15.10 - Day 274 - Sasso Marconi to Mira via Ravenna, ITA

Tuesday 15th October - Sasso Marconi - Mira (Venice) via Ravenna, Italy (Day 274)

There had been an outside chance of plans of Pete and Sonia and/or my parents flying to meet us somewhere in Italy. However as we barely knew where we were going to be even a few days out we couldn’t really suggest anywhere, and the idea fell by the wayside. 

Then I realised a week out that the day we were due to drive to Venice was the same day Mum and Dad would be docking in Ravenna on a cruise, which could be en route with not much of a detour. 

So after school work and packing (including over half the salami) and goodbyes to Diego the dog we head east an hour and a quarter to Ravenna. After depositing Kate, Sienna and Seb in a park I drive on to Porto Corsini to collect Mum and Dad from the dock out the front of the giant Norwegian Pearl cruise ship. 

Back at the Giardini Pubblici di Ravenna, Sienna and Seb are very happy to see Mema and PawPaw, especially when they gift them each a smart watch (after Seb’s disappeared under the car tyre in Rome) and also some baked goods from aboard the breakfast buffet. 

We walk into the town centre, catching up on our adventures before finding lunch at Gustavo Bizantino, for obligatory pizzas. 

Mum relives some of her school days due to the presence of Dante’s tomb and museum - calling his writing dreadfully dull. 

After circling the Cloisters Francescani we decide it’s gelato time, found at Sloine Gelateria. Even after just a few weeks it’s lovely to spend time with family again if only for a few hours. 

After dropping them back at their ship where they will head along the Croatian, Montenegro and Greek coastline.  But we instead head north 2.5 hours to the small town of Mira just outside Venice. 

Trying to find accommodation in the dark whilst driving on the wrong side of the road can be tricky. After going down a one way road the wrong way, we were greeted by our host who was standing in the street waiting for us, shaking his head in disbelief as we approached from the wrong direction.