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August is the month in which Europe, and particularly France, goes on vacation. To be different, (and to avoid the crowds) we decided to spend our vacation time in July. Our first vacation of the month was a week spent in Northern Italy with our friends Daniela and Fabrizio. Click here for the maps
On very short notice, they pulled together a holiday schedule that would make the best travel agents jealous. After arriving in time for dinner Saturday evening, we spent the first day touring the Ferrari museum in the morning and watching the Grand Prix in the afternoon. The evening was spent in Ravena meeting Daniela's family.
Monday was a day of sun and surf on the Adriatic Sea.
Tuesday we toured the historic churches of Ravena.
Wednesday found us in the amusement park Mirabilandia.
Thursday was San Leo, the small country of San Marino, and Riccione.
Friday was the water park of Aquafan.
Saturday was Bologna and the city sights.
We then flew home on Sunday, after a brief tour of San Luca, the church overlooking Bologna.
Throughout it all we were treated to some of the best food and company it has ever been our pleasure to experience. A trip of a lifetime.
Maranello is the home of Ferrari and the Ferrari Museum. I have had the pleasure of visiting there several times through my association with the Ferrari F1 team. In fact, it was on these trips that I first met Fabrizio and Daniela.
However, Lori and the kids only got to see the pictures and hear the stories. So, our first visit of the trip was to correct this. We visited the Ferrari museum in Maranello. The museum is located directly opposite the Ferrari Sport Department, the home of the F1 team. Since Fabrizio and the team weren't particularly getting along while we were visiting, Daniela took us to the museum and the shop.
As you might guess, there were many beautiful cars and lots of memorabilia. The children seemed drawn to different items, however. Alex was enamored with the tiles on the floor that contained a sunken relief image of the Ferrari horse. Juli liked the wide open spaces and danced to her own tune.
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After watching Michael Schumacher hit the wall at Silverstone and end his 1999 season, we took a quiet day at the seaside; flying kites, making sand castles, playing in the surf, and soaking up the sun.
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When the barbarians knocked on Rome's gates a bit too hard, the capital of the Roman empire was moved to Ravenna. Along with the nobility came the Artisans and the Church. The artisans of this period were skilled in the art of mosaics--bits of colored stones cemented to surfaces to make patterns and pictures. The Church had the illiterate masses to educate. The result of this combination were numerous churches gloriously decorated with mosaics telling the stories of the church.
It was also interesting to see the differences in the mosaics over the years. For example, the early (5th century AD) mosaics are highly detailed and alive with colors. The mosaics from the dark ages (10th-13th century AD) are simple outlines showing animals and the stories of the crusades. After the dark ages had passed, the artwork becomes highly ornamented paintings and sculptures.
At least that what we adults saw. The children saw places with echoes. So, thankfully, Daniela rested with the kids at home while Fabrizio, Lori,and Brian toured the churches.
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