Starhotels Du Parc Parma

... a good time for a degustazione and he whisked us upstairs into a hybrid dining room and temporary art gallery. Sat us down and asked us if we want some wine. We did so he brought out something local. It was a sparkling red, something niether of us had tried before and it was nice. So far so good. Then the meat and cheese came out. Five different varieties of pork products. Some lean some really ...

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 ...

... boarded the plane and removed the sick passenger. We then refueled and were able to leave Detroit about an hour behind schedule. David and I watched “The Hangover” (again) and basically had a good flight. We landed in Amsterdam and boarded our flight to Venice with no other problems. We drove from Venice to Reggiolo through some ...

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 ...

... which is subsequently aged for a minimum of 12 years in a battery of seven barrels of successively smaller sizes."  As the castes became smaller and smaller the acidity became stronger and stronger. By the time we finished my eyes really stung but it was quickly forgotten when we sat down to try the different aged balsamic-- small spoonfuls at a time. Can't tell how happy I was that we spent the extra ...

... Besides we had a limited time frame and making arrangements online before we left seemed sensible to us. Besides how can you fault a tour that is created just for you.

We chose a combination tour to experience how Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic Vinegar are produced under  D.O.P - Denominazione diOrigine Protetta  regulations. D.O.P. designation literally translates "Protected Designation of Origin" and means ...

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!

... and strong in taste. We had an exciting and educational experience in Bologna and Parma and even had snow while we were in Parma. This was a treat, especially for the student from California, as well as the ones from Texas, who rarely get to see snow. As for me, I can't wait for some warmer dryer weather. Since we have been in Italy we have had 2 days of sunshine and the rest overcast and rain. I leave for Barcelona on Thursday for open weekend and till I write again Ciao!

... the congestion) Ants and I met up with her sister and justin, compared tans and went to see the ruins of pompeii. Pretty amazing with very graffic scenes depicted on the walls of the brothels and of course some pillars and an amphitheatre. After some lunch we met up with our friend Amy and all drove to sorrento for the night and went out for dinner. The others were in a hotel while we stayed in a campground for the night, luxury, they had a pool too but had to wear a ...

Did you know hives can last for a week?!!! I am buying stock in cortisone when I get home. I have developed a reputation for laughing at other's distress. Like Justina's anchovy/gorgonzola cheese incident. Or Bridget being chased by a bee and knocking into a bicycle. (It would have been funnier if it fell over). Apparently, I even have an evil laugh to go with my evil actions. So, today, we were sitting on the campus, eating lunch, when a bird...who had ...