Citizens of the World...

A view of Verona from the bridge

Yesterday we wandered down to Juliet's house. I'm still not sure whether this is real or a tourist trap, but apparently this house in fair Verona (of "where we lay our scene" fame...) contains the tomb of Romeo's Juliet. It's tradition that visitors stand on the balcony and then take a picture of themselves groping the breasts of the courtyard statue (of Juliet, who was 13 at the time the play takes place, so the groping might be a little creepy.) We pinned love notes to the walls of the courtyard (another tradition).

I went in search of the bathroom. I asked the woman selling tickets where it was, in my newly-learned Italian. She directed me, also in Italian. Along the way I met an elderly woman who started speaking to me in Spanish. She had an accent, so I asked her (after about five minutes) where she was from. England. So we switched to English. Then, as if this trilingual exchange wasn't enough, I headed over the market stalls and was hailed (in Hindi!) by a street vendor. He and I struck up an exchange in Hindi (which ended with him asking my friend Cara and I to come back at 8 for a date.) After speaking four different languages in only a half hour I must say: I have never felt so suave. Or such a citizen of the world.