Top Travel Experiences

Do you travel for the experience? I certainly do, never being one for sitting on buses and zooming on by places it is great to be out there experiencing the landscape and the culture of wherever I might be.

The Colosseum in Rome

I am an avid history buff and from reading in a text book about the Roman empire, the emperors,the Christian slaves, the gladiators and chariot races to actually standing in and on that history is just amazing.

To step on the same steps that those citizens of Rome did way back in 82 AD was just spine tingling. The photo above shows the partly recreated floor of the Colosseum and underneath you can see the narrow alleyways and rooms where the lions and tigers, Christians and Gladiators were housed.

One of the other things I try to do when traveling is to do so in 'off peak' times. This saves you money but more importantly there are less people around and if you go when the gates first open, then you are more than likely like I was, to be the only person there.

Then you can just close your eyes and imagine the scene - the sound of thousands of people yelling, the emperor and his entourage sitting pompously in prime position overlooking the gladiators doing battle with each other or perhaps against wild animals, swords clashing and screams of terror and pain amongst yells of 'live' or 'die'.

There are also wonderful exhibits to see within the walls of the Colosseum and many nooks and crannies to explore and of course many photo opportunities(including locals dressed in costume trying to make a few extra euros).

Maybe you have been too and have a different story to tell so please leave your comments below.