STARDATE 2023.079

SECTOR 02

LOG — 20 MAR 2023

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Rome — 2023

Mission log · 20–24 March 2023

VIEWSCREEN // LOG 2023

ROME — 23/03/2023

Five days in Rome, from 20 to 24 March 2023 — flying Ryanair out of Eindhoven Airport, from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to Villa Borghese, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. Log below, day by day.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 1 — Monday 20 March 2023

Arrival in Rome

We flew Ryanair flight FR5815 from Eindhoven Airport to Rome Fiumicino, for five days of city, history and good food. After landing we headed straight to our apartment on Via Cipro. For dinner we made our way to Trastevere, to the familiar trattoria Tonnarello, for supplì, pasta and a glass of red wine. A calm, warm start to the trip.

Departure from Eindhoven Airport

At Eindhoven Airport we stood with our suitcases ready, off on five days in Rome.

Just before boarding, the Ryanair plane that would take us to Rome stood ready.

Arrived in Rome

After landing we stood by the metro, having just arrived in a cloudy, rainy Rome.

Checking the menu at dusk

As evening fell we studied the menu on a terrace in Trastevere.

At the table at Tonnarello

We took our seats at Tonnarello, one of the well-known trattorias of Trastevere.

Fried supplì to start

As a starter, crispy fried supplì arrived at the table.

Next came a plate of fresh pasta, exactly what we needed after the travel day.

A toast on the first evening

With a glass of red wine, we toasted the first evening in Rome.

Panna cotta and cheesecake made for a sweet end to dinner.

Trastevere by night

After dinner we took a stroll through the atmospheric streets of Trastevere.

Day 2 — Tuesday 21 March 2023

Colosseum and Piazza Venezia

The big day of exploring: an early start for the Colosseum, including a visit to the hypogeum and the arena floor. Outside, a team of archaeologists was still hard at work excavating. For lunch we settled in at Antica Roma on Piazza Venezia, with a view of the Vittoriano — a spot we'd return to more than once this trip. We closed out the afternoon walking towards the Spanish Steps.

On the way through the city

Out early through the quiet morning streets, on our way to the Colosseum.

The Arch of Constantine

Next to the Colosseum we passed the impressive Arch of Constantine.

In the arcades of the Colosseum

We wandered among the centuries-old arches of the Colosseum, struck by the sheer scale.

Above the hypogeum

With a view of the hypogeum below, we posed for a quick photo.

The hypogeum up close

From the arena floor we looked down on the maze of passages beneath the Colosseum.

Sunbeams through the arches

The low sun shone beautifully through the old archways.

A view over the whole arena

From the stands we had a sweeping view over the entire arena.

Archaeologists at work

Just outside the Colosseum, archaeologists were still hard at work excavating.

Colosseum and Arch of Constantine

From a distance we caught the Colosseum and the arch together in one shot.

Lunch with a view of the Vittoriano

Over lunch on Piazza Venezia we looked straight out at the Monumento Vittorio Emanuele II.

Back at Antica Roma

We ate at Antica Roma, a spot we'd return to more than once this trip.

Golden hour at the Vittoriano

In the golden evening light, a horse-drawn carriage passed by the Vittoriano.

A glimpse of the Spanish Steps

On the way back we caught a distant glimpse of the Spanish Steps.

Day 3 — Wednesday 22 March 2023

Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Trastevere

The busiest day of the trip: from the ruins and gardens of the Palatine Hill, through the Palatine Museum with its statues from the age of Augustus, to the Roman Forum with its temples and columns. For lunch we headed back to Antica Roma on Piazza Venezia, complete with a giant Aperol Spritz on display outside as an eye-catcher. We closed the evening the same way the trip began: at Tonnarello in Trastevere.

A morning snack on the way

With powdered sugar on our fingers, the day began with a sweet pastry.

Ruins on the Palatine

Among the overgrown ruins of the Palatine Hill, history felt present everywhere.

Together on the Palatine

On the Palatine Hill we posed together, with the ruins in the background.

Selfie above the stadium

With a view over the Stadium of Domitian, we took a selfie.

Olive trees on the hill

According to the sign, this was once the site of Minerva's own olive trees.

Reconstruction of ancient huts

In the museum stood a reconstruction of Rome's very first huts.

A hall of imperial statues

In the Palatine Museum we stood among impressive statues from the age of Augustus.

Playing around by the wings

By a large winged statue in the museum, we couldn't resist a joke.

Through the old tunnel

A long, rough-hewn tunnel beneath the Palatine led us back outside.

The Colosseum between the pines

Through the characteristic Roman pine trees, we spotted the Colosseum.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

The tall columns of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina towered above the Forum.

Through the Roman Forum

Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, thousands of visitors walk every day, us included.

Lunch on Piazza Venezia

Back at Antica Roma we sat down for lunch, with wine and a view of the square.

A giant Aperol Spritz

As an eye-catcher, a huge glass of Aperol Spritz stood on display in the street.

Back at Tonnarello again

For dinner we chose Tonnarello once more, back in Trastevere.

Day 4 — Thursday 23 March 2023

Villa Borghese, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps

A calmer start at Villa Borghese, with striking art installations in the gardens and the Galleria Borghese, followed by a moment by the lake with its turtles and rowing boats. Via the Pantheon and a gelato at our by-now favourite Antica Roma, we walked on to the Spanish Steps. The evening ended with fresh pizza from the wood-fired oven.

Breakfast with a supplì

Breakfast was a crispy supplì, eaten standing at the bar.

Walking through Villa Borghese

Under the trees of Villa Borghese, the day began with a quiet walk.

Artwork with golden lungs

In the Galleria Borghese we stopped at a striking artwork of leaves with golden lungs.

Bronze tree trunk in the garden

In the garden stood a huge bronze tree trunk with a golden opening.

By the bronze artwork

In front of the stately building of Villa Borghese, we posed by the striking artwork.

The star-shaped flowerbed

Further into the garden lay a star-shaped flowerbed in front of the little palace.

Temple on the lake

At the lake of Villa Borghese we saw the little temple, with rowing boats further out on the water.

Turquoise grotto with fountain

A hidden fountain with turquoise water turned out to be just as pretty as the temples beyond.

The columns of the Pantheon

The enormous columns of the Pantheon made an immediate impression.

Waiting outside the Pantheon

In the queue outside the Pantheon, we posed for one more photo.

Gelato at Antica Roma

At Antica Roma we finished lunch with a generous coppa gelato.

The waiters of Antica Roma

The cheerful waiters at Antica Roma were more than happy to pose for a photo.

Shopping on Via dei Condotti

Among the chic shops of Via dei Condotti, we walked towards the Spanish Steps.

The Spanish Steps

At the bottom of the Spanish Steps we looked up at the church rising above the top of the stairs.

Fire in the pizza oven

For dinner, the flames in the wood-fired oven were already leaping high for our pizzas.

Day 5 — Friday 24 March 2023

The journey home

After one last breakfast, we packed our suitcases for the journey home. The shuttle bus took us to the gate at Fiumicino, where we boarded Ryanair flight FR5814 back to Eindhoven. And so ended five days in Rome, full of history, art and good food.

Last breakfast in Rome

Before departing, we enjoyed one last Roman breakfast, a supplì and a sweet pastry.

Back to the airport

From the shuttle bus we watched the Fiumicino terminal drawing closer.

On the tarmac at Fiumicino we waited among the ground vehicles for our flight home.

Full bus, full suitcases

On the packed shuttle bus, we stood squeezed in with all our suitcases, heading for the plane.