Around the world: Three Wonders

April 24th, 2020

The way this year is going, we all want to turn back the clock to 2019. I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to the year that I got to visit three out of seven (new) Wonders of the World!

1. Roman Colosseum

Roman Holiday, the classic Audrey Hepburn film, gave me a very clear idea of what to expect when in Rome. One of the most romantic places I’ve seen, the eternal city did not disappoint! The most important stop, of course, had to be the Roman Colosseum. I’m not going to give you a history lesson, but I will tell you what I considered a highlight…

Walking up to the astronomical amphitheater, we passed some of its surrounding ruins. Off-limits to tourists, this area has been carefully kept to represent what’s left of the ancient heart of Rome. Walking along scenes of collapsed structures and scattered stones added to the experience: it gave me perspective.

I imagined how many feet must have gathered here to see a gladiator battle, to watch a loved one being mocked to death, or to be sold as a foreign slave… We don’t always realize the blood, sweat and tears we trample on.

The Colosseum hosts a warm disposition despite its grim history. After centuries of death and destruction, Rome still has a heartbeat. That in itself is a wonder.

2. The Great Wall of China

How people managed to build a perfectly steady structure that goes on for 13 thousand miles along the curves of mountaintops just blows my mind! It’s impossible to grasp its greatness by looking at a picture.

Full of kinks and curves, the “base” forms a pathway that consists of uneven steps. The views were a pleasant distraction, but I had to be careful not to miss a step, so I kept my gaze down and noticed the variety of stones that was used to build The Wall – one of many signs of its longevity and wonder.

A nice surprise was the adventure that came with this visit! We reached The Wall by cable car and instead of going down the same way, we chose to go down by slide. Who knew that a day spent on history could include that much fun! (See video on Instagram).

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

I ended the year on a high note with a nine day trip to Peru, mainly to see the ancient Inca citadel. Follow this link to read about my Machu Picchu experience. I also have a post that will help you plan your trip to Peru!

I intended to visit Petra, Jordan in April or May this year, but due to the pandemic I’ll have to wait to tick that box. You can expect a detailed post about this in the future – I’m still hopeful that 2020 has some adventure in store for us!

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