Our DAY started by getting up at 5am, catching the bus in front of the church in Alme at 6:30. We drove for two hours, this first picture is the early morning view entering the center of Parma, which is a beautiful city. We, meaning Antonella, Vanda and I were with a group of 25, off to see the blockbuster exhibiition of Correggio works. I mean a blockbuster because although two domes in huge churches in Parma are painted by him (circa 1520) but the enormous Art Palazzo has hosted works by him and other of his contemporaries borrowed from around the world. 
Even though I KNOW we are not supposed to take pictures, I couldn't resist....we climbed UP the ten flights of stair/scaffolding to view the first dome, Correggio was a radical...he really mastered foreshortening, and LOVED all those
putti, which I'm guessing means creatures about to become angles....that's some research for Carol. Anyway, I've never seen so many
putti, and maybe I'll be lucky and NOT see so many again.....all that climbing up and down just wasn't enough, so we trotted over to another huge cathedral and climbed another ten flights of scaffolding and saw yet another dome painted by Correggio. That was just beginning, by 11am we met our exhibition guide. Well, of course she was Italian....but I had a little guide voice box in English, so I got perhaps 5% of the explaination of his works....but I got to see it all! It only took two and half hours, mind you this is with only ONE bathroom stop since leaving the house at 6:15. I spent as much time sitting down towards the end as I could, and enjoyed watching all the people who were at the exhibition. Fortunately is was in a frigid drafty old palazzo building and so everyone could keep on their coats, hats, scarves, etc. without being overheated. And I have to admit I have never seen so many
FUR COATS in one place in my life, at the exhibition and all around the city of Parma. Did I say it's a beautiful city? It is.
This is Parma's leaning tower.
Vanda, the 81 year old trooper, and she NEVER USED A BATHROOM for the entire day, we even joked about it....she is
TOUGH and of course, beautiful.
Finally, we got to have lunch.............guess what? PASTA, and wine, and bread and little salty greasy meats. I was so hungry I would have eaten anything. After that, like at 3pm, we were greeted by another tour, for a walk around the whole city of Parma, seeing more palazzos, gardens, Toscanini's house...............finally we got on the bus at 6:30pm. I was so tired, I immediately fell asleep. Still went to bed early and slept 9 hours. So, now I can leave Italy and can honestly say: I saw
ART, Italian art. I did it, all those putti, all those saints, all in heaven, so lucky for them.
Our DAY started by getting up at 5am, catching the bus in front of the church in Alme at 6:30. We drove for two hours, this first picture is the early morning view entering the center of Parma, which is a beautiful city. We, meaning Antonella, Vanda and I were with a group of 25, off to see the blockbuster exhibiition of Correggio works. I mean a blockbuster because although two domes in huge churches in Parma are painted by him (circa 1520) but the enormous Art Palazzo has hosted works by him and other of his contemporaries borrowed from around the world. 
Even though I KNOW we are not supposed to take pictures, I couldn't resist....we climbed UP the ten flights of stair/scaffolding to view the first dome, Correggio was a radical...he really mastered foreshortening, and LOVED all those putti, which I'm guessing means creatures about to become angles....that's some research for Carol. Anyway, I've never seen so many putti, and maybe I'll be lucky and NOT see so many again.....all that climbing up and down just wasn't enough, so we trotted over to another huge cathedral and climbed another ten flights of scaffolding and saw yet another dome painted by Correggio. That was just beginning, by 11am we met our exhibition guide. Well, of course she was Italian....but I had a little guide voice box in English, so I got perhaps 5% of the explaination of his works....but I got to see it all! It only took two and half hours, mind you this is with only ONE bathroom stop since leaving the house at 6:15. I spent as much time sitting down towards the end as I could, and enjoyed watching all the people who were at the exhibition. Fortunately is was in a frigid drafty old palazzo building and so everyone could keep on their coats, hats, scarves, etc. without being overheated. And I have to admit I have never seen so many FUR COATS in one place in my life, at the exhibition and all around the city of Parma. Did I say it's a beautiful city? It is.
This is Parma's leaning tower.
Vanda, the 81 year old trooper, and she NEVER USED A BATHROOM for the entire day, we even joked about it....she is TOUGH and of course, beautiful.
Finally, we got to have lunch.............guess what? PASTA, and wine, and bread and little salty greasy meats. I was so hungry I would have eaten anything. After that, like at 3pm, we were greeted by another tour, for a walk around the whole city of Parma, seeing more palazzos, gardens, Toscanini's house...............finally we got on the bus at 6:30pm. I was so tired, I immediately fell asleep. Still went to bed early and slept 9 hours. So, now I can leave Italy and can honestly say: I saw ART, Italian art. I did it, all those putti, all those saints, all in heaven, so lucky for them.
6 comments:
Funny that you wrote "about to become angles" and I was intrigued--of course, you meant angels. Hey Sis, your're really truckin' around and no mention of feet in this one--mine are feeling better after 17 days of having my adorable family camping out with us. The pix are fabulous! I wanna BE there! mm
Come on, where are you now? Your blog is the thrill in my life. My feet are slowly feeling better. It seems stress and standing are the exacerbators of foot pain. That and sheer overweightedness, but who can fix that? xox mm
ok--so today I found a fabulous young acupuncturist/DOM who says my feet are starving for chi as my gut is very sluggish due to liver problems. so I feel better already--he's into jump starting my old machine and getting it all rolling again. me too!
Sis, are you ok? I'm taking some Chinese potions and four more treatments for starters. yes! Time for Randy's back rub--me to him. xoxoxox mm
Ok...it's been a while since I've been here, but I agree with MM...where are you now? Glad to see you went to Parma. Is MM coming to visit you this Spring now that her feet are getting better? I'm off to DC on Sunday...time to get back on my blog too, but I'm still sans camera. XO, Cousin E
PS Beechee was a camel like Vanda. She could go all day
Before I read the other comments my first thought was about your feet and how they must have really improved for you not to be mentioning them after the workout they must be getting. I hope that is the case. Your verbal descriptions and pictures are truly memorable. Keep warm.
Hugs, Laura
Hey sis, My chiropracter says tendonitis in both feet and both docs say take it easy on the feet, stay off 'em and continue treatment for three weeks and we'll see. I am going nuts but reading and looking at dust balls and messes adn just keep reading and writing and doing minimal stuff. Wish I could come for a week adn escort you hoem. But that is not in the cards--I'm only taking care of me for a while--just me and Clyde and Bonnie and Randy sort of--not much. beautifull 55 degrees and sunny here. xoxox mm
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