Castel Sant'Angelo and Ostia Antica

2019 Western Mediterranean and Transatlantic Cruises on MSC

Pre-Cruise - Rome -- October 27, 2019

Please click here for video of our trip on this day.

Our second day in Rome. We planned on utilizing public transportation to all the sites we would be visiting these two days so our first stop for the day was to purchase the Rome Pass at the Termini this morning. 

It was easy buying our Rome passes but trying to figure out how to use it on the buses and activate it took a while. We knew that it's very important to validate train/bus tickets in Italy and we looked everywhere around the bus terminal for the machines to do the job. This was our first time taking the public bus and it was not an easy task not knowing where everything is. The bus drivers were not helpful since they were busy getting passengers on their buses. Most people we came into contact did not speak English. After trying all different routes we decided to just get on the bus and see what happens. It turned out that once we boarded the bus for that first trip and scanned our passes, validation took place. Our fellow passengers were all very helpful knowing that we were having problems. The only problem for us was that not all ten of us were able to get on the first bus and half of us had to get on the next one. Fortunately, we were able to meet up at the correct stop and all was well. Google map really did a great job helping us figuring out our routes and buses to take on this trip and the WeChat app helped us to keep in touch with each others constantly.

Castel Sant'Angelo

From the bus stop it was just a short walking distance to Castel Sant'Angelo.

River Tiber

One majestic structure. We have never been inside this building because of the time of operation. This would be our very first time visiting this site.

Inside

From the castle looking out.

Vatican nearby

One of the rooms inside the castle.

Il Colibri

We were very much looking forward to be back at Il Colibri again. We have enjoyed our meals here on our previous visits when they had their lunch sets. A short bus ride from Castel Sant'Angelo got us to the neighborhood near the Vatican where the restaurant is.

We were the first ones there that day.

Excellent bread to start with as we waited for our food.

Inside the restaurant.

They didn't have their lunch set anymore but had some special dishes like this meat balls for around 10 Euros.

Really good lasagna, also a lunch special dish.

Ravioli

Seafood pasta, also around 10E.

A meat dish which I forgot what it was.

Everything was delicious and again we had a great lunch. Unfortunately we were not able to come back for another meal because of our busy schedule and not around the neighborhood.

Ostia Antica

Our destination for the afternoon was taking the train to Ostia Antica. We took the bus from near the restaurant to the Porto S. Paolo station where we would catch the train to Ostia Antica. One incident while getting off the bus was that a family of Gypsies tried to steal MOR's cell phone off his pocket. Fortunately, he caught the guy just in time as we were getting off the bus. As he confronted the father of the group, he just shamelessly smiled at him and the kids making faces at us. 

It was an easy 20-minute train ride from Porto S. Paolo to Ostia Antica which is located near FCO and the coast. Then a short walk to the historic site. Sis couldn't walk that much so I basically sat with her near the gate and saw the sights nearby as the others explore the site. I enjoyed our visit here in 2015 and did not mind just sitting with her this time around. More photos of our visit in 2015 here. 

We stayed until close to closing time at 4:30 before walking back to the tiny train station.

Taking the train back to Rome.

Back to Porto S. Paolo station.

Outside the station stood the Pyramid of Rome.

After a few photos we then took the Metro back to the Termini where we looked for dinner options. We ended up with some getting Chinese food from the Ristorante Hong Kong across the train station and some of us went to the little chain restaurant next door for some delicious and cheap food for dinner.

Steak dinner for 8E, OK.

The chicken rice was REALLY good. I think it was around 6E for this tasty dish. Their fried chicken was very good also.

We liked this so much that we came back the next day for another round of chicken rice. I don't remember the name of this place now, but I think it's something with the word "Chicken" in it. Chicken Hut, I think.

After a visit to the Carrefore Market picking up some breakfast items we were back at the apartment for the night.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. "   --Romans 6:23