Did you know that the iconic Colosseum (sometimes spelled Coliseum) in Rome is now officially one of the ‘new’ Seven Wonders of the World’?  The campaign for ‘new’ wonders was the brainchild of a Swiss businessman called Bernard Weber.  He wanted people to vote for the wonders…“So everybody can decide what the new seven wonders should be and not some government, not some individuals, not some institutions.” The Seven are not ranked and they were voted for by over 100 million people!  Here’s why the Colosseum is so popular. 

It’s an elliptical (almost oval) shaped Amphitheater which was built sometime between 70 and 82 AD right in the middle of Rome.  Visitors find it odd that such an ancient monument sits next door to cafes and has traffic whizzing nearby.  The building was started by Emperor Vespasian and completed by the next Emperor, Titus.  They were part of a Roman Imperial Dynasty called Flavian, which ruled the Roman Empire from 69 to 96 AD.  For this reason, the Colosseum was originally called Amphitheatrum Flavium.

The Codex Calendar dated 354 says that the Colosseum held 87,000 spectators although historian believe it was nearer to 50,000, which is still an amazing size for such an ancient building.  The seats were tiered, with the highest of society sitting at the top.  The Emperor sat at the North End and the Vestal Virgins sat at the South.  Even today, you can see the names of Roman Senators from the 5^th Century carved into the stone seats.

What Was It Used For?

It was host to many spectacles.  Most people think of Gladiator fights and these certainly took place here.  There were also great celebrations, shows including wild animals (tigers, lions, rhinos, elephants, bears, panthers and crocodiles) and prisoners being killed by animals too.

Some of the shows were on a gigantic scale.  The Emperor Trajan is said to have held a celebration in 107 AD that lasted for 123 days.  10,000 gladiators were involved in contests with 11,000 animals!

Historians estimate that around half a million people and over one million wild animals died during games at the Colosseum.

What’s Left Of The Colosseum’s Marble?

The Colosseum was famed for its’ marble columns, marble barriers, marble decorations and marble seats for Senators.  Archaeologists have discovered 65 column capitals, 9 column bases and pieces of barriers.

Why Are There So Many Holes In The Stones?

The blocks of Travertine stone which made up the Colosseum were originally connected by clamps made of iron.  During Medieval times, these were plundered and only the holes are left.  Historians believe that 300 tons of metal were used to make the clamps so it’s hardly surprising that there are so many holes!

What  Are The Cubicles?

There are many cubicles around the bottom of the amphitheater’s arena.  It is believed that this is where the wild animals were kept during the shows.  Some think that the animals could only use a narrow corridor which runs underground.  They may have entered their cages via a succession of gates, which would have left the main corridors open.

How Many People Visit The Colosseum Each Year?

The Colosseum is the top most visited monument in Italy with 4,440,500 people flocking to see it every year!  Not surprisingly, the line for tickets can be very long so if you want to visit, it’s strongly advised that you book in advance.  Or, try one of the following:

• Go to the entrance to Palatine Hill.  There, you can buy a ticket which allows you entrance to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.  The ticket is valid for two  days so you can take your time enjoying each attraction.
• If you want to buy your ticket before you travel, you can purchase the same ‘combination’ ticket mentioned above and print it out before you leave home when you buy it here.
• Buy a Roma Pass or Archeologia Card.

Roma Pass. This is great value as it gives you free transportation for three days and free admission to two museums or sites and then reduced admission to more than forty museums, archaeological sites, exhibitions and events.  Make sure that you use one of your ‘free passes’ on the Colosseum.  You can buy these online, at all of the Tourist Information Offices in Rome, the train station, Fiumincino Airport, travel bureau, hotels, bus stations, and even from newspaper stands…so you will definitely avoid the Colosseum line!  This pass is 23 Euros / $32.84 / £20.20 and is valid for three days, so it’s worth planning what you would like to see beforehand to get your money’s worth.

Archeologia Card This gives you admission to the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, the Baths of Caracalla, many Roman National Museum Sites, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintili.  You can buy the card from the entrance of any of these, except the last two.  It costs 27 Euros / $38.52 / 23.70 and gives you seven days of free admission (one visit per site).  This card doesn’t include free transportation, so be sure to take enough money for getting around.

Under 18’s and over 65’s can get into the Colosseum for free.

The huge numbers of visitors mean that the Colosseum brings in an annual income of around 30 million Euro!  That’s $42,596,491 or £26,371,249!  The Romans would have been amazed!

