13.10 - Day 272 - Sasso Marconi incl Parma, ITA

Sunday 13th October - Parma, Italy (Day 272)

Today we’re exploring another small city - Parma - for three reasons, where seeing Parma is the third. 

A friend from our Aztec days happens to now be living in Parma for a couple of years. Graham moved out 16 months ago followed shortly after by his wife and young son, Zoe and Callum. Graham works for Mutti of pasta sauce fame. 

After 75 minutes on the road, we find Graham in his 6th floor double size apartment and whilst we catch up the kids delve into Callum’s toys while he is at the park. 

Graham bemoans the Italian bureaucracy, such as having to take his driving test again aged almost 40, but espouses the town and the proximity to varying holiday destinations. 

We walk out for lunch for some of the fluffiest focaccias followed by gelatos at Gioclia Cremeria (where there are even two running taps of chocolate, milk and dark, to have put into the bottom of your cone). 

On through the main piazza which unusually doesn’t have cafes rammed into it. It does have the obligatory Cathedrale di Parma - where, as Sienna and Seb would say, they have definitely spent their money on the inside; the artwork on the walls, columns, ceilings is amazing. 

This brief bit of culture is balanced with a visit to a local playpark before heading back to Graham’s flat where the kids play nicely with Callum (who also shares his toys graciously) while the adults catch up in the kitchen. 

As we leave we make sure to take Sienna and Seb’s school work with us - this was the other reason: Graham had kindly agreed to take delivery of the 3.5 kg package from Sydney Distance Education for Term 4, which starts tomorrow. 

Back to Sasso Marconi in the late afternoon and the kids are sleeping in the car.