In Straight Trippin', OC friends and family share tidbits from their latest travels. This time, OC contributor Jessica Chou explores both the historic and luxe side of Italy: Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
Name: Jessica Chou
Occupation: Freelance writer/photographer
Travel destination: Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Carry-on necessities: Over-the-ear headphones, the latest New York Magazine, chewing gum
Reading materials: The theme: New York in the 1980s: American Psycho and The Wolf of Wall Street
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: "Pompeii" by Bastille, "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift, "We Ain’t Them" by Childish Gambino, "All Day" by Girl Talk—the bus ride to Amalfi was 90 minutes long. Luckily, there was also an Italian radio station playing on the bus.
Highlight of your trip: Exploring the incredible ruins of Pompeii, a Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
Souvenirs you brought back: A killer tan and too many photos to count![]()
OC contributor Jessica Chou sunning on the rocks. Photos by Jessica Chou![]()
Beautiful geometric pillars in Pompeii![]()
A look at the amazing Mediterranean waters![]()
A first look at the coast of Amalfi![]()
Positano and Amalfi are the most popular cities along the coast; it takes an hour and a half to get to Amalfi![]()
The Amalfi Coast is another train (to Sorrento, home of limoncello) and bus ride away from Pompeii![]()
On one side of the ruins, environmental biologists resurrect ancient vineyards. ![]()
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius left the residents completely mummified, preserved in their last moments. Both terrifying and incredibly sad. ![]()
Some artifacts, impeccably preserved![]()
The ruin was mostly like a restaurant. The holes in the counter were used for cooking.![]()
The Temple of Jupiter![]()
A view of the ruins
Name: Jessica Chou
Occupation: Freelance writer/photographer
Travel destination: Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Carry-on necessities: Over-the-ear headphones, the latest New York Magazine, chewing gum
Reading materials: The theme: New York in the 1980s: American Psycho and The Wolf of Wall Street
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: "Pompeii" by Bastille, "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift, "We Ain’t Them" by Childish Gambino, "All Day" by Girl Talk—the bus ride to Amalfi was 90 minutes long. Luckily, there was also an Italian radio station playing on the bus.
Highlight of your trip: Exploring the incredible ruins of Pompeii, a Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
Souvenirs you brought back: A killer tan and too many photos to count
OC contributor Jessica Chou sunning on the rocks. Photos by Jessica Chou
Beautiful geometric pillars in Pompeii
A look at the amazing Mediterranean waters
A first look at the coast of Amalfi
Positano and Amalfi are the most popular cities along the coast; it takes an hour and a half to get to Amalfi
The Amalfi Coast is another train (to Sorrento, home of limoncello) and bus ride away from Pompeii
On one side of the ruins, environmental biologists resurrect ancient vineyards. 
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius left the residents completely mummified, preserved in their last moments. Both terrifying and incredibly sad. 
Some artifacts, impeccably preserved
The ruin was mostly like a restaurant. The holes in the counter were used for cooking.
The Temple of Jupiter
A view of the ruins