Mom's Visit - Arena di Verona

2001年當我在義鄉舉行婚禮之際，丈母娘的身分，讓我娘在婚禮的前一晚，無法像其他來參加婚禮的親戚一樣，到維洛納去觀賞露天歌劇，留下了遺憾。所以這次當然義無反顧，說什麼也要帶她去親身體驗一下維洛納最著名的夏日歌劇節。
When I got married in 2001, my mom brought a group of relatives to come and participate my wedding. Because she needed to help me with the preparation, she couldn’t join the group to see the opera in Verona on the night before the wedding. It was one of the many regrets of the trip. This time, we definitely wanted to take her to the opera and experience the famous opera season in Verona.

為了避免在烈日下汗雨淋漓排隊的慘況，我們買的是有劃位的票，兩張票卻也付了將近兩百歐元。平常我和老公去看歌劇，都是買最便宜的票，多花點時間排隊，不過這次為了省體力，只好拿白花花的銀子來換，老公也因此決定放牛吃草，讓我獨自和老娘兩個人摸到維洛納看歌劇，等到結束以後再來接人…這才知道，原來他現在對我自己一個人在義大利趴趴走這麼有信心啦！
To avoid the long queue under the sun, we bought the tickets with assigned seats. To enjoy this privilege, we did pay some money for it and altogether it’s about 200 Euro. If I go to Verona for the opera with my husband, we always buy the cheapest tickets, spending some more time on the queue. To save some energy, we decided to pay the expensive price. Therefore, I could only leave my husband at home and go with my mom alone, to save some money. It is not until we decided to do this that I know my husband is so confident about my Italian and he wouldn’t mind I go around by myself any more.

簡單吃完果腹式的晚餐（一份三明治加上礦泉水），也將近晚上九點了，我還是第一次在演出快開始的時候，才大搖大擺地走進劇場，想想，以前都是從五點多就在裡面坐到開演，幾個小時下來，大理石台階的座位早就讓人腰酸背痛，等到演出的時候屁股早已發麻，能夠這麼舒服地看歌劇，這還是頭一遭。
We had a simple dinner, only a sandwich and a bottle of mineral water. It’s about 9PM. To be honest, it was the very first time for me to arrive the venue just before the performance started. In the past, we always arrived around 5PM to join the queue and wait until the hour when the performance began. After a couple hours sitting on the hard stone seat, it’s giving me backache and my butt was numb. It’s the first time I could comfortably enjoy the opera.

隨著領位人員，我們找到了位置，真的是好的不像話，正中央的位置，旁邊就是給貴賓走的紅地毯，之前網路購票的時候，因為不能選位，本來還讓我頗擔心，沒想到主辦單位還蠻公平的，果然是按照先來後到，也更讓我有值回票價的好感。
We followed the service personnel to our seats. I was worried because we booked the ticket through the net and couldn’t choose the seats with the system. It proved that the organizer did according to their promise and assigned the seats with a “first come first serve” basis. Our seats were just at the center, beside the red carpet for the VIPs. At least I didn’t spend the money for nothing.

演出前，舞台上有人拿著大鑼跑出來預告了三次，之後整個燈光暗了下來，主辦單位也請觀眾按照傳統，點起手上的蠟燭，會場中頓時點點星光，真是浪漫到不行~~~
Before the performance started, a guy went up to the stage with a big gong and announced three times. After that, the light went off gradually. The organizer invited the audience to light up candles according to the tradition of Arena di Verona. Suddenly, spots of candlelight filled up the space, creating a very romantic atmosphere.

Mom's Visit: Vicenza

「來了幾次義大利，都沒有好好地逛逛妳住的這個城市…」娘如是說。其實，維琴察也不是不好玩，只是每次都礙於種種因素，無法帶著娘好好認識這個地方，這次終於有點時間慢慢看，所以就挑了個下午，到市中心去逛一逛。
"I've come here for several times... but I've never visited the city where you live." Mom said. Well, Vicenza is actually a good place to visit, but for various reasons I just couldn't find the time to take my mom around during her last two visits. She's finally staying a bit longer this time, so we picked a nice afternoon to visit the historic center of Vicenza.

維琴察除了每年有三次義大利最著名的黃金飾品展以外，也是建築人朝聖地之一，原因無他，就是為了十六世紀著名的建築大師帕拉底歐的作品，因此，許多建築人常常會到維琴察來個帕拉底歐之旅，仔細地參觀各座出於大師之手的豪華宅邸。在維琴察的市中心，必訪之處有二，一是到主廣場Piazza dei Signori看Basilica Palladiana，二則是Teatro Olympico，都是大師之作。事實上，維琴察又有帕拉底歐之城的美名，整個市中心也因為大師留下來的重要作品，被聯合國列入世界遺產名錄之中。
Every year, three major gold fairs are held in Vicenza. However, Vicenza is not only famous for the gold industry, it is also a pilgrimage place for architects due to Palladian villas of the 16th century. Many architects come to see the grand villas designed by Palladio. There are two must-go in Vicenza center. One is the Basilica Palladiana in the main square Piazza dei Signori. The other is Teatro Olympico at one side of the major street Corso Palladio. Both sites were important works that Palladio left behind. Vicenza actually enters the World Heritage List for its richness of Palladian works.

