Marco! ....Polo!

Marco Polo is more than a fun childhood game to play in the family's swimming pool; Polo *supposedly* travelled through China, and wrote down his experience. I say "supposedly" here because in the reading it says that some scholars believe that he never reached China. His journals read in such a way that it seemed faked; there was no mention of the Great Wall, nor foot binding. This makes me laugh. How many times have humans nowadays embellished on a story just to make themselves more interesting? Millions, I am sure. That is all of Hollywood, Congress, and most of my friends. But in all seriousness, a guy back in the 1290's embellishing on an expedition is just classic!

Chris Columbus (we go way back, personal buddy of mine) even used his journals in his search for the places Polo visited, except on water...I wonder if he called out, "Marco?!" Thus, the beginning of a new water game. Anyway, we all know how lost ol' Columbus was, and now we know why maybe. Blind leading the blind, in my opinion.

So, although, this might have all been fabricated, I did enjoy some of Polo's writings. I loved how everyone in China seemed to be very friendly to outsiders, and women, alike. That is always a nice change of pace for these old-timey peeps...new peeps, too, really. A man who tries to cheat with a married woman is considered a rascal, which in of itself, is just a great term to use.

Oh, and don't get me started on the whorehouse description! Marco definitely had a good time there, as he described these women of the house in such a positive, and superior way. He said, "They exhibit themselves splendidly attired and abundantly perfumed . . . these women are extremely accomplished in all the arts of allurement" (349b). This guy is great, I am not sure where he ended up, China or somewhere else, but the dude had himself a good ol' time...especially for only being around seventeen (well, back then that was like forty-five).

Anyway, being a swimmer, and former swim instructor/coach, I will always hold a special place for Marco Polo.

Marco!



.....Polo!