Ravenna - March 2006

Ravenna is a city with a long history, having been in a strategically important position from the time of the Roman Empire. Fortunately for art history buffs, succeeding groups of kings, popes, armies, and emperors haven't stripped the city of all of its marvellous Byzantine mosaics, primarily created from 400-500 AD. The overall effect of the mosaic decorated spaces is overwhelming, even more so when I started looking at the intricate details more closely.

Everyone keeps saying how unseasonably cold it is this March.  Good to hear, but when I come back some year, I think I'll aim for June!  It is also burning season.  Didn't realize there was one in Europe - here in Italy everyone is trimming their olive trees and other bushes then burning the slash piles.  On the drive from Paestum to Ravenna (yes, long driving day but I couldn't not see either one - it was only with great reluctance I gave up the Riace bronzes, find Riace on a map, then you will understand) there was so much smoke along the coastal

 highway that at times I couldn't see the ocean!  Ever since I first saw some of the NASA satellite photos of plumes of manmade smoke streaming around the globe, I've been paying more

 attention to human uses of fire and been more aware of the far reaching consequences.  The particulates from a fire (or other source) can stay in the atmosphere for months, falling back to earth far from their source.  It is a good reminder of how closely we are all tied together and that it does matter what people do on the other side of the globe.

And I love driving in Italy!  Everyone is so well behaved.  On the highways you drive in the right hand lane until you are really ready to pass, then you overtake the vehicle you are passing and 

immediately pop back into the right lane.  Haven't seen this international rule so well followed anywhere else!  On two lane roads folks going both directions edge to the sides of the road while driving to allow passing as well - kind of like western Texas.  Very much appreciated!  Italian drivers do drive fast and their sense of personal space is limited - I'm still a bit shocked at how close cars come to each other at high speeds.   American tail-gating doesn't hold a candle to it!  At least the cars are tiny - a new Mini Cooper looks huge here.