早早吃了午餐，就央著老公開車把我們送到市中心，時間上剛好可以先去看看劇場和博物館，然後到鄰近的商店主街瞎拼一番。八月初的義大利，許多城市都在唱空城計，度假月嘛，不在度假勝地的很多店家，也會放著白花花的鈔票不賺，關門玩耍去。不喜歡人擠人的話，八月的義大利，除了熱了點，逛起來倒是很舒服的地方。
We had an early lunch. My husband sent us to the center. The time was just right for visiting the theater and museum, and then for some shopping. August is time for vacation and many cities are actually empty. In less touristic places, some shops are closed for vacation. It is a good time to visit Italy for those who do not enjoy crowds but can endure hot weather.

Mom's Visit: Venezia

老爹說：「都已經是第三次到義大利找女兒，還去威尼斯嗎？」
"It's the third time you visit your dayghter in Italy. Are you still going to Venice?" Dad asked.

當然！美麗的水都百看不厭，加上前兩次行程匆促，說真的也沒有看到什麼該參觀的景點，反正搭火車也不過一個小時，為何不去？
Of course!! It's impossible to be tired of the every changing beauty of Venice. Also, the previous two visits were in such a hurry that my mom didn't really get to see some tourist attractions. After all, it's just an hour of train. So why didn't we go?

讓老公過一天Chinese-free的日子，我決定自己帶著娘去探險。雖然還算常去威尼斯，不過說真的，到目前為止我還是沒有把任何一條路記起來，每次都是靠著方向感走到聖馬可廣場…「你怎麼沒有帶我去上次買玻璃墜子的那家店？」娘這一問起來，我才想到，似乎又轉錯條街，大概是不太可能走回去了…我們兩就這麼在大街小巷閒逛，順著指標往聖馬可廣場前進，真的看到聖馬可教堂的時候，也已經是午飯時間，於是就決定找一家店坐下來吃點午餐。
My mom and I decided to go without the company of my husband, so he could finally enjoy a Chinese-free day. I go to Venice pretty often, but to tell the truth, I still can't remember any name of the streets. All the time, I follow my sense of direction to arrive the San Marco Square. "Why didn't you take me to the shop where I bought glass pendants last time?" My mom asked. No until that moment I didn't realize that I've turned at the wrong corner again. It's impossible to go backward just for that single shop. So we started to wander around, and followed the indication for San Marco Square. When we saw the San Marco Church, it's already time for lunch. We then decided to find a place for some light snack.

用餐完畢，一到總督府（Palazzo Ducale）前面，我們兩就傻了眼，大排長龍的隊伍，讓人看了有點心慌，不知是否應該加入行列…「下次人少一點再進去，既然以後還有機會，就等著下次和老爹一起看吧！」
After we finished our meal, we went to Pallazo Ducale and saw a very long line in front of the entrance. I was a bit worried, not knowing if we should join the queue or not. "We can wait for another occasion. In any case, I will still come here to visit you. We can wait until your dad come next time."

夏季…果然不是參觀威尼斯的好時間。
Summer... is not a good time to visit Venice.

Mom's Visit: Marostica

馬洛斯帝卡，是一個很有中世紀風味的古城。城牆連接著位於平地的下城與居高臨下的上城，整個位於城鎮被厚重的城牆圍了起來，遠遠望去，清晰可見。

每兩年九月，小鎮最重要的傳統節慶，吸引著世人的目光，接踵而至的遊客，來到這裡享受中世紀風情，欣賞由真人實物演出的西洋棋局。傳說很久以前，統領馬洛斯帝卡的國王，有著一個貌如天先的女兒，鄰近兩國的王子，都積極地爭取聯姻的機會。為了怕引起戰爭，國王於是決定，邀請兩國王子以博奕的方式決定勝負，並將公主許配給贏家，輸家則迎娶國王的妹妹。流傳至今，故事的真假已不可考，不過卻逐漸演變成了小鎮最重要的節慶，被選上在節慶中扮演各種角色的居民，更是雀躍不已。

現在的下城，是當地政府的辦公室與遊客資訊中心，同時也特別闢室展示許多該地某收藏家多年來累積收藏而捐給當地政府的中世紀服裝。上城則成了一家私人經營的餐廳，是非常受歡迎的婚宴場地。來到此地，即使不到餐廳消費用餐，還是要爬到上城廢墟，飽覽平原風光，絕佳的視野，不容錯過。


Mom's Visit: Matostica

Mom's Visit: a short trip

從我搬到歐洲以來，娘前前後後總共來了三次（包括這次），第一次是結婚時從台灣帶了一團親友團，第二次則是趁著台灣過農曆年，跟著老爹來〝沾醬油〞五天，不過這兩次，她都是來去匆匆，時間總在忙碌的參觀與訪友行程中度過。

我今年雖然因為工作回台灣待了三個月，不過因為工作忙碌，實在也抽不出空陪她出國走走，因此便有了夏天訪歐的想法，從我五月底回到義大利，就開始努力構思行程。

原本的計畫，是要到奧地利去走走，不過誰知在我排完行程訂完旅館以後，才知道我那今年過期的居留證，竟要等到十月初才會下來，對酷愛旅行的我來說，真不啻為晴天霹靂，然而在此地政府辦事員的警告之下，我們還是決定按著規矩行事，以免到時候出了不必要的麻煩，所以到頭來，娘的歐洲之行還是變成了第三次義大利行。

既然這有點是狀況外，貼心的女兒和女婿還是努力把忙碌的工作時程排開，帶娘在北義趴趴走，去看看一些很久以來就想要帶她去走走的地方。