More Coming

My apologies for my tardiness in writing the past couple days.  I have logged a lot of miles on the road in a car and when I hit Rome, I just wanted to go out and explore.  It's been great!  But, I promise, I am working on a large feature.  The first one will be on Beppino Occelli, a dairy in the Piedmonte Region that has an amazing aging set-up with a restaurant in a cheese village.

Anyway, while I listen to the bells of St. Peter's Basilica out my window, check out these photos, while I continue to write.

My new favorite drink.

A 'not-so' legal picture of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Typical street in Central Rome at 10 p.m.

My defeat of the rest of the Gladiators in Rome.

Porchetta with Dijon

Over dramatic reaction at Eataly's Rome location

Shopping

Well, as you can imagine, shopping in Italy is fun, and delicious.  I thought I'd throw some photos on here so you can consider the pricing I'm finding over here.

Remember, that 1 Euro = $1.12  AND  1 kg = 2.20 lbs.  For those that need help figuring out the "deals",  Divide the cost by a little less than 2, and then multiply it by 1.12 to get the price per pound.

10 YEAR Bitto

St. Antoine Marcel Petite!

Lots of Toscano!

Love the buffalo!

The best gelato in Rome = Jealousy for everyone not here.

PARMA

I have arrived in Parma. I rented an apartment for super cheap at the last minute from a woman through airbnb.  

She met me at the apartment and showed me around for five minutes.  As she leaves, she tells me that there is a pizza place open down the block. 

Upon arrival, I find that it is a charcuterie, cheese, and restaurant. 

I order a plate of culatello with rustic bread and butter and then, a Napoli-style pizza with pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, basil, and gorgonzola.  Absolutely jaw dropping meal.

  

I go to the register to pay and the server tells me, in very bad english, that the culatello is on the house, because I'm staying in Sara's apartment.  

WHAAAAA????

Oh yeah, and I had the funnest day ever as a person working in the cheese industry earlier in the day.

NO PICTURES WILL BE ATTACHED TO THIS POST - EVER.

Well, I couldn't resist.

Bra Festival

Inside one of the 6 churches within 3 blocks of each other

The Slo Foods Cheese Festival, held every two years in Bra, Italy, is intense.  Imagine a town of roughly 30,000 people that is decorated with churches, piazzas, and buildings from the 16th century and beyond.  

Then, imagine almost every street is filled with tent after tent of mostly cheese vendors, but also, speciality wine, beer, and dry goods offering.

Now, add to it, crowds. Lots of crowds.  I mean LOTS of crowds.  

People are everywhere, surging towards each of the counters trying to get to the cheese, to the mongers, to the samples.

(1/16 of the wine area)

For those that are used to a busy market on a Saturday, where you get a crowded atmosphere for a good 4-6 hours, boost that up.

                                                 

A lot. 

Imagine that busy time starting at 10 a.m. and going until 8 p.m. And yes, people get there at 9 a.m. to wait to begin.  Imagine, that these crowds, this energy, this intensity starts on Friday and goes to Monday evening.

This is Bra - a cheese lovers fantasy.

Bitto - for Sean

ITALIA

(The Biggest Plane I've Ever Been On - DOUBLE DECKER)

When you are thinking about doing a travel item on your bucket list, rarely do the thoughts of the 'actual' travel go through your brain. For instance, I am constantly guilty of looking at those cheaper deals on travel sites with 24+ hour itineraries and thinking, 'yeah, I can do that." Well, I'm so glad I at least got to mix it up.  After my 3rd terminal & connection, I was very happy to be on the train

(The Swiss Country)

                                           

 The beautiful countryside begins to change with the introduction of Italian Cypress trees as the border patrol comes through my train cabin :).  Seriously, there is no problem with me.....

 Finally, I am at the Turin Airport to pick up a rental car via the bus. I feel lucky to be alive and yet, not sure how to fit my big, robust, beautifully sloped body inside this peanut.....

And now for the test......

POSTSCRIPT: Obviously, based on the fact that I've lived to post these messages, I am alive.  I would like to underscore that I did not cause, nor was I, involved in a single accident, aka incidente automobilistico.  Further, I only stalled the car out 4 times, but got lost 3 times.  The drive that should have been 1 hr, 15 min, lasted 2.5 hours. I fell asleep.

I'm going to Bra, Italy.....

More "Trippin" in 2 weeks!