The Colosseum Cats

No visitor to the Colosseum can miss the cats!  Rome is cat city.  It has 300,000 of them and around 1,200 of them live in the Colosseum full time.  They are tended by women known as ‘gattare’ who feed them, give them medical help and even sterilize them!

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to its’ most famous attraction.  The Colosseum has known to much life and death that is it amazing to stand inside it and try and imagine the joy, spectacle and absolute terror that people must have felt within its’ walls.  We are so lucky that it still exists today.  I wonder how many of our buildings will last for 2,000 years?

Forty million people who cross its border each year, it’s the birthplace of Caesar Salad, folks in California call it TJ and it has its own verb!  It could only be Tijuana…

Like most people of my generation I associate Tijuana with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and their Greatest Hits .

Where is it?

Tijuana (pronounced Tee a wan aa) is on the border between the United States of America and Mexico.  On the other side of the border is San Diego, California.  Tijuana is the largest city in the Mexican State of Baja California.

What does ‘Tijuana’ mean?

Some say that it means ‘close to the sea’ and originates from the Yuman Indian language spoken by the original Kumeyaay inhabitants.  Others say it was named by Spanish and Mexican soldiers.  The most popular theory held by residents, regards an old Indian woman who gave travelers food and rest.  Her name was Aunt Jane – ‘Tia Juana’ in Mexican.

Tijuana’s own verb…

Tijuana may be unique in having its own verb.  Locals have created the verb ‘Tijuanear’ which means ‘to Tijuana’.  The popular usage of it is in the legend “Yo Tijuaneo, y tu?” which means “I Tijuana…and you?”  It relates to the frequent border crossings and the cosmopolitan ways of Tijuana city life.

First documented evidence

The explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo traveled along the coastline of the area in 1542.  It was mapped in 1602.  The first documented evidence of ‘The Valley of Tijuana’ appears in 1769.

Prohibition

During Prohibition in the 1920’s, Americans crossed the border in droves so that they could drink and gamble legally.  Most of this activity was centered on the Avenida Revolucion.  The Foreign Club became a famous hang-out.  Another one was Hotel Caesar.

The Birth of Caesar Salad

Caesar Cardini, an Italian born Mexican, lived in San Diego but worked in Tijuana.  On 4^th July 1924, he created the Caesar Salad.  The circumstances of the creation vary according to legend.  Some say it was made for a group of Aviators who were in a hurry and that it was quickly thrown to together for them.  Others say it was for a group of Hollywood stars.

The story changes again when we look at where he created it.  Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t created at the Caesar Hotel.  That came later.  It happened on the ground floor of the Hotel Comercial which was on the corner of 2^nd Street and Main in Tijuana.  The Hotel Caesar wasn’t built until 1929 -1930 and when it was completed, Cardini moved his restaurant there.  Although the Hotel Comercial is no longer a hotel, the building is still at the same place.  Hotel Caesar is still in operation.  The Cardini family trademarked the original recipe for Caesar Salad in 1948 and you can buy their bottled salad dressings in more than a dozen varieties.

There are conflicting stories about how and where Caesar Salad was created.  However, this one has not only the family trademark but the provenance of Julia Child.  Child (a highly respected American Chef, Author and TV personality) remembered eating a Caesar salad at Cardini’s restaurant.  It happened when she was a child in the 1920’s and she wrote about it in her book ‘From Julia Child’s Kitchen’.  Around 50 years later, she contacted Cardini’s daughter to ask for the original recipe.

Hollywood and The Mob come to Tijuana

Prohibition started one big party in Tijuana.  The Agua Caliente (which means, rather fittingly,  Hot Water) Touristic Complex opened in 1928.  It offered an hotel, spa, dog track, golf course and casino for legal gambling.  With its target audience in mind, it also included a private airport.  A year later, a race track was added.

The stunning complex was open for the next eight years and Hollywood stars and gangsters flocked to the place.  It is believed that Rita Hayworth was discovered at Agua Caliente.  Productions from the nightclub could be heard by radio listeners.  The place was deeply exotic and glamorous.  It could also be dangerous.  A young dancer was shot dead because of a love-triangle.  Her ghost is called La Faraona (the Pharoah) and is said to be still seen today among the ruins of the Hollywood-style Bungalows which once housed Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and many other stars.

Name Change

In 1925, the city tired of being associated with Mobsters, hedonists and crime.  It changed its name to Zaragoza but this didn’t stick and it was soon back to being Tijuana.

Life for the locals

Many Tijuanenses work in the 550 maquiladoras.  These are huge industrial parks which were set up to take advantage of the North American Free Trade Agreement to allow products to be exported.  They hold huge assembly plants for companies including Hyundai, Sony, Toyota, Samsun, Kodak, Matsushita/Panasonic, Nabisco, Philips, Pioneer, Sanyo and Volkswagen.  Although these jobs are demanding and often tedious, they offer the highest pay in Tijuana.

