...

Dress Market in Italy - Sandals Naturalizer - Belt Gap - Swimsuit DKNY

I was quite content.

April 23rd
When the open air market was lake side again, we took the shuttle, and I bought the sandals that you already know about.

Top Macys - Jeans Kohl's - Sandals Naturalizer - Scarf American Eagle - Coat Vertigo Paris - earrings Taken for Granite

It seemed like I was going to be in Italy forever, and I decided I was okay with that.

April 24th
But, all good things must come to an end, and I found out I finally had a flight home on Sunday.

Top DKNY - Skirt TJMaxx - Denim Military jacket NY&Co. - Sandals Steve Madden (borrowed from my sister) - Earrings Market in Verona - Bag Avon

I hope I get to go back soon.

Ahhhh and that is it! Sorry for the long post, but I think one whole week of Italy posts is enough! Italy was awesome, and I'm glad I got to share it with you!

Verona

Did you know Juliette was a real person? Honest to god I thought Romeo and Juliette was fictional!

April 16th
Fair Verona was the city of marble streets and home to Juliette's Balcony. I could not get over how awesome it was to be walking on marble streets. And fittingly present were all the many very high end stores with things I only dream of affording.

But, as it seemed there was not a place in Italy with out outdoor vendors, there was the Festival Bambino, full of all kinds of food and FREE SAMPLES! Cheese, bread, wine pastry, chocolate... do you need anything else?

I had a real Italian cannoli and a giant hunk of bread with whole olives baked into it. I so want to make olive bread now, it was delicious.

Interspersed with the food were booths of handmade items, mostly jewelry and I got these gorgeous blue crystal earrings for €24. Which I thought were €15 because I swear that is what the sign said and the vendor did not speak any English but he got really mad at me when when I handed him 15!!

One of the other really awesome things in Verona was the Arena, which is still used as an actual venue for concerts. While we were there they were setting up the main stage because Rod Stewart was supposed to be there the following week. I wonder if he made it - considering the volcano and all?

I thought it was kind of dumb that they added all that plastic seating to the center, but what can you do, it's the 21st century and people sitting there are probably paying €300 a seat and don't want to be on ancient marble.

Floral top TJMaxx - Yellow cammi Macys - Jeans Khol's - Gold wedges Onex - Belt NY&Co. - Scarf Taken for Granite - Straw hat Market in Italy - Earrings Avon

- Bag Avon

April 17th

On the way to Juliette's Balcony there is an underpass completely covered with love notes. Some are letters to Juliette, most are just the names of two people who are in love. Some have been there for a very long time.

Under her small balcony is a statue, and apparently there is a rumor that feeling up Juliette will grant you good luck in love. I did not do this. Honestly, did you read the play? Did you see the movie?? Things do not work out well for Juliette! How the heck is she going to grant anyone good luck in love?

Studded top DKNY - Mustard cords Gap - Denim military jacket NY&Co. - Pink flats Bakers - Scarf Taken for Granite - Earrings Taken for Granite - Bag Avon

Some cute boys (we need those!)

And some awesome shoes. I'm not sure how I feel about the super tight look of the rest of the outfit - not that she can't pull it off, but I don't really care for it. I adore the shoes though!

I also love how she is looking at the revolving boxer shorts with cans of whipped cream on them. If I had a man, I probably would have gotten those for him. haha.

So, this was supposed to be the end of my trip... But of course, it was not...

Venice

April 15th
There are no cars in Venice. I love that.

The first thing I did when I arrived in Venice was to go on a gondola ride. So touristy, yet so essential! What better way to view the sinking city than weaving through narrow canals and under ancient bridges?

Tell me that isn't the coolest store front ever! I would have liked to have gone in, but couldn't just hop off my gondola for a shopping trip... They should offer a gondola shopping tour where you get to make stops at all the cute boutiques...

The only other way to get around Venice is by foot and to look at a map of the place, you could be beyond confused. Fortunately all alleyways lead to squares and all squares lead to St. Marks - and that is all you need remember!

Murano glass and carnival masks are the two major items in Venice, and it took me a day of hunting around little shops of handmade glass goods before I finally chose these purple glass earrings for €6.

I loved exploring all the alleyways of Venice. I suppose there is nothing more boring and common place than an alleyway for someone who lives there, but to me -- Ah I was enamored!

This is my absolute favorite shot of the day, and I literally got down on the ground to take it. Worth it.

I was also in love Venice's Winged Lion, he was everywhere, and I think I've got about two dozen shots of him, because is so awesome!!!!

