Pompeii

I read an article today that upset me. Apparently the ancient city of Pompeii has fallen into disrepair and the government of Italy has declared it a state of emergency. In the summer of 2005, I decided to backpack through Europe. Pompeii was one of the highlights of my trip. As a child I would love reading about ancient cultures and mythology. The story of Pompeii was particularly exciting because it had been buried by volcano ash for two thousand years before being discover and much of it remained preserved. I wanted to be an archeologist. I went into Computer Science instead. While I was in Pompeii I almost convinced myself that I would change my major the moment I got back to the states. I never did. Perhaps, someday I will pursue a second degree in it. For now I will be content to have it remain as a hobby and an object of my travels. Although it saddens me to know that these ancient sites are receiving as much care as needed to preserve them for future generations.