Rome

 

Though the reign of the Roman Empire may be over it will never be forgotten.

Standing in Rome, the world seems so ancient and so delicate. The Colosseum standing proud daring history to overlook it throws the onlooker into the world of the past!

 My senses go into hyperdrive as people rush past me speaking in a foreign language. The outfits strike me as odd because they are different to what we wear today. The colossus building ahead of me no longer looks so old as I stare at it with pride.

‘Sta cominciando!’ I hear as people push me forward. Inside the Colosseum is a hive of activity. Before I even realize it I am running to join the queue to get inside. I can hear the cheering of the onlookers even though I do not know what they are saying.

I see him, the majestic lion rising up from beneath the ground. The gladiator is standing fiercely ready to take him on. I close my eyes to prevent the sight of a gory fight and to my surprise I hear a hoot. There were no tour busses in those days so I take it as a sign and sprint passed all the people cheering the gladiator on. I run back to the present only to be whisked away again.

Walking along the cobblestones I can hear the crowd of people but cannot see them yet. I turn the corner and there they are in front of the most amazing fountain I’ve ever seen. The Trevi Fountain a voice inside my head tells me. I search my pocket for a coin to throw and make a wish.

 ‘I wish Rome would stay like this forever.’

Sailing the seas

I stand on the balcony looking out to sea wondering just how different it was many years ago. Then there were no cruise ships like the one I am on but rather great galleons taking precious cargo back home or slaves to another country. Back then the ships relied on wind to bring them to their destination. On the days without wind the unfortunate slaves were forced to row, that was if they had enough energy if their rations hadn't run out yet. Sometimes it would take months to reach their destinations and when they ran out of food there was no Mezzanine deck to run to. I can hear the rumbling of the stomachs of the sailors and the excitement in their voices as they shout ‘Land Ahoy!’ back then they did not have the custom officials to check that everyone had the right visas because then there weren't any visas to be checked.

The great sails are filled with wind and the country’s flag hoisted up to proudly show to the new country’s occupants who they were. For the galleons containing explorers ready to conquer or name the new land this was an important time. When the boat was shallow enough the anchor would be thrown overboard position whilst the crew went on land to gather supplies and trade. Back then you would notice immediately that the boat was no longer moving along the current but nowadays the motion is so subtle that I didn't even once notice it on the passenger ship.

August 2011