I am wistful, always, for a trip to Italy.
Parma is a place I long to return to.
I love the United States, but truly as the snow falls over Pittsburgh and the temperatures stay below 30F, I long to travel to the eloquent land of stout, swaying palm trees and food that melts upon my tongue. Parma, Italy and its delicious foods came to mind.
With my updated designation as a pescetarian, I was more keen on having Parmesan-Reggiano cheese from its namesake than I was eating anything pig related. But just as I did the first time in Manarola, I had to try the local fare and discovered that true Prosciutto can be as delicate as a snowflake. At the Sorelle Picchi restaurant, dining al fresco, the server brings a platter with onion-skin-thin Prosciutto and assorted salamis. My fork is tentative as I decide which piece to try, seeking out the smallest one. It is delicious. Airy, not salty, not chewy. I like it so much that the next day when our pizza comes draped in Prosciutto, I eat most of it.
Embracing a Place
We arrive in a city and are greeted with trailing bougainvillea directly outside the train station. The hotel conciergeās response when we ask for a restaurant recommendation is: āReally, you cannot get bad food in Parma.ā Whatās not to fall in love with?
Our room at the Parma Stendhal Hotel has an interesting old turret and roof as our view. The room is elegant and I feel like I should be dressed in silk and wearing elbow length evening gloves.
The City of Parma
This small ancient city of 178,000 people is a pleasure from start to finish. Located in the northeastern region of Emilia-Romagna, it is noted forĀ cheese and meat. Parma also has opera, Pilotta Palace Museums, the Cathedral di Parma, the Basilica di Santa Maria and much more. We were delighted to find Via John Fitzgerald Kennedy as a street near the lovely Giardino Ducal Park.
It is a safe city with friendly cafes when you can get an inexpensive espresso and delectable pastry. You can walk everywhere within the city. We arrived from Milan via traināmy favorite mode of travel.
Time to go shovel the newly arrived snow. I think the task will be easier this morning with all these delightful images of Parma floating through my head.
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Read: Italian food
or Check out the Siena blogs
With new snow falling in Pittsburgh, I’m ready for a return trip to Bologna and Parma and maybe add on Modena next time!
I’m ready anytime, husband!
Hi Rose, love prosciutto. And prosciutto pizza sounds fabulous! Really great pictures from your trip. š
It was fun, Susan. Nothing like tasting the real McCoy! My Artist’s Way group quickly learned that travel should be my middle name….this has led to some entertaining thoughts on my part. Parmesan cheese in Parma…what should be next?
“A Vanilla Morning,” dear niece? What does that mean? Snow on the ground, snow falling down, too much cream in your coffee, nothing on the agenda? A lovely lazy winter day…
If it is even half as beautiful as the Cinque Terre I would love to see it! Italy trip, Italy trip!!!
The Cinque Terre is more beautiful than Parma with its crazy buildings of bright colors. But Parma was lovely–flat, easy to stroll around, great for people watching and I Spy photos.
I’d been looking for your Friday blog so thank you for writing today! Reading and seeing your lovely imagery you’re bringing me closer and closer to travel to Italy, thank you. Isn’t the wisterial magnificent? And yes, I too had to look up pescetarian, thanks for a new word.
A waitress somewhere taught me pescetarian. It sounds silly, but it mostly describes me, so what the heck? I think travel to Italy should be mandatory for everyone. Wouldn’t that be a great mandate to push through Congress? HA!
I love Parma Prosciutto! But there is no better than in Italy! The picture made my mouth water! ALL these pictures are terrific. And you got me Rose Mary…I had to look up the word pescetarian!! Happy shoveling:)
It is different there, isn’t it? That said, yesterday morning was a trip to The Strip District of Pittsburgh. It is my favorite place to shop in the entire city. Comprised of local vendors, it is a combination of stores and street/sidewalk shops. Many of the stores have been there for a hundred years. Penn Mac (The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company) is known for its authentic, imported cheeses and meats. You can pick from thirty olive oils and even find aged balsamic vinegar. This trip, we decided to get some Prosciutto (from Parma), another Italian meat, two Tuscan cheeses and marinated olives for my Artist’s Way group this week. We ladies love to snack!
The Strip is a must-do when we have company travel to town. It is wonderful!
Here’s to learning new words!
So, when are we going? Love these exotic images on an otherwise vanilla morning.