We had a leisurely morning, deciding to take the 10:42 train from Venice to Ravenna, so we didn't have to check out until 9:30 am.
We took the regional train from Venice's Santa Lucia train station to Ravenna with a change in Ferrara.  Price was 12.85 euros each ($18.10).  We were only supposed to have 6 minutes to transfer in Ferrara, but our train arrived a little early, and we made it with no trouble.  And both trains were air-conditioned!	I chose to stay at A Casa di Paola, a bed and breakfast in Ravenna.  It wasn't that hard to find while walking from the train station, but the exterior did not inspire confidence.
Don't judge a book by its cover!  WOW, what a sumptous room!  In fact, the room was so nice, I didn't believe we had been put in the correct room.  All this for 70 euros per night!
The room was ensuite with a GIANT bathroom and the largest shower of our trip.
We headed out and bought the five-site mosaic ticket in Ravenna for 9.50 euros each ($12.95).	Our first mosaic site was the most famous, the Basilica di San Vitale.
The interior of the church was amazing, covered with beautiful Biblical mosaics.	My favorite was this mosaic about Abraham, first entertaining the visitors, then starting to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Amazing that an English-speaking American 1500 years later can still understand the message of these mosaics!  Praise God for the Bible!
My mother's favorite was this mosiac of Abel and Melchisedec with a hand making the ASL "I love you" sign from Heaven!	Our second mosaic site in Ravenna was just behind the Basilica di San Vitale: the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia.  You can only stay 5 minutes, which is enough time.
No surprise to see that the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia (and the other mosaic sites) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  (And as you know, if it's UNESCO, I'm there!)	Loved this maze-like multi-color border in the Masoleo di Galla Placidia! You can also see the alabaster window above.
After the Basilica di San Vitale and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, we visited the Ravenna Cathedral's Archiepiscopal Museum to see thier sixth-century Chapel of Sant'Andrea (St. Andrew), where no pictures are allowed.  After that, we went to the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, which had more sixth-century mosaics.  Here, the Wise Men bring gifts to baby Jesus.	Look closely, and you can see how this mosaic was altered.  Do you see the hands on the columns that are no longer attached to people?  Emperor Justinian changed these mosaics to eliminate pre-Nicene heresy.  WOW!
We visited two baptiseries, the Neonian Baptistery and the Arian Baptistery.  They had similar decoration: ceilings showing Jesus's baptism by John on the Jordan River.  (I can't remember which baptistery this is!)  We also visited the Basilica di San Francesco to see its flooded mosaic crypt floor with the goldfish.	After a week of pizza, we decided to splurge and eat at Ristorante La Gardela, just down the street from our hotel.
We got an outdoor table with a nice view!	I tried the mixed local appetizer plate.  It had sliced meats, squacquerone (the white soft cream cheese), and piadina (flat bread triangles).  It was not my favorite thing.
My mother had the delicious homemade spinach ravoili (tortelli?) in a sauce. It was her favorite thing we ate on the whole trip.	I had the homemade cappelletti in meat sauce.  Yum!
My mother also ordered the fried zucchini sticks.  Greasy goodness!