This is where I stayed last night in Mantova. Rev. Giorgio adopted me off the front steps of the church and gave m a safe haven for the evening.

Yes, my neighbors were goats, guinea pigs, a feisty white rabbit and….

The Reverend kept bee hives – 20 of them to be exact – in the shade in front of the church.

Rev. Giorgio

If you watched the video I posted earlier from the Giordano Ferrari Puppet Museum (click HERE if you didn’t see it), the pictures below are some of those I described as I toured the museum.

GALLERY:

Small grottos to the Virgin Mary pop up in very random places on my tour. This one is at an intersection as I head north to Carpendolo.

There is a weathered statue of Mary surrounded by a lit candle in a red jeweled plastic container.

Several rosaries and a faded picture of the Blessed Virgin that has fallen out of its frame.

A rusty metal cross is cemented in the top of the 9-foot structure. Behind it, to the left, is a small wooden setup with a crucifix and a candle.

Judy Steffes reports from the Giordano Ferrari Puppet and Marionette Museum in Parma, Italy.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS of the puppets HERE.

Wisconsin Trivia:
On a side note, remember Albert the Alley Cat from Channel 6? What was the name of the reporter/weather man he was paired with? Do you know?

Vineyards are Italian and code word for “vino,” right? The grapes look a little small and tart yet to me. I’m on a very small rural road headed to Vesto. This stop is a bit dodgy as I hear a dog barking in the background, and he sounds like he’s getting closer…..

The grapes….. I don’t really know. I’m more of a “hops and barley girl” myself.

Spent time at the Galleria Nazionale in Parma.

Spent some time at the Ducal Palace, also known as Reggia di Colorno, built in the 18th century. A French- and Italian-landscape garden showcases pristine grounds keeping. After being damaged in World War I, it was restored to it’s original splendor. I’m in awe.

Scroll through my photo gallery!

Shoes!

That’s an Italian thing, right? I stopped to window shop and share some of the exciting shoe trends that will be coming to the States. One unique fashion statement has been ORANGE shoes. Not a fluorescent orange, but a brilliant orange; like a starburst on your feet.

The other trend I’m witnessing is a rich powder blue shoe color. I’ve seen it on men. The blue is similar to the color carpenters use when they snap a chalk line.

Many of the Italian men are slim and dressed in simple suits, but they all look slick. Stefano helped me find the music museum in Parma. He lived in Canada 10 years ago and his English was very good. “That’s not the lock you’re using to keep safe bik,” he asked about my new €16 lock I was so proud of.

“No, no. Chince. Let me show you,” and we went to his accounting office where he pointed to a hefty chain lock. It seemed to me that it was something that you’d keep your bulldog on if you lived next door to a cat factory.

Anyway, Stefano was very friendly and gave me good directions – and he really cut a fine form in his suit. He also had those smooth blue shoes…. But I didn’t think how much I liked them until I started window shopping.

This was just off the main road in Parma. Reminded me of the 7-mile Fair, just not on such a grand scale.
Lots of “selfie sticks!”