Day 8 of Western Mediterranean Cruise 9 Nights 11 Days Trip: Rome Civitavecchia

Colosseum

Travel Date: 2023.09.08 – 2023.09.18

Destinations: Vatican City, Unknown Korean Restaurant, Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Capitoline Museums, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon

Western Mediterranean Cruise 9 Nights 11 Days Trip Day 8

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Important Notes before viewing the cruise trip Rome post…

Personally, the local guide’s style in Rome was quite bad, so

this post will focus on photos of tourist attractions…

(Meaning there are more of my photos than information ㅋ)

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If the local guide is not fixed, replacing them with someone else

would greatly impact the overall satisfaction of the tourists.

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Costa Smeralda

Flat peaches bought at Palermo market the day before

It was about 1.75 euros for 4 peaches… They sold by weight, and

anyway, it was a cheap amount that I didn’t want to receive awkward change for.

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

On the way to the Vatican after disembarking at Civitavecchia port

In Rome, we initially traveled by tour bus,

but after lunch, we decided to split into groups and travel by van.

Little did I know this was the beginning of hellish tourism…

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

Was this the Vatican wall?

It’s said to be a famous tourist spot for its walls, so many people take pictures.

I didn’t think it was worth taking a photo of myself, so I just took a picture of the wall.

Civitavecchia

Some kind of guard or police, the Vatican Gendarmerie,

but they are all made up of Swiss nationals.

The reason lies in history.

I didn’t want to write it because it’s bothersome, but roughly in the Middle Ages, during a war,

the guards who protected the Pope until the end and died in battle were Swiss…

🤔

Piazza San Pietro

Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square

A shot with the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City

My head looks like a conehead in this photo…

And for some reason, it reminded me of Digimon Kaiser’s Dark Tower 😎

Anyway, we divided into a group going into Vatican City and a group touring the surroundings.

The line was sooooo long and the sun was so hot that I couldn’t possibly…

wait.

But as far as I remember, it seems like only we didn’t go in, and everyone else did. ㅎ

Of course, I slightly regretted not going in later~

but at that moment, I really… couldn’t wait…

Civitavecchia

After leaving the square, we first had a cool drink.

We didn’t have time to go to a cafe,

so we bought one from a street truck we saw nearby!

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

As expected from a Catholic country, we saw nuns.

And soldiers too…

I got scared for no reason and quickly went into the souvenir shop ㅋ

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

After walking around diligently, it was time for the meeting, and on the way back,

I saw a very, very soft and cute rabbit doll and couldn’t resist buying it…

I really don’t usually buy things like this… There were so many colors, it was hard to choose 😭

It was about hand-sized and cost 12 or 20 euros, I don’t remember…

Bernini Fountain

Bernini Fountain

Came back to the square and took some aesthetic shots of the Bernini Fountain.

St. Peter’s Square

Took a selfie with the people still in the long line in the background…

St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square

Took a picture of a cute dog out for a walk,

and took a picture of myself among the grand columns like a temple.

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

This is a picture of the scenery on the way to lunch.

Tiber River

Tiber River Italy

Tiber River

The Tiber River, explained during the trip,

is said to be the root that allowed the Rome Empire to exist historically.

Korean Restaurant Rome

Korean Restaurant Rome

Korean Restaurant Rome

And we arrived at the Korean restaurant…

I can’t find the name of the restaurant no matter how much I search ㅠㅠㅠ

(Seoul Restaurant is a likely candidate, but not confirmed…)

Generally, Korean restaurants abroad tend to be heavy on seasoning,

but the stir-fried potato noodles, which weren’t red-spicy, were really delicious ㅋ

But I don’t remember if the side dishes were free refills…

I remember not refilling because it probably wasn’t free….

Korean Restaurant Rome

Korean Restaurant Rome

Korean Restaurant Rome

The menu was Kimchi Jjigae, Stir-fried Squid, and Bulgogi.

As before, the Kimchi Jjigae here is simmered for a long time and has a very rich flavor.

Of course, it’s oily and very stimulating ㅎ

I ate it deliciously, but older people might not like it.

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

On the way to the Colosseum after eating

I think we switched to a van from this point on,

but it was so hot and cramped, it was really difficult…..🥺

Colosseum

Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Colosseum

Colosseum

Wow, I’m actually seeing this with my own eyes?

Honestly, it felt like the most overwhelming moment of the trip.

