Before the gates of the eternal city… This morning we docked in Civitavecchia with the Mein Schiff 2, the port of the city of Rome, and at the same time one of the largest ports for cruise ships in Europe. The programme for the morning was a visit to the onboard hairdresser, and in the afternoon an excursion to the excavation site of Ostia.

At the hairdresser's, I had booked the "Bootsmann" package, which includes washing, cutting, blow-drying, and a beard trim. The appointment lasted an hour and was very good and relaxing.

For lunch, we went to the buffet restaurant Anckelmannplatz. There is a plentiful selection of different dishes, such as a carving station or the wok station, where various dishes are prepared according to your own choice. Mein Schiff 2 truly offers a wide range of culinary experiences.

After lunch, we went on the excursion to Ostia Antica. A must for me as an archaeologist. The meeting point for all excursions is the Schaubar, where the groups are called when the bus is ready.

The bus journey took a good hour, during which we received initial information about Ostia and the history of this ancient city. Upon arrival in Ostia, the guided tour began with numerous stories, and the tour guide explained the individual buildings using display boards. The two-hour tour through the heat was a bit strenuous, but we did find some shady spots.

The journey back was just as quick as the journey there. All in all, a very good excursion for me.

Dinner was again in the Atlantik Mediterran. As almost every evening, it was almost full, yet the service was fast and very friendly. The day ended wonderfully on our journey on the Mein Schiff 2 in Civitavecchia.

Later in the evening, we went to the pool party. With temperatures still very warm.