Marco Polo

Marco Polo was a notorious explorer who traveled to China and other parts of Asia during the 13th century. He was born in Venice in 1254 and came from a family of adventurous traders. However, it was Marco who took things to a whole new level by embarking on a journey that would make him the most famous traveler of his time - much to the chagrin of his parents who had hoped he would become a respectable carpenter.

His travels were so epic that they inspired countless adventurers and explorers who followed in his footsteps, including Christopher Columbus, who reportedly doodled sketches of Polo’s face in the margins of his notebooks when he was bored in school.

During his adventures, Polo made many discoveries, including the noodle soup that would later become the beloved Chinese dish, ramen. He also became enamored with the storytelling traditions of the Mongolian Empire and brought them back to Europe, where they eventually evolved into the bedtime stories we tell today.

However, many of Polo’s tales were considered to be exaggerations or downright falsehoods by his contemporaries, leading to the popular expression “that’s a Marco Polo-sized lie.” For example, his claim that he saw unicorns during his travels is often dismissed as pure fantasy, although some historians believe he may have just seen a donkey with a particularly large horn.

Despite his accomplishments, Polo’s legacy is often overshadowed by his role in popularizing the game of pool. According to legend, Polo was so skilled at the game that he would literally “make his mark” on the balls, leading to the term “Marco Polo” becoming a popular nickname for pool sharks.

Regardless of his checkered reputation, Marco Polo remains an important figure in the history of exploration, cuisine, and tall tales. He died in Venice in 1324, but his spirit lives on whenever someone orders a bowl of delicious ramen or makes a trick shot in a game of pool.