Tijuana is one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico.  An average of 80,000 people move there every year.  Around 26,000 unregulated, substandard new homes are built every year to accommodate them.  As with many cities divided by the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, these homes are sprawling into the hills behind Tijuana so that the downtown beach area is left for those with the money.

Still a huge draw for tourists

Tijuana is an entertaining place with a great atmosphere but those who live there and visitors who remember ‘the old days’ all agree that it has lost the ‘edge’ and the ‘anything goes’ tag which it once had.  This is all to the good as the old ways were dangerous to visitors and to those who had to live there.  It has also helped to encourage people to visit.

Legal differences attract…

Just as in the days of Prohibition, it is the differences in laws separated by a border that bring many people to Tijuana.  In America, it is illegal for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol.  In Mexico, it is 18.  This makes Tijuana the perfect weekend getaway for high school and college students.  It’s also inexpensive to get to.  The Greyhound bus from San Diego to Tijuana costs between $5 and $9.  If you leave your car in the stateside car park and walk across the border, it’s from $6 to $10 for 24 hours.  This may be the best option as the wait to get across in a vehicle can vary from a few minutes to an hour or more – especially if there’s a Mexican fiesta or public holiday.

Tijuana is also a place for people to buy pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription.  They are also much cheaper than in America.  Some drugs still need you to present a Mexican Doctor’s prescription but because there are many Doctor’s offices near the border, this isn’t a problem.

Schedule II and Schedule III drugs used to be easily accessible in Tijuana but things have been tightened up in an effort to ‘clean up’ the town.  It is now more difficult to find drugs such as pseudoephedrine, which have now become restricted in both the USA and Tijuana.

People going to Tijuana for any drugs covered by the US Controlled Substances Act, now find that they need a prescription from the United States in order to be allowed to bring them back into the country from Tijuana.

Other attractions

When the nightlife declined in the 50’s, Tijuana concentrated on offering a family-friendly place to visit.  Nowadays, most tourists head for the many and varied shopping malls, such as Plaza Rio and the still famous Avenida Revolucion.  For shoes, don’t miss Plaza Zapato.  This mall is two storey’s high and specializes in shoes and boots for both sexes.  Even better, their prices are about half that of America.

There is also fishing (around the Coronado Islands nearby), whale watching, bullfighting, greyhound racing and rodeo.  If you want to find a more authentic Mexican flavor, don’t miss Mercado Hidalgo – a wonderful market priced for the locals.

Something for everyone

Tijuana is so easily accessible if you’re already in the States.  If you’re not, it is worth a visit if you’re ever out that way.  It really does have so much to offer so make sure it’s on your itinerary.

And to help you plan your trip why not check out the  Mexico Air + Hotel vacation packages from $471 pp! or Book early and save: Cancun air + 4 nights from $377

The country of Guatemala is between Mexico and Honduras, in Central America.  It’s slightly smaller than Tennessee and has a Pacific coastline.  It has a very long, rich, cultural history and was home to the amazingly evolved Mayan population.  Here’s our brief guide to this fascinating place.

What does the word Guatemala mean?

Although it is known that the name originated in the area, its precise origin is not known.  There are some theories.  One is that ‘Guatemala’ means ‘land of the trees’ and is from the language of the Maya-Tolec people.  Another theory is that the country was named by Tlaxcaltecan soldiers who travelled with Pedro de Alvarado during the infamous Spanish Conquest.  They called it Quauhtitlan.  This could have been the local word ‘quiche’ meaning ‘many trees’ which they then translated into their language.

Earliest known people

Arrow heads made from obsidian have been found in Guatemala which could date the earliest human settlers there to 18 thousand years BC!  Other ancient sites on the central Pacific coast date back to 6,500 BC.  An altar was discovered in San Marcos from 1000 BC.  There are ceremonial sites at Miraflores and El Narango which go back to 801 BC.

The Maya

El Mirador, in the Petén region of Guatemala, flourished from around 600 BC, reaching its peak between 300 BC and 100 BC.  It was home to over 100,000 people, which was most of the people who lived in pre Columbian America.  It was first discovered in 1926, and was photographed from the air in 1930.  However, because it was so deep in rain forest territory, it was left alone until it was first mapped in 1962.  It’s the site of enormous pyramids, with a volume bigger than 250 thousand cubic meters.  It was a highly evolved area, with twenty six cities built in extensive virgin tropical rain forest.  The feat of building them is staggering.  Especially when you consider that these cities were all connected by highways that were up to forty meters wide.  They were many kilometers long and sat up to four meters above the ground.  They were paved with stucco and can clearly be seen from an airplane.

