Visiting churches in Verona

Slept very well – did not wake up till 8.30. We were very lazy and had breakfast before we dressed – then dressed slowly. It was 11.30 before we started out.

We went to the P.O. first and got our last Daily Mail – July 31st. Then took a train to St. Zeno Piazza – we went into the church* which was closed but I lent the sacristan the morning paper and we glanced around the church. It was very interesting and I studied it out with Baedecker, but I’ve forgotten already what it looked like. The old doors with old bronze reliefs were most interesting and so were the two lions that supported the front pillars of the portico.

Then we went outside the city gate near by and saw the old fortifications and the dried up moat. Then we took a train and went to Piazza San Trino way the other end of the line. It was a beautiful ride and all for two cents. Then we came back as far as our street the “four ??” “Quattro spade” and got home about two.

Then Helen and I got lunch – eggs and peaches and hot milk for me and malted milk for Helen. Then we took a nap and at 5.30 started out again – we went to the Duomo and across the old Roman bridge Pietra and to see the remnants of the Roman theatre and to San Giorgio [in] Braida and then came back to the hotel where I saw the proprietors and paid our bill in full.

Then we had dinner at 8 P.M. and came up to pack our things.

I cannot find out much about the conditions of the war. It seems that one of the Vanderbilts is here and has chartered a steamer and takes back 440 Americans among them Pres. Buller [Butler] of Columbia Univ**. The boat sails the 12th.

*Basilica di San Zeno **Nicolas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University, 1901-1945.