Ravenna: Street Photography … Day 2

Good night’s rest … up early to enjoy the sunshine and blue skies forecasted for today. While Mui was preparing breakfast, I squeezed in a quick stroll to check out some of the places I photographed during our sunset stroll yesterday. I tried to limit my shutter clicks … to no avail … the scenery was just too lovely.

We started our sightseeing with a walk that took us outside the city center in search of murals … using a tourist information map I found online. Alas … the only thing we accomplished was to add more steps to a day that already promised quite a bit of wear and tear on our feet. (A local told us that the murals were long painted-over … alrighty then.)

We spent the morning wandering around Centro Storico … before stopping at a lovely little green oasis in the shadow of the Duomo and ticketed-sites we’d be visiting.

Giardino Rasponi o Delle Erbe Dimenticare (Rasponi Garden or Garden of Forgotten Herbs) is set up like an open-air bistro … with trees and umbrellas providing shade in niches that give one a sense of intimacy. That there were no more than six people there when we stopped for a coffee break was surprising … but welcome amidst the hub-bub of the city.

This was the day where we had to split our timed-entry into one of the two UNESCO-listed mosaic sites. Mui at 11:00a … me at 1:00p … a joint site at noon in between the two. So, after our brief break at the garden, we went our separate ways; rejoined forces for a bit; and then went our separate ways again. (The stories coming up in separate footprints.)

It was 2:30p by the time I returned to Domus Galla Placidia … to find Mui locked inside!

Turns out that the couple sharing the B&B with us today misunderstood the sign advising guests not to double lock the door. In their defense, the sign really wasn’t clear … and locking the door from the outside was only a problem if someone else was in their room … as was the case with Mui. Apparently, the knob that unlocks the door from the inside was broken and just turned loose. Mui handed me the keys from the window and I set him free! (We sent a text to the owner, and will keep an ear out for other guests coming and going if we happen to be in our room.)

Following this little incident, we set out on another stroll. My plan was to visit just one place — a tomb. We ended up visiting the tomb, as well as a ‘casa’ and a museum, and a church. (I’ll write about it all in a separate footprint … maybe two.)

On the way back to the B&B, we searched out a place for an early dinner since we had skipped lunch due to our timed-ticket schedule. No luck … many didn’t open until 7:00p.

So, we went to Gamba’s, where we had lunch yesterday, and joined the locals who were enjoying their aperitivi in a quiet neighborhood just steps away from Ravenna’s Centro Storico. Since the kitchen was closed at that hour, we ordered drinks and a “tagliere” … literally, a cutting board … in this instance used as a platter on which a selection of local meats and cheeses, and accompaniments, are served. Fresh and delicious.

Perfect ending to our day!Leggi altro