Irreplaceable history is being lost every day

The Mirador Basin contains the largest concentration of Maya cities in Central America.  These cities have the most spectacular architecture in the Maya world.  The area is known to have at least 26 sites, many of which are among the largest and earliest in the Maya world.  Only 14 of the 26 have been so far been studied.  Experts estimate that there are another 30 which haven’t even been found yet.  But sadly, the trafficking of Mayan artifacts is a big money business.  Archeologists and historians fear that by the time they arrive, the looters may have already done their work.  And it’s not only the looters that are threatening this priceless history.  Many people know that the rain forests are falling under massive deforestation.  The huge equipment that is used for logging is also destroying areas which may hold undiscovered settlements.

Antigua Guatemala

This is a very popular tourist destination and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The name means ‘Old Guatemala’.  It was the third capital of Guatemala and has a dramatic history.  The first capital was on the site of a Maya city (now called Iximche).  After several uprisings, it was relocated to a site in the Valley of Almolonga in 1527.  It was destroyed 14 years later by a mudflow from a nearby volcano.  Once again it was moved, this time to the Valley of Panchoy.  In 1543, it was named Santiago de los Cabelleros and remained as the home for the governor of the now Spanish colony of Guatemala.  In 1717, a huge earthquake hit the area and sadly destroyed most of the city’s 3,000 buildings.  Another move was considered but not implemented, which was a pity because in 1773, yet more earthquakes destroyed the town and forced a move to the Valley of the Shrine, where modern day Guatemala City now stands.  People were ordered to leave the devastated ruins of Santiago de los Cabelleros but many refused and the town became Antigua Guatemala.

Civil War

The Country was torn by unrest and war for years, with over 45,000 people crossing the border into Mexico, where they were placed in refugee camps.  In 1982, Rigoberta Menchú won the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing attention to the genocide of the indigenous people by their own government.  Mass emigrations continued and to give you some idea of the huge numbers involved, the following fact is rather chilling.   Remittances (money sent by a foreign worker to his home country) from Guatemalans who fled to the United States during the civil war now make up the largest single source of foreign income for the States.  The amount of Guatemalan Remittances adds up to more than the value of all the exports and tourism of the United States put together!

The Guatemalan Civil War ended in 1996 but the area had paid an unimaginably high price.  During the first ten years of this awful conflict, the state targeted young professionals, students and those who openly opposed them.  However, in the last years, thousands of peaceful Mayan farmers were killed.  More than 450 Mayan villages were ruined.  Over one million people became refugees.  Happily, this part of history is now closed and Guatemala now has democratic elections and peace.

Current population

In 1900, the population of Guatemala was around 885,000.  The population then exploded and for the rest of that century, the country had the fastest population growth in all of the Western Hemisphere.  Since the Civil War, emigration to the United States has been steady and there are now Guatemalan communities in California, Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois and many other areas.  Despite this continuous emigration, by 2007 the population stood at almost 13 million!

What can I see and do there?

• El Mirador – If you would like to visit El Mirador, there are organized treks available but be aware that you need to be physically fit to attempt this!
• Guatemala City – If you’re more of a city dweller, then try Guatemala City.  It has numerous libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library and the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology which houses an extensive and fascinating collection of Maya artifacts.  For smaller, private museums, you could try the Ixchel textile museum or the Popol Vuh, which is a museum of Maya archaeology.  The good news is that both of these are inside the Universidad Francisco Marroquin campus in Guatemala City!  There are 329 municipalities in Guatemala and nearly all of them have their own, small museum.
• Rain Forests - If you yearn to visit the rain forests, it is possible.  You can sign up for a guided exploration. The same company also offers a variety of unusual and exciting Guatemalan experience holidays, including Mayan archaeolgy tours and sail fishing.

So much more to Guatemala…

It is impossible to cover the magic and fascination of Guatemala in one article – you could spend a lifetime falling in love with it.  We hope that you visit this amazing place and we are sure you will go back again and again!

You can book your airfare, hotel and car hire quickly and easily online at Expedia.com. We book with Expedia because they are the travel professionals and their website is easy to navigate and understand. Plus the deals are excellent – we save time and money.

Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee, USA and is in the southwest of the state.  It’s on the mighty Mississippi river and is the second largest metropolitan area in Tennessee, with only Nashville being bigger.  It is well known because of its’ famous resident, Elvis Presley and of course he will get the first mention here – but there are also other wonderful things to see in Memphis.  Here is our guide to the Top Five tourist attractions in Memphis.

#1. Graceland

The stately home of the King, Elvis Presley is at 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd, in the Graceland area of Memphis.

Graceland was built in 1939 and bought by Elvis in 1957.  Not surprisingly, it’s the second most popular visitor attraction in the whole of America with only the White House beating it.  Every year, thousands of visitors flock to see how their idol lived and where he died.

His private jets (Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II) are on view as are his cars and motor cycles.  The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum features a 1955 pink Cadillac and a 1956 purple Cadillac convertible among many others.

‘Sincerely Elvis’ is a collection of his personal possessions, including gold records and outfits that he wore on stage.  His grave is in the Meditation Garden.

If you would like to save money on tickets, you can buy a Music Attraction Discount Pass here.

Opening Hours and Admission: ducts for Graceland

Mar – May: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm

Jun – Oct: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 9am-4pm

Nov: Daily 10am-4pm

Dec – Feb:  Wed-Mon 10am-4pm

• Adult $27 – $68
• Senior (62+) $24.30 – $68
• Student $24.30 – $68
• Child (13-18) $24.30 – $68
• Child (7-12) $10 – $68

#2. Mud Island River Park

This beautiful park is at 125 N Front St, in downtown Memphis.

In the early 1900’s, a 52 acre island rose out of the Mississippi river and this park takes full advantage of that island.  There is a lot to see, including the Mississippi River Museum.  This follows the development of the river and the towns and culture that sprang up along it’s path.  A scale model of the Mississippi, called River Walk, lets you walk its southern part over a 5 block area which is manageable and fun for children too.  There is an amphitheater where many top musicians play.

A monorail offers a roundtrip and great views as well as a chance to rest your feet!  If you have some energy to burn, you can hire bikes and pedal boats.  There are also restaurants and gift shops, making this the perfect venue for a day out that all the family will enjoy.

Opening Hours and Admission

Mid Apr – Late May: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Late May – Aug: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm

Sep – Oct: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Park Admission: Free

Museum, Roundtrip Monorail, & River Walk Tour:

• Adult $8
• Senior (60+) $6
• Child (5-11) $5
• Child (4 and under) Free
• Roundtrip Monorail Ride; $4

#3. Memphis Zoo

This state of the art zoo is at 2000 Galloway Ave, Overton Park, in midtown Memphis.

It is home to over 50 endangered species as well as more than 500 species of creatures from all over the world.  There is something to please everyone, with mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians as well as fish and insects.  The zoo has provided authentic habitats which make it the perfect place for you and your children to learn more about wild animals and their protection.  Don’t miss the Giant Pandas!  There are special exhibits too – Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Animals of the Night and the intriguing Dragon’s Lair.  If the children need a change, there are seasonal rides and if they run out of steam there is a tram to ride.  When you’re ready for a break there is a café and gift shop.

Opening Hours and Admission

Mar – Oct: Daily 9am-6pm;

Nov – Feb: Daily 9am-5pm

• Adult (12-59) $13
• Senior (60+) $12
• Child (2-11) $8;

• Parking $3

#4. Beale Street Historic District

Beale Street Historic District can be found at 203 Beale St, in downtown Memphis.

This was once the headquarters of ‘Father of the Blues’, W.C. Handy.  It has museums, theaters, restaurants and a plethora of amazing shops.  If the pace gets too hectic, head for a relaxing listening room, or watch the street performers.  If you want some night life, visit one of the many dance clubs.  Thee is also a Main Trolley Art Tour, which is free and on the last Friday of every month, you can take a free streetcar for a ride downtown through the South part of the Historic district.  This area has to be on every visitor’s list of must-see’s.

#5.  National Civil Rights Museum

This museum is built at the Lorraine Motel, where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on April 4^th 1968, at 450 Mulberry St, in downtown Memphis.

As if that wasn’t moving enough, there is a replica of his Birmingham jail cell as well as one of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where the “the last great parade”  took place.  There are a host of audio visual programs and interesting exhibits that describe the amazing movement led by King in the 1960’s.

Please note that this area is perfectly safe during the day but not so safe after 10pm.

Opening Hours and Admission

Jun – Aug: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 1pm-6pm

Sep – May: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 1pm-5pm

• Adult $12
• Senior $10
• Student $10
• Child (4-17) $8.50
• Child (3 and under) Free

Memphis is full of history and soul.  There is so much to see and do – you won’t be disappointed!