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Overwhelmed by mosaic | Day 72 of my 2023 Journal

Cecilie Conrad·Mar 13, 2023

Some days on our journey are so packed that it is simply impossible to reflect on them the next morning as my 365 challenge asks for. Sometimes, I have to let time pass, just do things slowly and not focus on my inner life, just allow things to settle.

So here we are. A few days later.

Ravenna mosaics truly are special.

This is the short version. Made of stone of different colors, not painted ceramics or the like, they have sparkling and clear colorwork. We visited a baptism room with a full immersion bath in the center, a mausoleum that was used as a reflection and prayer room, and a church. All were beyond what we have seen before, especially the church.

The Basilica di San Vitale church might be the most beautiful one of all the churches we have seen. But, it is a stupid hierarchy to establish, as the European cathedrals, basilicas, and churches are very different.

What I am saying is this: The basilica is unique, the aesthetics are overwhelming, and our experience was profound. 



On top of the 3 UNESCO sites of mosaics, we visited the museum, had a vegan lunch, waked the dike and the long central historical route through the old center, had ice cream, had fun, photographed street art, visited the Japanese-style gaming and manga shop and camera cafe, and came very very tired before we met the veggies truck right next to our parked car and went out for pizza as we were too tired to cook. 



We played our new card game Similo, a game we met at the board game cafe in Paris in September last year, and had very good gluten-free, vegan pizza.

See more images and a video from the day on Instagram

Love and light

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Cecilie Conrad


Thank you for reading

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Unschooling and Parent consulting, conversations, blogposts, and podcasts on family life and learning

Hi, I'm Cecilie Conrad. I'm a trained psychologist, mother of four, radical unschooler and full-time traveller. I have lived with unschooling for over a decade and help other families find their own path – whether it is about homeschooling, unschooling, or the bigger question of how you want to live as a family.

I offer guidance, conversations and talks. I call my work grandmothering – not coaching in the traditional sense, but presence, professional insight and concrete help navigating motherhood and finding your way home to your own values.

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