Colosseum

Colosseum

ㅋ And the guide… boasted about how well he could take pictures…

I deleted all of them and asked my mom.

I understand that he’s not good at taking pictures, but after that,

“Let’s move quickly! Take pictures quickly!!”

“Let’s move to the next spot!!” he said… My mood started to sour from then on.

I came here to travel and enjoy, but it felt like I was working to take pictures, which was very unpleasant.

Still, it was tolerable at that point.

Arch of Constantine

Via di S. Gregorio, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine

Indeed, is Rome the ultimate tourist destination?

There are so many people.

It’s right next to the Colosseum,

so we could take a two-shot with both in the frame.

I gave up on getting other people in the shot long ago and just took pictures~!!

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

After taking pictures at the Arch of Constantine, we immediately got in the van and moved to the next location. ㅋㅋ

No leisure whatsoever!!!

They say it has a great view.

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

It’s too close…

Civitavecchia

It really is a place with great views…

I don’t know exactly where this is, but

Capitoline Museums

Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums… I don’t know what this place is either…

I didn’t go inside… I just took a lot of pictures and moved on.

I’m smiling in the photos, but my face falls as soon as I put the camera down.

Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia, Roma RM, Italy

Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia

Took another picture with the palace at Piazza Venezia after riding the van ^^

It took less than 2 minutes to get there, so why did we even take the van?

It was annoying to get on and off in the heat.

Anyway, I took pictures…

Trevi Fountain

Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain

They say your wish comes true if you throw a coin in the fountain… not quite.

If you throw one coin, you will return to Rome.

Two coins mean a new love will be found,

and three coins mean a breakup.

So I only threw one coin!

I decided I’ll come back for a leisurely free trip without a guide later.

Bar Fontana di Trevi

Piazza di Trevi, 90, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Bar Trevi

Bar Trevi

A gelato shop right in front of the Trevi Fountain.

I bought tiramisu flavored gelato.

But it was so crowded that I ate it standing on the street,

and the gelato melted sooooo quickly that I had to gulp it down…

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia

Near the Pantheon, I found the same dolls I bought at a souvenir shop.

I was relieved that the price was the same.

Pantheon

Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Pantheon

Pantheon

I also just took a picture of the Pantheon from the outside.

Then, because it was so hot, I went to have an iced coffee.

Tazza d’Oro Coffee

Via degli Orfani, 84, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Tazza d’Oro Coffee

Tazza d’Oro Coffee

Tazza d’Oro Coffee

A place in Italy where you can get iced americano…

Honestly, the taste was not good.

They poured pre-made coffee from the refrigerator into a glass with ice,

and there were coffee grounds at the bottom, and the taste was… hmm.

Korea wins when it comes to iced americano ㅋ

I guess they made it hastily because it’s a menu item forced by tourists.

Civitavecchia

Another van ride ㅋ

Mom’s eyes are glazed over.

Terrazza Belvedere

Via Cristoforo Colombo, 74, 19031 Ameglia SP, Italy

Terrazza Belvedere

Terrazza Belvedere

I don’t know what this place is either, but it seems like an observation deck.

They brought us here because the view is pretty…

By this point, I just wanted to ditch the tour and

take a taxi or find my own way back by boat…

ㅋ

Terrazza Belvedere

Terrazza Belvedere

Terrazza Belvedere

It is pretty… I got a good profile picture…

Fortunately, this was the last stop.

But I was so exhausted that my image of Rome tourism was ruined…

Costa Smeralda

Appetizer: Mozzarella cheese salad and cod with cream

Costa Smeralda

Main 1: Ragu pasta, tomato cream soup

Costa Smeralda

Main 2: Beef neck steak, seafood sea bass dish

Costa Smeralda

Additional Main: Bolognese pasta

I ate a lot that day because I was so tired.

Costa Smeralda

Dessert: Orange mochaccino and tiramisu

It was the last dinner on the cruise,

and it was the most delicious dinner I had during the trip.

I was sad that it was the last day of the cruise, just as I was getting used to it…

Costa Smeralda

Despite the regret of having to disembark tomorrow due to the intense schedule,

I couldn’t do anything and just rested in my room…

When I returned after dinner, the staff member in charge of our room had left a note ㅠ

I want to come on a cruise trip again… but next time… I’ll do a little bit of local sightseeing…

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