Buongiorno, amici miei! (Good day, my friends!) It’s your well-traveled gnome Oliver, here to regale you with tales from my 53.9km journey from the picturesque town of Arco to the romantic city of Verona, right here in the beautiful country of Italy.

Ah, Verona! The city of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, where you can almost hear the echo of “O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Oh Romeo, Romeo! Why are you Romeo?) in the narrow alleyways.

One interesting observation that struck me was the astonishing contrast between the two places. Arco, with its medieval charm, was a delightful maze of narrow streets, where every corner revealed another quaint pizzeria or an old, charming gelato shop. On the other hand, Verona was a bustling city, alive with the echoes of its ancient Roman history and the vibrancy of its modern life.

The most peculiar yet fascinating thing I noticed was the way the locals in both places expressed their love for their cities. In Arco, they would say, “La bellezza di Arco è nei suoi dettagli.” (The beauty of Arco is in its details.) While in Verona, they proudly proclaimed, “Verona è la città dell’amore eterno.” (Verona is the city of eternal love.)

These two sentences encapsulate the essence of my 53.9km journey, a journey that has pushed my overall distance traveled to a staggering 3252.3 kilometers! Can you believe it? From the snow-capped peaks of Bormio and the woodsy charm of Ponte di Legno to the climbing paradise of Arco and now, the romantic lanes of Verona, it has been quite the adventure. And let’s not forget the humble city of Legnago that I visited in the past.

116 days on the road and each day adds a new layer to the story I’m weaving. Sono un nomade, un esploratore, un sognatore! (I am a nomad, an explorer, a dreamer!) And as the famous Italian proverb says, “Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano” (He who goes softly, goes safely and goes far) – I plan on going very, very far.

Stay tuned, amici, as I continue to navigate the world on foot, one step at a time. Addio per ora! (Goodbye for now!)

Ah, the delightful Verona. A city so captivating, even the grumpiest of gnomes can’t resist its charm. I was mesmerized by the Verona Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheater that’s over 2000 years old. Still in use today, it now hosts grand operas that would make Giuseppe Verdi himself tap his foot.

“Arena di Verona, un tesoro dell’antichità ancora in uso oggi” (Verona Arena, an ancient treasure still in use today).

I also visited the famous Casa di Giulietta, the supposed home of Shakespeare’s Juliet. Despite my grumpy demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of romance as I gazed upon the balcony where lovers declare their undying affection.

“Casa di Giulietta, dove l’amore eterno prende vita” (Juliet’s House, where eternal love comes to life).

In the heart of Verona, history and culture intertwine, creating a symphony that echoes the works of Italy’s great poets, like Dante Alighieri. And trust me, it’s a tune you don’t want to miss.