the (new) endomobile

[endo]

The drive up along Lake Lucerne was beautiful.

[endo]

Today's program took us to Ravenna. I've always wanted to see the tomb of Theodoric the Great, a very interesting figure in the context of the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It's from 526 A.D.

[endo]

But Ravenna also offers many wonderful old churches, baptisteries and other mausoleums from the late Roman period, especially interesting because of their mosaic art, like the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia.

[endo]

The Basilica di San Vitale

and the Battistero Neoniano

[endo]

Dante Alighieri's tomb is also in Ravenna.

[goosehd]

Outstanding!!! Thank you

[endo]

But last not least it was Mrs E's birthday, so we had a nice aperitivo in piazza and a great dinner later.

[endo]

Now we're going to have a nice sleep in the bus.

and it seems that Virginia Wolf once said, "no one can think well, sleep well, love well, unless he has first eaten and drunk well."

I think I have to agree with her.

[ROman]

@endo Beautiful pictures, Thank you for sharing..

[Daniel San]

@endo
happy birthday and all the best for Mrs E !
wonderful pictures mate !!

[Chap]

@endo said in the (new) endomobile:

and it seems that Virginia Wolf once said, "no one can think well, sleep well, love well, unless he has first eaten and drunk well."

I think I have to agree with her.

So do I! Lovely La Dolce Vita pics!

[Denman John]

Looks like a great adventure - keep the pictures coming please

[Lynne]

@endo Happy birthday! xx

[endo]

Mrs E says thank you all.

[Tobi]

Very tempting to consider this mode of travel, and thanks for letting us "participate"! My main concern would be that since you constantly have all your belongings in the van, any hike, sightseeing, etc means you need to leave it all on a parking lot somewhere.. ready to be broken into. How do you deal with this issue? Minimalistic packing, and have all real valuables with you at all times?

[endo]

I learned from my previous van—which was broken into several times—and have therefore installed numerous security measures here (see further up in this thread) that, at the very least, make it extremely difficult to get inside.

[Tago Mago]

Shots fired

[Tobi]

@endo ah yes.. seen this now. The Fort-Knox method

[endo]

Today we visited Loreto—after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the second most important pilgrimage site in Italy and one of the most significant in the Catholic world.

The Basilica of the Holy House houses the Santa Casa—according to legend, the Holy House of Nazareth where Mary grew up and received the Annunciation. It is said to have been carried to Loreto by angels.

[endo]

Interestingly, Loreto also has an old Christian tattoo culture for pilgrims, dating back to around the 5th century. It is probably the only one of its kind outside of Jerusalem and is kept alive today by Jona Carducci.

I already had a few designs from Loreto on my arms, but since I was there anyway, I naturally had to add something new.

Mrs. E, too, has had something done.