Ravenna - Where Early Christianity Flourished

Aloha Everyone,

Ravennari is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Eight of the early Christian buildings are included in the World Heritage list. J.J. and I purchased Value Tickets for €9.50 per person which allowed us admissions to 5 of the main attractions including Basilica di San Vitale, Mausoleum di Galla Placidia, Battistero Neoniano, Basilicadus Apollinaire Nuovo and Museo Archiviscovile.

Ravenna is known as a city of mosaics. It has magnificent mosaics adorning many of its ancient buildings.  Some of these works date from the 5th and 6th centuries to the Byzantine periods.

The city of Ravenna has a population of 160,000, but Central Ravenna feels small.  Ravenna is pedestrian friendly. Special bike lanes are marked with white tiles. We see more bikers than cars and yes, cars stop for pedestrians in Ravenna.  

Nadia, an energetic and helpful lady working at the tourist office, also suggested that we stop by a couple of "free" attractions including the Tomb of Dante.

When we mentioned how different Ravenna is to Napoli, Nadia shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, we are really different countries. Different customs, different people!" At one time, Italy consisted of many small counties. There are many regional differences.

Aloha -- Cathi

Five Hour Train Ride To Ravenna

Aloha Everyone,

Napoli is the birth place of pizza and Sophia Loren (an Italian actress known for her voluptuous figure). Here is a shopkeeper capitalizing on both.

J.J. and I purchased Eurail Pass train tickets. The cost is $277.50 per person on business class and it can be used in Italy on any 6 days within one month period. To ride in Business Class on the Express trains, reservations are required. The cost to reserve a seat is €10 per person per ride.     

The quality of Business class is comparable to the Green Car of the Shinkansen in Japan. I must emphasize that quality and cleanliness of toilet facilities plus complimentary services far exceeded the Premier Economy Class we experienced on Alitalia. The uniformed staff cheerfully served snacks (cannoli, chips, biscotti) and choice of beverages -- wine, beer, soft drinks or coffee. Plus free WiFi which by the way is available nearly in all cafes, restaurants, airport and train stations.

Our train ride took us from Napoli to Roma Termini, then to Bologna where we transferred to a regional train to Ravenna. The total travel time was 5 hours!  The route cut across the center of Italy traversing beautiful rolling farmlands, with mountains starting to wear fall colors.   

Gypsies used to harass people  by having children surround you with cardboard and chants of "give me money". Some even handed baby into the arms of-unsuspected tourist. While the victim tries to return the child, gypsies skillfully pick pocketed the tourist. With visible forces of armed  police around tourist areas, we now see gypsies working on regional trains. Usually in pairs, they hop on a train, one plays tambourine or accordion along with very loud recorded music. Then the other walks along aisles with a paper cup asking for money. Not aggressive but rather annoying. 

Today a gypsy woman quietly left this note on each passenger's seat.  After working the entire train, she returned to collect money. When none in our compartment gave, she made a gurgling noise and hopped off the train to climb into a train going the opposite direction. 

Delightful impression of Ravenna as we disembarked the train. Sorry my iPhone battery is less than 10% remaining. I will take photos when J.J. and I go on a walking tour of the city tomorrow.

Aloha -- Cathi

Picturesque Coastal City of Sorrento

Aloha Everyone,

Napoli was dark and rainy. The popular Italian song, "Return to Sorrento" kept on playing in my ears and I convinced J.J. that it would be sunny in Sorrento. The coastal city is 90 minutes away from Napoli via express train. Sorrento is sophisticated, scenic, clean and safe. It faces the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. 

According to the city's guide book, Sorrento's name come from the Greek word, "siren", as mentioned in Homer's famous epic poem. Sorrento was a colony founded by Greeks.

The town is perched atop dramatic cliffs, away from busy marinas. Resident population is approximately 20,009, however during the summer months, it gets filled with tourists. The fashionable hotels, restaurants and shops are found around the Piazza Tasso.  

We chose Taverna Allegro located in the Old Town. Another wonderful meal! J.J. had fried anchovies and Pizza Margherita and I had frIed sole with mixed salad. As Flavia would say, "Mmmmm!!"

The Sorrento City Train is really a small train shaped truck with a trailer that can accommodate approximately 28 adults. The charge is €6 each for a 35 minutes ride with recorded guide in 8 languages. The train took us around the important sites all the way down to the marina and back. For a quick orientation of the city, it was well worth it.

Aloha -- Cathi

Visit To The Amazing Ruins Of Pompeii

Aloha Everyone,

We took the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii, located about midway between Napoli and Sorrento. The cost for the train ride, not covered by our Eurail pass, is €2.50 one way per person. The train was packed with Brits on weekend getaway.

The 4,000 foot high Mount Vesuvius is Europe's  only active volcano. The August 24, A.D.79 eruption of Vesuvius froze the life as it was in Roman times 2,000 years ago. Pompeii and its smaller sister city of Herculaneum were buried under 30 feet of hot volcanic ash.

A small booklet handout on the excavations allow you to do self-guided walking tours. The excavations are still ongoing and at present, exhibits are divided into 9 regions. It is impossible to view everything even if you spend all day. For example, Region VIi has 21 exhibits including Suburban Bath, Sanctuary of Apollo, Forum, Temple of Jupiter, Honorary Arches and Temple of Genius Augusti.

Kindly note that bronze statues are works of late Igor Mitoraj. His statues, totaling 30, are exhibited along the main entry Porta Marina through Main roads, Via Del Teatri and Via Dei Stabiana. Grandiose and impressive but somehow these gigantic bronze statues took away the poetic essence of once ash covered ruins.

At the Pompeii Scavi* (means excavations) train station, we met Kenzie and Ashley from Minnesota. Kenzie helped me with my iPhone photo app which has more features since the latest upgrade was installed.

Flavia mentioned that best Mozzarella Bufala (Buffalo) are found in Napoli. Tonight we dined at Flatelli la Bufala Restaurant. An exceptional meal. My choice of vegetables with mozzarella was very good. J.J. loved his squid stuffed with shrimps and mozzarella.

Aloha -- Cathi