I probably should have had on one more layer that day - while it was so warm and wonderful in the sun, the alleyways had quite a chill to them.

Floral cardigan Gap - Blue skirt TJMaxx - Black sneakers Converse - Scarf Taken for Granite - Cammi Urban Outfitters - Tights TJMaxx - Sunglasses Simply Vera - 'Diamond' studs Aldo - Bag Avon

Cute couple of the day

Don't these two just kill you with their cuteness??

Cute guy of the day

Venice was amazing! I wish I had more time there, so I must go back someday!

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a really huge fresh water lake, and is surrounded by quaint little towns full of shops and restaurants and alleyways.

Our hotel in Garda was only a two minute walk from the lake, and all the lake towns could easily be traveled to by foot, bike, bus, or ferry boat.

April 14th
There is a traveling open air market, and on Wednesdays it is at Lazise, a 15 minute bus ride from Garda.
The town is built around a huge old castle and surrounded by walls. The market spanned the length of the water front and was similar to that of Florence, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

I finally bought some stuff!!!

The Desigual Skirt
Desigual is a Spanish clothing company known for making apparel that is like no other. They use bold patterns and bright colors and make some really nice clothes. Really expenisve too. Nothing I could ever afford, even if we pretended the prices were in dollars and not euros.

I was not surprised when I saw lots of skirts and dresses in the market that were clearly Desigual knock-offs. Not that they weren't cute, but you could tell the fabric was thin and cheap and I wasn't interested.

Then I spotted this skirt. 

The tags and branding looked authentic. The material was thick and soft, and of yes, the skirt was adorable! Only €32 (okay, so it wasn't like they were giving it away, but hey).

Now that I've had a chance to check out their website, I found this in the spring collection. A bit shorter and with tricolor stitching on the bottom, but essentially my skirt.
So I'm not quite sure how this one came to be. Factory reject or high end knockoff, I don't know, but it's authentic enough for me.

Then I found this olive dress with a cool hemline, that I would describe as the asymmetrical bubble hem. It was €15 and I only had 14 so I tried to haggle and was unsuccessful so I had to go and borrow a euro! Everyone told me I could haggle at the markets, but the merchants never seemed to accept my offers.

The grey fedora was €12 and the yellow scarf was €6. I also couldn't find any country of origin on the fedora, which is suspicious. Generally when something is made in Italy they make it nice and obvious. A tremendous number of things in the market were made in China and India, I had to check absolutely everything, because really, why go to Italy and buy stuff made in China?!

I also got this straw hat for only €5 (photographic evidence of 'made in italy')

Day outfit

Taken in the mirror of a cool little shop;

Striped shirt Gap - Mustard cords Gap - Denim military jacket NY&Co. - Floral scarf Avon - Bag Avon - Shoes (oops, can't see them!) Black converse

Evening Outfit

Striped shirt Gap - Floral Skirt TJMaxx - Black blazer Khol's - Black flats Steve Madden - Black bag Bandolino - Yellow Scarf Market in Italy

Hot guy of the day

Cute couple of the day

(they really were adorable, they begged at tables for food like dogs!)

Florence

April 13th
To break up the eight hour drive from Rome to our hotel in Garda (which is about a half hour drive from Verona and a two hour drive from Venice) we stopped for a few hours in Florence.

Since most of my day was spent seated, I wanted to dress comfortable and went with my go-to leggings and jersey dress. It was also freezing, so I wore my new denim jacket (this got so much use this trip, I'm so happy I bought it!) and my scarf. My feet were unfortunately cold in my sandals, but oh well.

Pink dress TJMaxx - Brown leggings Poof - Denim military jacket NY&Co. - Snake sandals Naturalizer - Bag Avon - Scarf Avon

 I sort of refer to this day as the power walk through Florence. There was a huge open air market with booth after booth of leather bags, leather coats, leather gloves, and scarfs. Repeat to infinity. A good deal of the items were the same, and the owners of the stands were quite aggressive in trying to get a sale. The prices there were also the best, you could get a cute leather bag for €15 that would be €24 everywhere else. There were tons of €5 scarfs that would be €10 + elsewhere.

Sadly I didn't end up buying anything there, I was about to get a scarf but the person working there was rude to me so I left. Then I wanted to go and find the fake David, and by the time I was finished getting lost it was time to leave.

 But that's okay, I enjoyed my taste of Florence - it was much better place to stop for lunch than a highway rest stop, and I had the best pizza there -- it had artichoke hearts, olives and mushrooms - yum!

Oh, and here are some hot guys I took stalker photos of. That sort of became a habit, so I've got many more for you to look forward to, heh heh.