Ostia Antica

Written by Toby 

with photos by Kelli

Starting off this day, the bright blue skies were a breath of fresh air from the gloomy clouds and the torrential downpours of previous days. The coastal breeze and the clean air helped clear our minds before we traveled back in time to the city of Ostia. 

Ostia Antica was a magical oasis, for which it felt like we were some of the only people who knew. We strolled down the main Roman road, scurrying off the path to get a closer look at pristinely preserved ancient ruins like the amphitheater or the temple to Minerva.

We broke for lunch after reflecting on previous days by analyzing a specific structure or detail broken down into 5 poetic sentences. 

While our stomachs were full, our heads and legs were ready to take in the ancient city. We broke apart into our own little tribes, and it was a pleasant surprise when we would see a fellow Overlaker in the vast maze. The preservation of the ancient tilework truly astonished me. How such a simple floor that so many people used to walk on in the 7th century BC is still in pristine condition and is often overlooked. 

I appreciated the sheer magnitude of Ostia and often got lost when trying to retrace my steps. It might have been because I got distracted by the cute cats scurrying about the ruins.

-Toby