15.9 Parma Palio

As expected, Elise didn’t make it to the Palio. I found parking quickly but discovered that it was 90 minutes only, so we trundled down to where the event was and had a bit of explore before coming back to look for longer term. Happily, the street out of the little lot was one way… right into underground long-term city parking! Yay! Even better, one of the exits came up right at the entrance to the event! So that was handy.

They had an excellent flag tossing team. Can’t tell you why, but I love that stuff. One guy was able to swirl two flags with his hands while hulahooping one around his waist and one around one foot. Crazy. There were numerous demo booth of various medieval crafts. We chatted with the weaver for a little, then went over to look at a woman working a handmill. She asked Aurora if she would like to try. I said, “This is all very appropriate as her last name is Miller too!” Very entertaining. Rose ground very diligently for about 5 minutes and got maybe a tablespoon of flour. Gives you an appreciation for handwork. Rose got to ride on the horses that were being led around the center lawn, while I chatted with man who was herding a group of small medieval farm animals: chickens, ducks, rabbits, miniature goats, a small sheep. He wondered why an American would choose to live in Parma, since it’s not one of the big industrial or economic or even tourist centers and I was forced to correct him. I said, “Well, we don’t live in the CITY of Parma, just in the province. In a village called Besozzola. His response: “Besozzola? Nelle montagne? Sei pazzo?” (In the mountains? Are you crazy?) Ro had her face painted with a pink rose and glitter, and drew the attention of the Parma paper’s “Style Section” (or whatever they may call it here) photographer. I have no idea how to get hold of a Parma paper, but she may well be in it as part of the puff piece on the Palio. It is, after all, an annual event and drew a pretty significant crowd. Who knows, baby may be famous by Monday! I have the photographer’s card and can email him for a copy of the pic, though I also have a bunch I took myself.