Giappone

I know this is my Italian blog but as my trip to Tokyo started in Italy and I ate Japanese food in Verona at Ikai the night before departing....

With a 12 hour flight behind us and another one only 2 and half days away, 2 things were a priority...shopping and food!

This was my 3rd trip to Tokyo, and I was determined to eat as much Japanese food as possible...I only really failed on the breakfast front, but a great breakfast is almost impossible to find in Verona except for 'Cucina di Faye' I allowed myself this western indulgence. I had so much fun trying the delights that various restaurants had to offer...a couple of the highlights: Tofu Cheesecake, Egg Custard Soup (Chawan Mushi) and Tonkatsu....yummy!

Still life...

Moving to a new country where you don't speak the language or have any idea of neighbourhoods, the task of finding an apartment can be a little daunting, especially, and this is a broad statement...people here in Verona have no idea what it's like to move to a new city let alone a new country...

So if in doubt...head for the centre. I don't know if it was more by luck than judgement that I ended up in my apartment. It is centrally located, with the 2 things that featured on my when living in Italy list...1. Shutters 2. Balcony. Would I choose this one again a year down the line...probably not - but now it's my home and continues to feel more like it.

Brion-Vega Cemetery

This is one of my favorite places I've visited since living in Italy...it's an absolute treat to be able to wander through this cemetery and unlike if in the UK or USA is completely free and feels a little undiscovered a place of solitude and calm.

Designed by Carlo Scarpa for Brion-Vega as an extension to the existing family cemetery. The architect developed the geometrical concrete composition over a 1o year period, with it's final completion in 1978...the year that Scarpa was also buried there.

Seeing Parma...

Fashion, architecture, food.

Having never visited Parma the only real reference I had was John Grishams 'Playing for Pizza' and the fact that Parma Ham and Parmesan Cheese is from there...so the plan: eat ham & cheese then find American football...??

It was glorious blue sky & sunshine all day, which has already put Spring in my step.

We spent the morning at my first antiques fair in Italy - it was huge! Holding back on the temptation to buy more stuff I didn't need, I came home with only one little brown bag.

First stop once we got into Parma...ice cream! We hopped, skipped & jumped into Chocolat Milano in Piazza Della Steccata. 2 scoops 1 Crema & 1 Fior di latte for me - Delicious!

This is where I saw 'women in red shoes' who was absolutely amazing, I'm so chuffed I got this photo and with the cigarette, which she'd just lit. She is everything that an Italian women should be on a Sunday afternoon.

Days like these spent with wonderful people have been few and far between for me in my first year in Italy, but when they do come along they really are what makes living in Italy a fantastic experience.