For our day trip while we were in Rome, I and several others decided to go to Pompeii. We caught the train down to Naples, where we then had about an hour before the next train out to Pompeii. We decided to eat lunch, and the seven of us headed out from the train station to see if there was a nearby restaurant. About two and a half blocks later, we decided it wasn't worth braving the electronics selling hoard of sketchy street vendors, and camped out in the train station's McDonald's for the rest of the wait.

A half an hour later, after a train ride along the coast, we arrived in the town of Pompeii. A more modern town surrounds the 150 or so acre site, which is still being excavated. A very cranky, and rather unhelpful lady sold us our entry tickets, and we were off to explore the ruined city.

Nearly empty of tourists in the late fall weather, it was nice to wander the area practically by ourselves. The ruins are amazingly intact, and many of the buildings still have intricate frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Throughout the city are scattered the plaster forms of bodies that were found while excavating - the workers poured plaster into the holes that were formed by the mud around the bodies, where only bones were left. Some were so detailed that facial expressions and clothing were easily seen, a sight eerie beyond compare.

One of the more intact estates is thought to be the site of a mysterious cult, as induction rites are portrayed in intricate murals in one room.

After a long day of wandering through the ruins, Becky, Shandra, and I ate dinner, before the group caught the train back to Naples. The train was almost 30 minutes late, and should have arrived after our train back to Rome left, however, it was still in the station when we got in, so we all ran like mad and got on in what turned out to be plenty of time. Pompeii was probably my favorite thing that I have seen on the entire trip, very awe-inspiring.