On behalf of SOC, I have managed to acquire a secondhand time machine (see below). Due to financial constraints, however, we are only able to travel back in time, so visits to the future are not an option. I can think of so many events and places that I would have liked to have seen. Imagine viewing life in the days of the Ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire, visiting Constantinople or even just watching something that happened in the 1930s, for example. Where would you like to go? What era would you like to travel back to? The time machine awaits...
We like to think that if we could return to the past, we would fit in and not be noticed. We would probably stick out like a sore thumb. Our clothing,our speech, our currency....would betray us.
What a fun question, @Tom Locke ! My answer may be a little boring... well, I'll give two answers actually. First one is that I would dearly love to "go back" to ancestors just to spend a few minutes with them. I'm very much into genealogy and fascinating people or not (I have both) how special would it be to just sit down with them for a little while? How I'd love that. My second answer, since you mentioned "era" would be the American Civil War era... it would be a very difficult time, but there's just something about it that is a part of me. I already have a hoop skirt and dress, so I'd at least fit in. Well, I'd have to put my hair up... I don't think anyone wore it long like mine is back then, but not a big problem.
For a start, I want to go back to the time when the Roman Empire was at it's height. I'd like to see their many accomplishments. For instance, the aqueducts. The gardens. The art. The sculptures. The complete tourist trip.
If I could have my health and youth back, you could drop me off in the 1920's. Some of their clothing isn't much different than today. Money would be the problem. But, I'd get by.
I could do alright in the Roaring Twenties, I think... but if I'd choose a decade in that century, I think I'd go with the 50s. There's so much about it that gives me a nostalgic feeling even though I was just a baby and toddler for the last few years of it... really is quite strange but I've never let myself think about that too much. Nice picture.. it's been a long time since I've been fishing!
I became a teen-ager in the 50's .... and loved that period in time. yes.. to think about it now seems almost fairy tale like. Beginning of rock' roll, Elvis of course, American Bandstand (an everyday staple after school) the cool cars, the music ... life was good.
Well, the Roman Empire was made up of all sorts of different peoples and languages, so while a familiarity with Latin would be handy, it's not essential. We are also travelling more as observers than anything, so we don't have to worry too much about practicalities.
Something I'd love to do would be to witness some of the great sporting events. It would have been intriguing to watch the 1936 Berlin Olympics, for example, if only to see the look on the Fuhrer's face when Jesse Owens kept winning. As a cricket fan, I would have loved to have seen Don Bradman bat. His record still stands way above any other player in history. He must have been simply phenomenal. It's also tempting to take a trip to a Roman amphitheatre, though it might have been a bit gory for my taste.
Well now Tom, you must first read the "Time Travel Rule Book". Are we invisible observers? Do we remain the same age? Can we food shop at bargain prices, and it will be edible when we return? Can we go back before the day we were born? Can we remain?
I would choose to travel back in time to 1888-1892 and I'd want to choose the socio-economic class I'd be in as it would make it easier to get around and accomplish the things I'd want to accomplish and enjoy. It would be my mission to make Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Monet, and other under-appreciated artists aware of just how much they are appreciated now. Plus it would be so exciting to meet them and "hang out" in France…and be their apprentice http://www.webdesignschoolsguide.com/library/10-artists-not-appreciated-in-their-time.html Then I would let Van Gogh's brother know how the world appreciates his undying faithfulness, love, attention, and financial support for his brother even while Van Gogh was inflicted with insanity. The brother kept all Van Gogh's paintings in a safe place because no one else wanted them. People thought Van Gogh wasn't any good but his brother believed in his VanGogh's artistic talent. No one liked Gauguin's paintings either during his lifetime and he had no support. Van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" sold for $149 million in 1990 and his painting, "Irises" sold for $112 million Gauguin's painting "Will You Marry Me" sold for $300million in 2015 And everyone's familiar with this but this is more powerful because it includes visuals of many of his paintings:
I liked that, when Lincoln was President, one could just walk in and wait in line to talk with him. I would like to do that, early in his first term. I would take a selfie, with him!