studentsineurope

Favorite time travel spots include Ancient Rome.

So you’ve skied the Alps, toured the pyramids, walked on the Great Wall, and gazed wistfully at the Sistine Chapel, all during your last Spring Break…Now what? If you’re one of those thrill seekers looking to raise the bar for your next vacation, you may want to consider time travel. While the technology is still in its very early stages and a few time tourists have been sucked into the space-time continuum never to be heard from again, the rewards may be worth the risks. To further minimize the dangers associated with inter-dimensional travel we’ve put together a few tips that’ll make your time travel trip significantly more safe and enjoyable.

Roaming around Rome
If you’re planning to take in a few days in ancient Rome, please exercise caution. Make sure you have nothing that identifies you as a Christian or you may wind up in the afternoon show at the Coliseum. Trust us, it’s not an honor. Also, avoid traveling during the reign of Nero; he was a nasty fellow who burned much of the city to the ground. As for what to bring, leave the iPod at home, as well as all modern currency. Mistakenly leaving something behind in this time may lead to some serious issues in your time. Stop at a coin shop for some authentic Roman coins before you leave and don’t forget that Latin phrasebook.

If you are brave enough to make the trip, check out the Circus Maximus for a chariot race. Although they are exhilarating they are also quite violent, so leave the kids at home. And if you’re really lucky you may be able to take in the latest comedy by Plautus, but get to the theater early, as the show will likely sell out. Other sites to see include the Pantheon (if you’re traveling after 125 AD) and Trajan’s market, where you can see the world’s oldest shopping mall when it was the world’s newest shopping mall.

Finding Some Light in the Dark Ages
Have you been to a time travel agency that’s trying to sell you on a deeply discounted trip to any year between 450 and 1000 AD? Do yourself a favor and remember that old adage you get what you pay for. Unless you want to fend off bloodthirsty Vikings, angry Moors, and the bubonic plague, we highly recommend avoiding this era in history. You may pay a little more for a trip to the Renaissance, but it is well worth the extra expense. Aim your time machine to Florence, circa 1500 or so. Hang out in town and you may catch a glimpse of Leonardo Da Vinci. Also, see if you can pick up a copy of Gutenberg’s Bible–though smuggling these items into the present is prohibited, we’re big proponents of getting the chance to handle priceless antiquities before they’re locked in a glass case at your local museum. Women are encouraged to braid their hair and bring along a bodice, hoop, and collar. You do want to fit in, don’t you?

Dinosaur safaris are all the rage.

The Real Jurassic Park
Those uber-expensive dinosaur safaris that have become all the rage are quite the thrill ride. But they do come with an enormous amount of risk and we suggest you take very special care to listen to your guide. Stepping on a butterfly 100 million years ago could potentially end all human existence; at least that’s what the so-called experts say. Truth be told, we sent one of our travel writers back to the late Paleozoic period for a travelogue and he claimed to have stepped on the biggest spider he’s ever seen. Fortunately, we haven’t seen anything happen to our existence, but it’s still a good idea to be cautious. Bring the fortified steel mosquito netting and a serious pair of hiking shoes.

An Asian Adventure
Travel to ancient China or Feudal Japan requires a major investment in period costumes and currency, but the experience can prove invaluable. If you do set your sights on ancient China around the Ming dynasty, don’t leave without trying some tea and if you’re a culinary adventurer you may want to order the bear paw. You can also see the Great Wall of China when it was recently completed and check out the construction of the Forbidden City. As for Feudal Japan, consider spending some time in the beautiful gardens, take in a Kabuki theater show, and avoid upsetting the local Samurai.

Final Tips
The key with time travel is to not upset the timeline. So killing an ancestor, leaving behind a laptop, talking about the future are big no-nos. Although traveling in the fourth dimension is rife with potential pitfalls that could lead to any number of paradoxes, it’s too fun an experience to outwardly dismiss. Sure you may stop all life and rewrite history as we know it, but you also had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the premiere of Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theater. Yeah, it’s worth it.