Since I had five days in Rome, I took a day trip by train to Ostia Antica, which was once a port city. Known as an alternative to Pompeii, Ostia Antica offered so much to explore, and it was a lovely break from Rome’s crowded ruins. I had such thrill discovering all the little things, from overgrown nooks and ancient steps to worn frescoes and mosaic floor tiles.

*Click on any photo to load a larger image.

This was apparently some sort of oven: