Pompeii

Obviously the big draw of Pompeii is how well preserved the lost city still is. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how huge it was. When my brother and I took a day trip there, I went in picturing it like any other historical site, figuring it'd be just a bit bigger than, say, the Roman Forum. But it's the same as a day trip to any other city, considering how beautifully preserved it is and how most areas are open to the public. There was so much to see, and I couldn't believe how intact everything was.

Seeing Pompeii with my brother was definitely a good choice because he's apparently thought it was super cool since learning about it for the first time in elementary school, and I loved seeing his reactions to everything. And he was absolutely right: the place was awesome, and every turn had something new. The mosaics were fun to see, along with the columns, pottery, and general structure that's miraculously intact.


We were lucky that the beginning of our stay had clear skies and warm temperatures. Eventually, the skies started to darken and we could hear thunder in the distance. But even though I hate rain, I couldn't find it in my heart to get mad about the eventual rain that started. Something about dark skies and ominous weather seemed fitting at a place known for a natural disaster. A volcanic eruption is a bit different from a rain shower, but the idea was there.

Time for a cheesy life lesson from Pompeii. Walking around the city, I kept finding myself staring at my feet because I didn't want to trip on the cobblestone, so I needed to remind myself to keep my eyes up and look side to side at the ruins of rooms and courtyards all around me. I guess it goes to show that if you keep tunnel vision for too long, you can miss out on some pretty cool things in life. And that staring at rocks when you could look at mosaic floors and ancient rooms of a lost city makes no sense.