Another memorable moment happened when I spotted a “gladiator” and immediately decided that I absolutely needed a picture with him.

Sarah, displaying much better judgment than I was, wanted no part of it.

I, however, saw a man dressed like he had just stepped out of ancient Rome and thought, Obviously this is a free cultural experience.

So over I went.

Somehow, I also managed to convince Sarah to put on a gladiator helmet, which she did with the enthusiasm of someone already regretting every decision that had led her to this exact moment.

We smiled.

We posed.

We took pictures.

For a few glorious seconds, I thought we had just captured one of those spontaneous, only-in-Rome travel memories.

Then the gladiator held out his hand.

Ah.

Apparently Maximus had a fee.

There was a brief moment where Sarah and I looked at each other like, Wait…we have to pay for this?

Of course we did.

This man had not spent his morning strapping on armor, standing in the Roman sun, and handing tourists helmets out of the goodness of his heart.

He was running a business.

And we were his newest customers.

So we handed over the money, walked away slightly embarrassed, and added another important lesson to our growing list of international travel wisdom:

If a costumed stranger enthusiastically invites you into a photo, he is probably not doing it because he thinks you look fun.

He is doing it because you look billable.