Cruisin' out of Ravenna, Italy

This year Steve and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary and my 30th birthday by taking a vacation; JUST THE TWO OF US!!  

For years, I have been saying that I wanted to celebrate my 30th in Greece, but with 3 kids in school and a birthday in May, that was not going to happen.  I 'settled' (if you can even call it that) for going at the end of June after the kids were out of school.  I searched for a few different options and decided to take a cruise out of Athens, Greece, to 2 other Greek islands, and 3 port stops in Turkey.  3 days before we were flying out, we got a call from the cruise line telling us our cruise was canceled due to a fire in the engine room of the boat.  I could not believe it- I was finally getting to live my dream of going to Greece (something I had wanted to do since I was 5 years old) and we were going to have to wait another month and a half.  

After many hours of research, we decided to take a different cruise- this time leaving out of Ravenna, Italy and ending in Athens, Greece.... in August.  

August 17th, we dropped the kids off at some of the best friends we could ever ask for (Heather and Millie took all three kids between the two of them for all TEN days)!!  Steve and I got up early Sunday morning and headed to the airport for our vacation.  After 12 hours of traveling and waiting, we finally arrived in Ravenna and fell in love.  Ravenna is..... PERFECT.  It was so beautiful, charming, clean and friendly.  It is a little peice of Italy that most Italians, I've read, do not even know exists, but that everyone should visit to at least once in their life.  Our hotel was so cute and in a perfect location- So close to everything!! It was great.

Sunday evening, we walked around the town and ate at this little place called Ca de Ven

The square

Not sure where we should go next....

Playing music by the church

Dinner at Ca de Ven

Monday morning, we got up and walked around a little more.
We walked around every little street and side street looking for the specific museums and galleries we were told to see, walked through the shops and finally stopped for ice cream.... walked a bit more and stopped for one last ice cream before heading to the cruise ship.

Monday morning breakfast place:

After eating, we began our walking and site seeing.  Our first stop was at this shop of mosaic art.  This woman hand made EVERYTHING.  It was so beautiful... I wish I would have bought something... 

... like this!!!  

We then walked around....
passed by the Basilica of San Vitale

Then we made our way to the 'must see' location: Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra 

Everyone told us that the only thing we 'had' to see in Ravenna was this mosaic floor.  We entered through this church and made our way to the back... and then downstairs.

We were not allowed to take pictures but we were so glad we walked through this site.  It was a large floor made up of mosaic art.  It was amazing!!  

While walking we passed by this local produce stand

and made our first ice cream shop...  it was as old as Steve

and was SOOOOO good!!!

After gellato- we went to see the tomb of Dante Alighieri (author of Dante's Inferno)

Because the Italians exiled him and felt bad about it after he died....
they keep this lantern burning 365 days a year, paid for by their taxes, as a tribute to him.

and then walked by another church...

We stopped at a museum that did not allow photos of ancient artifacts and then walked around more...
Walking along the streets- we would come across these planters.  I loved them.

After a few more hours of walking.... we made our second ice cream stop of the day....
their sugar free yogurt is amazing and Steve fell in love with the strawberry and lemon gelato!!!

After our second stop of ice cream, we walked more... and had to get a picture of 

the leaning tower... of Ravenna...

We left shortly after to head to the boat...

We are ready!!!

Once again- we have the best friends ever!!  Taking our three for 10 days was not easy and we will forever be in your debt.  THANK YOU HEATHER AND MILLIE (and families).