No Swiss Prison, just Ravenna

It's a little hard to read, but hanging from the Palazzo Vecchio (near a copy of the David) someones hung a red sign saying "human rights in tibet". The building is official City of Florence property and the sign stayed up for the last two days we were in town, so we're pretty sure it was approved by the city.

And then below is us having dinner on our last night in Florence.



Lake Como was a bit of a bust - it took longer to get there than we had imagined, but we still took the time to rush out on a boat to see Bellagio. Still, we had a great view of the Alps!



So why was Como a bust? Because despite being a bigger city than we thought, there didn't seem anything to do but ferry out to take pictures of other towns! So instead we packed up first thing the next morning, drove over to Switzerland (10 minutes away) where stayed long enough to buy a postcard, then drove back into Italy and took the scenic route over to Ravenna.

Ravenna is a blessing. Up until now, Italians have been all about rush-rush-rush. They pay you no mind unless they are looking at you with disdain or curiosity. In Ravenna there are fewer tourists, and yet we are treated nicer. Things are a bit slower paced. It feels like it's some community in the far-reaches of Seattle - a small modern town surrounding a smaller center of ancient buildings. Yes, people are still curious and/or disdainful. But they have also been interested, friendly, helpful, and flirty.

But in the end, Ravenna comes down to her mosaics. They are phenomenal. Each time we walk into a sacred place and see these mosaics, I am left breathless and astounded at the amount of time, labor, will, and devotion required to complete them. San Vitale especially lived up to all my expectations and then some - they were piping in a very quiet recording of a woman singing hymns, something no other place we've visited before or since has done. I stared and stared at the Empress Theodora, hearing that music, and I wept.

I only wish I had been able to capture a better picture.



Tomorrow we head over to Siena for one night, and then it's Rome for four nights (I think - maybe five?). Wish us luck on the Chianti Road! Eventually, I'm hoping to list all sorts of tips for travelling in Italy that they never tell you in the travel books - like how to put a Fiat Punto into reverse!!!