7:00 am — Rome

Fiumicino Airport - Arrivals (Arrivo - Aeroporto di Fiumicino)

On my way to Tokyo I have an 8-hour stopover in Rome. And since yesterday we have no visa required to enter the EU zone, I’m trying to go for a short tour around the city.

So far Ukraine is not stated in the list of countries that require no visa and staff are directing me to the “other passports” counter, thus I’m staying in a really long line.

View from an airplane window of the Alps below, with the plane's wing in the foreground

7:30 am — No visa experience

Fiumicino

After staying in a line of about 200–250 people (15–20 minutes) I got to a counter. First of all, an officer politely tried to send me to a transfer gate, yet after I explained that I want to go sightseeing and showed him both the boarding pass to Tokyo and the printed electronic reservation of my roundtrip, he stamped the passport without any issues.

Welcome to Europe!

Narrow cobblestone street in Rome with old buildings and morning shadows

10:30 am — O tempora! O mores!

Caffè Bianco Alto Gusto

Free water and electricity near the Colosseum. And two photos of modern Roman transports: private and public.

Person filling water at public fountain kiosk
Small orange electric car on cobblestone street
Modern green and white tram on Rome street

11:00 am — Food note

Colosseo

Fresh juice: cucumber, mint, lime.

P.S. No photos of the food. Yet…

11:30 am — Traffic lights

Roma

Approximately 20 seconds before going red, pedestrian traffic lights turn yellow.

Pedestrian crossing with traffic light showing yellow before red

12:00 pm — Pop culture

Roma

Common newspaper booth, one of many. On the same stand one can see X-Men, Naruto, Motociclismo and Glamour.

Traditional green newspaper kiosk with magazines and newspapers on display

12:30 pm — Cultural layers

Ostiense

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Modern apartment buildings built above old Roman arches along a street

2:00 pm — At the end of the day

Fiumicino

My visit to Rome was short but fun. Approximately 10 km of walking, 1 breakfast and a bunch of points of interest. And now I’m flying further.

Tiber River with stone bridge and St. Peter's dome
Roman Forum ruins with tall Corinthian columns and a church dome rising behind
Colosseum exterior with tourists walking by