Civilizations have graced about every corner of the globe. From the mountains of South America to the deserts of Africa, humans have planted the seeds of commerce, religion, and leisure and left indelible marks that have survived centuries. And, I love seeing them!

Ruins are some of the most fun things to see! They give you a glimpse into history that can not be conveyed through the electricity driven photons of Wikipedia nor the crisp pages of a textbook.

Many people have an ancient city or spiritual center on their bucket list and I have one bit of advice to them. Go! I mean, right now!

The ongoing and rising popularity of ruins coupled with the ease of travel have created a degradation issue for some of these great monuments. Monuments that have stood for hundreds and even thousands of years are starting to see the toll of humanity's curiosity and many governments and historical preservation societies are taking note of the damage that gets caused.

So first and foremost, go and above all show respect to these locations.