Tip #2

at most bus stops, you have to buy the ticket from a tabaccheria, however, no one usually checks for tickets as you get on the bus. so you could technically ride for free - although at the risk of a 40 euro fine if caught without a ticket. it really only costs a euro and change, no big deal, but just act like a stupid tourist that doesn't know any better and could possibly get away with it! not that we will take advantage of that or have already. i'm just saying...

innevato

my roomie arina and i took the bus into parma to try to find some decorations for our house and to pick up some things as the airline never put her second bag on the plane and it is currently being transported across europe via coche. we didn't have any sort of direction when we got there, were just wandering, checked out the vodaphone store, bought english-italian dictionary, and then the snow started coming down pretty hard. weaving in and out of the little side streets, trying not to slip on the cobblestones, and the snowy wind whipping into our eyes, we stumbled upon a little chocolate/coffee/wine bar. we needed something to warm us up so the bartender suggested a red wine from tuscany and brought us out a plate of parmesan chunks drizzled with balsamic vinegar (above). just what we needed. we thought we had the bus schedule figured out, but just as we arrived, we saw the bus turn the corner a block away. we tried, miserably, to run after it without slipping on the snow, but it just kept driving away. when we managed to get on the next bus, it didn't go all the way to colorno so we had to get off and go into a little wine and cheese store to stay out of the snow where (0 degrees!!), although the guy wouldn't let me take a picture of all the ham and salami hanging on the wall, we bought a bottle of local lambrusco, some pepper jelly he suggested (well he didn't speak italian) to go with creamy soft cheese that tastes like sambal, and some crackers. back at the apt, we had our first dinner - cheese, crackers, tomatoes, salami, leftovers from the night before (it's so funny that arina has never heard of taking food to go from a restaurant and was so embarassed when we asked to take it home, but she definitely realized how great it is when we ate it again :)) and of course the wine. italian tv shows are a riot - they are so cheesey and overly dramatic. very amusing.

view from our balcony

apparently, the snow never stopped overnight and we got a knock on the door this morning from one of the teachers saying that our orientation was postponed until tomorrow because of the snow!! a snow day already! we assumed in northern italy they would be able to handle the snow, but apparently not!

down the street.

Via Zizani 7B

we moved into our apartment yesterday. Via Zinzani 7B, 43052 Colorno (PR). (click bubble A then, street view...there's no construction outside, but we are the three storied yellow house - and our balcony is on the 3rd floor. yes, hulling our bags up all those stairs was quite the feat.) Our apartment is a lot bigger than i expected - we each have our own room, one bathroom, a kitchen, living room, and two balconies. the people before left us with some cleaning supplies, slow food magazines, tons of kitchen utensils and appliances, and a hair dryer which was nice so that we didn't have to buy those. each room has a ton of closet space, desk, bed with pillows and duvet, shelving and bureau. There's a washing machine (and clothes pins to hang out your knickers to dry) and a tv. i will Not being using the scale but maybe try out the bidet :o) All pretty nice for student housing! There's an IKEA close by, LIDL is the Italian version of Costco - sort of - but more importantly, the bottles of wine are all under 2 euro! and then we also went to Conad which is a supermarket that has more of a selection. it'll definitely be interesting though managing without a car; we'll have to figure out the bus system.

Tonight mum and I went to dinner with Arina (left) and Samara at Trattoria Corrieri in Parma where we had torta frita (pictured in Samara's hand: fried bread - puffy and popular with the fried funnel cake flavor but not as sweet), house made pasta with sausage, tortellin's and tagliatelli with wild mushrooms (delicious and buttery) to start and then eggplant parmesan (very light and flavorful, not pounded and breaded), and tagliate with brie and

rocket.

Mum left us after dinner and I was really sad to say goodbye, but was happy that I had nice room mates to go back with - I don't know if they'll even come close to comparing to my portsmouth roomies!! :o) xoxo she's off to ireland, but i'm really glad she came with me to help me move in, be my support and be able to see my new life in italy and everything with me for the first time.

Colorno is a lot smaller than Parma, but I'm glad that I chose to live here because the bus only runs every hour and is like 30-40 minute ride. There's a lot more flexibility living so close to the university - we are probably less that a 5 minute walk. and maybe the small town will help me focus on my studies rather than going out :o) maybe. did i mention bottles of wine for less than 2 euro??