Pompeii

I am a little town with warm, bumpy stone streets where sunshine loves to play hide-and-seek. I sit right next to a great big mountain that looks like a sleepy giant. Long, long ago, my streets were filled with happy sounds. I could hear children laughing, friends chatting, and the yummy smell of fresh bread baking in ovens. I loved watching everyone live and play together under the bright blue sky. I felt so full of life and joy. I am the city of Pompeii.

My big mountain friend was named Vesuvius. For many, many years, it was quiet and peaceful. But one day, on August 24th in the year 79, the mountain woke up. It started with a giant rumble and then a big PUFF. It sent a big, soft blanket of gray ash high into the sky. The fluffy ash floated down and gently covered all my houses, my streets, and my pretty gardens. Everything went quiet, and I fell into a very, very long sleep under the ash blanket.

After sleeping for almost 1,700 years, something amazing happened. Around the year 1748, some curious people found me again. They carefully brushed away all the ash, like tucking in a blanket. They were so surprised to see my streets and my homes, looking just like they did before my long nap. Today, friends from all over the world come to visit me. I get to share my story and show them what life was like a long, long time ago. I am a window to the past, and I love sharing my secrets with all my new friends.