It has been a really long day with lots of walking, getting very wet, and waiting at train stations, and I am seriously tired. But I'm so much happier now that I'm here in Parma.
David is also doing well - his ankle is getting better all the time, and he's settled in a nice hotel in central Amsterdam. He'll stay in the same hotel until he flies home on Friday. He's had a good time walking around the city and finding delicious things to eat (including our favorite donut stand on the main square, which I'm looking forward to visiting in a few weeks!); tomorrow morning he'll return the car to Dusseldorf.
I'll post details of my adventures in Pavia and Parma tomorrow; for now I'll just show you where I'm staying for the next three nights.
My room in the "Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati" feels like a palace compared to the closet in Pavia and it's very nice by any standard. It's much bigger than I expected and has interesting decor with lots of antiques.
View from my door. I'm on the 3rd floor; the elevator is modern but creaks and wiggles a little alarmingly.
My door
Hallway to other rooms
Bed - I think it might be a king! It has been calling to me since I got here.
Bathroom and entrance door on the left; kitchenette and TV on the right.
Kitchenette - I made dinner here tonight.
Bathroom. I was hoping for a bathtub, but the shower looks great and I could always soak my feet in the bidet!
Bathroom view 2
This evening a guy from the hotel brought me this!
I'm here for three nights, and more rain is forecasted for tomorrow (but it might be sunny on Thursday!), so I intend to take it easy. I'll probably just explore the city a little more, take more photos of the cathedral and baptistery, and catch up on work and trip planning. Good night!