Rund's Halloween Makeup TutorialOct.27.2020
If you are history nerd like me, then you could probably think of nothing better than a trip where you could visit endless museums and gaze at ancient monuments in the middle of bustling modern cities. I want to forget about that though and think of something better; exploring places where, instead of simply looking at ancient things in glass boxes or hanging on walls, you can truly feel what history may have felt like for those who lived in some bygone era. I’ve made a list of destinations where you can do just that. So put your phone away, tap your heels, and lets time travel to another time!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, despite being overshadowed by its larger and more famous, Pompeii, Herculaneum is the true diamond in Italy’s Roman crown. It is the better preserved and quieter of the two Roman towns which were entirely engulfed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Despite the horrors that this eruption caused at the time, their burial allowed for these towns to remain almost fully intact (buildings and roads) or reconstructed (humans and animals) two thousand years after it seemed like they were destroyed forever. Walking around, which can take many hours given that it is a whole town, it is not hard to imagine the hustling and bustling that took place in this city two millennia ago.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by V.XI.XCIV (@alexandradarko_) on
If the ancient Romans aren’t your thing, how about the wild west? Located in Wyoming, this town, which is named after its founder ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody, makes the age of cowboys seem to live on today! With its easy access to Yellowstone National Park and even the opportunity to do horseback (on Mustangs, of course) tours, it’s not difficult to start believing you’re really in the historic wild west. In case you’re somehow struggling, however, the town has recreated a period frontier town so you can fully immerse yourself in that time.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Roadtrips – René Frederiksen (@roadtripsusa) on
With their being thousands upon thousands of kilometres of the Great Wall of China intact for you explore, it’s unlikely that you will be able to see it all in a day. Most of the remaining wall is from the Chinese Ming Dynasty (around 2300) and is remarkably well preserved. Walking along these ancient stones, not only do you get a true sense of what it may have been like all those millennia ago (in spite of the hordes of tourists), but you are treated to beautiful vista of the plush surrounding hills. This isn’t just for us history nerds; this should be on everyone’s bucket list!
View this post on InstagramA post shared by World Views (@world_views_daily) on
In the norther Petén region of Guatemala stands the ancient centre of the Maya civilisation. Built over hundreds of years, the city was once home 10,000 people and provided for up to 50,000. It’s not hard to grasp its former importance and glory with its grand pyramids and plazas still well preserved. Unlike the other places on this list, however, the remains at Tikal are a bit more spread out which provides the perfect opportunity for you to trek through the beautiful Guatemalan jungle (guided tours are available) and possibly even see some toucans, parrots, monkeys, coatimundis or deer. Tikal provides the perfect chance to not only feel like you have witnessed some history first-hand, but also be at one with nature.
When you started reading this list, I’m guessing you didn’t think it would end with a theme park, and a theme park with no rides at that. However, if you want to give your imagination a rest and simply watch how history played out, the Puy du Fou is the place to be. Situated in Northern France, this park allows you to be transported back to the time of the Vikings, antiquity, the renaissance, and almost any other era you could think of. With live performances in every period and even an fully-fledged amphitheatre to be entertained in, it’s not hard to see how history literally comes to life at Puy du Fou.
