Parma

Famous for it's chicken, cheese, eggplant, and prosciutto, Parma lies in the province of the same name in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

During the short stay here, I had the chance to experience the cheese and the prosciutto, which were excellent. Also, I found Parma surprisingly reminiscent of the Marina, because there is very obviously a community of people who live in this area which bustles with tourists.

This post is as good a time as any to describe the schedule that I keep while on the road. The work that I do affords the opportunity to telecommute, so I continue to work on a schedule shifted nine hours ahead. A typical day is as follows:

• Wake up around 9:00 local time (midnight PDT)
• Check email
• Eat breakfast and wander the city
• Hit the road
• Stop for a short lunch any time between 12:00 and 2:00 (3:00 - 5:00 AM PDT)
• Arrive at the destination between 4:00 and 5:00 (7:00 - 8:00 AM PDT)
• Work until 2:00 AM (5:00 PM PDT)

Because of this schedule, only a small amount of time is spent doing the traditional tourist-type activities. However, the staff at gymcharles.com is prepared to go the extra mile to bring you photos and information from every stop. The pictures below exemplify this commitment and continue in our promise to bring you 50 percent more of everything.

This is the Parma Cathedral.

[caption id="attachment_802" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Parma Cathedral"][/caption]

Lions guarding the doors of an Italian cathedral came as a surprise to the gymcharles.com's Chief Editor of Cultural Expeditions and they validate the Roman roots of this city which pre-date the introduction of Catholicism.

[caption id="attachment_803" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Lions"][/caption]

Just behind the cathedral is San Giovanni Evangelista which is a church. So, behind the cathedral is a church. I assume that the people who are ready to be serious go to the cathedral, and the folks in the church are just there to watch. This is analogous to having a poolside cabana at Tao Beach, rather than one of those tables way in the back by the restroom.

[caption id="attachment_804" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="San Giovanni Evangelista"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="SGE Tower"][/caption]

This is a bicycle parked at the San Giovanni Evangelista. The sign says: "No Splashing"

[caption id="attachment_808" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="La bici e la porta"][/caption]

The streets around the center of Parma are generally narrow and open in to squares which serve as meeting areas.

[caption id="attachment_809" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Streets of Parma"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_810" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Parmer's Market"][/caption]

Overall, Parma gets two stars. It's a nice little town, but it's not a "must see" destination if one is traveling in Italy. Also, heretoforth, the staff at gymcharles.com will refer to Parma as "Farma" because it smells like a farm. In fact, the city itself and the surrounding valley smells like lactose intolerant pigs eat a diet of which consists solely of parmesan cheese (formaggio parmigiano). That may seem like a harsh evaluation, but no apologies will be made, because it's erroneous to apologize for the truth.