Today was genuinely such a brilliant experience, I’ve always been a fan of aquariums and aquatic life, and so being given the opportunity to visit one on the trip was a great privilege, there are obviously ethical considerations when visiting a place holding animals in tanks, for our own amusement. However the location that we visited was a renowned aquarium for its conservative nature and great care of the animals, being in that environment brings an immeasurable feeling of peace that I find nowhere else. I enjoyed seeing each creatures personality shining through, from cheeky manta rays to curious octopi, and sharing my knowledge on them with my peers. I am very grateful for the experience and I feel that in the modern age, coming back to reconnect with nature from time to time can humble us and remind us of our humble ancestral roots and that each creature deserves our respect.
Abi
If you have ever thought that the only colosseum is in Rome, then you, like me, will be pleasantly surprised with just how many other amphitheatres there are across the Mediterranean. Pula is just one of these locations with the 6th best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world. As a person who takes great interest in history, especially European history, I have come to realise that there is a difference in knowing that the past has happened and acknowledging the influence the past has on our daily lives. The ordinary person might in fact see just an amphitheatre, but when I was stood in the centre of this ancient monument, I had a realisation that this was not just a building; this was a testimony to over 2000 years of history. Over 2000 years of people living and experiencing their lives just like I did earlier today. That fact alone is what gave life to this monument for me and I think that’s incredible.
Many people like to spend their holidays relaxing on a sunny beach with beautiful weather, I don’t blame them, so do I and Croatia is the perfect country to do so. But Croatia is also the perfect country to sightsee many towns that are rich with culture and history. Pula is just one of these many towns. I have a deep appreciation for architecture since it can tell you a lot about the history of the place you are in now. Pula across the centuries has switched between many different empires, kingdoms and regimes and that is evident in the city’s architecture. From the stunning Roman gates in the city to the Austro-Hungarian forts, Pula has it all. In the central plaza alone, called the Forum, you can see buildings from every civilisation that has ruled Pula since the Romans. All of it in one place reminded me of how thousands, potentially even millions of people from different corners of the world have called this one city their home, each civilisation having its own impact on the city. I believe that realising how much the past influences us is crucial in order to understand and appreciate the world we live in because if it weren’t for the people of the past, we ourselves would not be here. History is not only the past, it is the present also and every choice we make has the potential to send ripples through time into the future for centuries to come.
Thank you for reading, Samuel
