Saturday, October 5, 2013

Parma

We had run out of ham and cheese so we decided to go to Parma. Unfortunately, we took the blue road from La Spezia to Parma, which afforded us many hours of scenic driving, especially crossing the Apennines, where, for very, very long stretches, we were the only car on the road. The tunnels and bridges of the autostrada, even the expense, would have been better. We got to Parma and on to its peripherique, which is here called the tangenziale, and to the appointed coordinates of the sosta, only to find, at length, that it had been moved. A sign directed us to exit #10 on the tangenziale, and from there, more signs led us to a nice camper parking area, free, in the Park & Ride, helpfully located right next to the Lidl. With little more difficulty we hopped the bus into town. For the record, the P&R was the west parcheggio.
Scenic driving














Helpful sign; in English too














Thus














Parma opera














Where they are doing the Verdi bicentennial


















And The Master's; alas, He does not get
top billing in Italy; nor in Parma, near where
Verdi was born; Toscanini, perhaps the
foremost interpreter of both Verdi and Wagner,
was born in Parma






















Verdi chocolates














On one of the big piazzas along the Via di Repubblica














Parma street scene


















Beautiful storefront; love the pink Vernona
marble



















Now in the Piazza Garibaldi














And the Governor's Palace














Where Galileo discovered (but later recanted)
that each minute has sixty seconds



















While Vicki bought the prosciutto and parmesan cheese
at some famous shoppe, I photographed the boutique-quality
Lambrusco, which hails from around here; among serious
winos, Lambrusco is regarded as alcoholic cool-aid; but these
puppies cost as much as 10 or 12 euros a bottle!


















Vicki displays the best and best-spooned gelato yet, her
favorite cream and pistachio

4 comments:

Mel u said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mel u said...

Have you yet read The Charter house of Parma? A first rate classic

Tawana said...

Now you are making me hungry again!

Mark said...

Mel, no. Vicki has me reading Agony and Ecstasy. As close as I am getting to background reading.