Hotel San Marco Parma

So we decided to wing it today and just got on the train for a day trip to Parma. This was one of the places that was on my must do list. We tried to find the tourist office but it was closing in 10 minutes and we (as usual) didnt know where we were going. Almost everything shuts down in the afternoons over here and i guess the tourism office was no different. We had some time to kill so we got a bit of ...

Today we ventured into Parma we had better luck parking today. It had to be the nicest parking garage ever. Each spot had either a green/unoccupied or red/occupied light right above it and there was music playing over the loud speaker very cool! We had a lunch of tomato and basil pasta with a dessert plate of the meats of Parma. We walked around Parma saw a ...

... countryside. The drive took about 2 hours. We met our hosts Lorelei and Arthur at the Reggiolo exit. We followed them to their apartment (which is beautiful pictures to come later) where they cooked us a wonderful dinner of lamb chops, fresh Caesar salad and roasted potato's which we ate outside in their courtyard with some Italian wine. They also ...

Ok, so after my entry about our HORRIBLE experience in Parma, Maria Smith was kind enough to let me know that it was her and Myle's favorite city in this region.

My apologies for such a strong view of this city. I am thinking it was a dud because it was a Sunday and not a thing was open. We really did not like it, but it was their fav....

I thought I should say that she stayed in a great apt, went to a marvelous violin concert ...

Buongiorno!



We were off again following Cristina through the countryside after we finished at the CASEIFICIO that manufactured Parmigiano Reggiano and it's aging room with its rows and rows of wheels of 80 lb. cheese. I read recently that the government of Italy will make loans to manaufacturers against the cheese it is  aging as it never loses value.

  The ride seemed short as we stopped ...

... afternoon.   


We rose early for we needed to meet our guide from Parma Golosa in Collecchio at 8:30 to begin our adventures to see and taste all the specialty foods made here in Emilia Romagna. But first ---the best breakfast I have ever been served in Italy. Gian made eggs with local pancetta; his mother prepared a Crostata with home-made jam and they topped off the table with ripe plums from the tree near the pool and a selection of cheese ...

For a nice little day trip, Zoe and I decided to go to one of the main cities in Emilia-Romagna (the province where our father hails from): Parma.

The city is reknowned for parmesan cheese and Parma ham, or as we call it, prosciutto.

If you like quaint churches and little shops, this place is great to visit!

Parma - May 28 I arrived in Parma around 5 PM.  I took a quick stroll along a river to the center of town where I stumbled upon a lovely market and picked up a hunk of the famous Parmesan cheese.  I then stopped in the tourist office for a map of the city and some recommendations for dinner.  I was told to stop at a restaurant off the beaten path to try the local dish, La Vecchia or horse meat ...

... ordered a delicious fried cheese, shaped into a bowl, which was filled with a creamy rucola. Parma Friday May 19th I didn't sleep well last night because of my allergies. I took some medication, which helped me through the day. Also, the day was much drier than yesterday. After Ernesto and Santy went to work, I walked to the market at Piazza Ghiaia, which is located along the river. It took only 20-25 minutes from the apartment. I saw lots of ...

... Why not. Parma too had seen much of the snow that has taken a grip on Italy from east to west, north to almost south. Snow was blanketing the main piazza area, with dogs taking their owners for a walk across the slush, revelling in the muck. Parma has a small old town, which has some great classic buildings and cathedrals in it. It is famous for its Pink Baptistery, which is opposite the city's Duomo. The original builders used ...