May 21

Arian Baptisty dome
Mausoleum of Theodoric the Ostrogoth
Basilica di San Vitale
Ravenna park

mosaic in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

sleeping baby

Today we headed to Ravenna. We found a small park outside the train station at Farrara between Padua and Ravenna, and afterwards, Owen slept well on the train. We visited the Basilica di San Vitale, the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, and the Arian Baptisty to view the most amazing mosaics from the 5th and 6th cenury. We also visited the Mausoleum of Theodoric the Ostragoth (early 6th century). Owen got to stretch his legs and get sand in his hair (and everywhere else!) playing over an hour in a huge public park near here. We enjoyed dinner at little trattoria: craklings (or some sort of pork rinds) yum!, risotto made with stock and red wine, mixed grilled meat including sausage, pork ribs, steak, and a thin strip of very fatty pork with sauted eggplant, and chicken. This was by far the best (and fattiest!) meal we’ve had so far. We walked about a bit before turning into our hotel which was certainly a 3 star establishment, as advertised – the computer for internet access didn’t work, nor did the shower drain, and the remote control for the AC was gone. To their credit, they did allow us to hook up our computer in the lobby, let us shower in the “private” bathroom two floors up, and replaced the remote.