Chichén Itzá sparked it. The ancient Kukulkan temple, swathed in mystery, stood alone in the early morning sun. Ruins of other historical buildings lined the perimeter. 1500 years of history preserved before my eyes and the imagination running wild with stories of the ancient Mayan civilisation involving war, religion and human sacrifice. It was at this moment that I made a personal goal to visit all Seven Modern Wonders of the World.

Having since visited the Colosseum in Rome, I currently stand at two. That magnificent ancient arena, flooded for the re-enactment of great sea battles and where gladiators fought to the death, confirmed why I’d embarked on my quest. With limited technology and equipment, it’s a marvel at how our ancestors built these incredible structures that have so far stood the test of time. Everything from the design, the mathematics, the materials and their purpose is cause for wonder.

So what next? The plan was to visit Machu Pichu in Peru and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, however my South America trip was unfortunately curtailed prematurely due to the Coronavirus pandemic. So a return to South America is definitely on the cards. After that, it’ll likely be a visit to Petra in Jordan as that’s the Wonder I’m most excited for, given that I’ve never been to the Middle-East and it looks to be a fantastic adventure.