Visit the Seven new Wonders of the World

Seems most of the original Wonders of the World are no longer available for us to visit, so we seven new Wonders of the World, voted on by over a million people around the world and announced on July 7 2007, in Lisbon Portugal. All of these new Wonders are popular destinations for those of us who love to travel, as a matter of fact I have visited them all and found them amazing, fascinating and places I would love to visit again.

I have given brief overviews of each one in the following capsules in no specific order.

I started with this one as it is different from the other six. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, as living symbol of his love for his third wife and queen, Mumtaz Mahal. It is actually a Mausoleum that houses her grave, and his - which was added after his death. Built of white marble, the stunning architecture consists of a central dome, flanked by 4 smaller domes and four slender Minarets that each rise 162 feet. It is decorated with inlaid designs of flowers and calligraphy using precious gemstones. It is set in a vast complex, starting with the main gateway, Mosque, gardens and other Palatial buildings, on the banks of the Jamuna river in Agra, India. The large garden has four reflecting pools dividing it at the center, each of the four sections are again divided into four sections, and again into four sections, giving it a distinctive look. The best time to see the Taj Mahal is at dawn and sunset, it is open 6:00am to 7:30pm except on Friday when it is closed. It is open for moonlight viewing from 8:30pm to 12:30am , two days before and 2 days after each full moon. For those planning a visit there are many hotels and restaurants in the nearby town of Agra.

This Wonder of the World was opened on the top of Cordova Mountain in Rio, Brazil on Oct. 12 1931, and at that time it was the largest art-deco sculpture in the world. Originally a train was used to take visitors, from the city below, thru the rain forest, to the statue 2300-feet on top of the mountain, which was originally named Pinaculo da Tentacao by the Portuguese - meaning the Pinacle of Temptation. Centuries later the name was changed to Cordova, derived from its form resembling a hump or hunchback. To make it easier for all visitors to visit the Statue, in September 2002 a panoramic elevator and a motorized staircase were added. There is a spectacular view from the top of the entire surroundings - Ipanema, Copacabana, the Botical Gardens and the Lagoon, magnificent during the day it is glittering after dark. Visiting hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday - Saturday and is closed on Sundays. When in Rio be sure to take the trip to see this new Wonder of the World.

This new Wonder of the World - the Rome Colosseum - was started in 72AD and completed in 80AD, it was the most impressive building of the Roman Empire, and it is still a very impressive ruin. Built on the site of a huge lake in the center of Rome, it was then and is today the most recogniseable classical building, seating 6000 with standing room for 10,000, all of whom could be dispersed in a matter of minutes, thanks to the 80 entrances. Abandoned in the Middle Ages, it was not until the 18th century when Pope Benedict declared it a Santified site, due to the many Christians that were put to death there, that restoration began. Today's edifice which is very impressive, is but a skeleton of what the Colesseum used to be.

When it was first opened and for a long time the building was used for games, to entertain the citizens of Rome. Starting with comical acts and displays of animals it escalated to "fights to the death" between animals and animals, animals and gladiators, and gladiators and gladiators. Visitors who take the time to visit the Colesseum will learn the extensive history and see the places where the gladiators and animals were kept before entering the arena for their bout with fate.

Located in the heart of the Piazza del Colosseo in Rome, the Colosseum is open various hours between 9am to 7pm, depending on the season and month of the year,  Visitors can take a guided tour, or purchase an independent ticket to visit independently.

Petra is one of the most imposing and majestic anchient sites still standing today, and now it has been voted of the the New Wonders of the World, a title well deserved. For years I hoped to visit the rock-carved, rose-red city of which I had heard so much, and when I did it fulfilled all I was expecting.

Located south of Amman and north of Aqaba, it is the legacy of the Nabataeans, nomadic arab people, who settled in southern Jordan over 2000 years ago, it was admired for its culture, architecture and ingenous complex of dams and water channels. Hidden away for ages it was discovered in 1812 by a Swiss Explorer who extolled its beauty.

The entrance to Petra is through a Siq, a long narrow gorge with steep rising sides, some of whichare so high they keep the sun from coming thru making it a cool and gloomy. The gorge opens into a natural square dominated by Petra's most famous monument, the "Treasury" , whose intricately carved facade glows in the sun.

Spread over a vast area, are many of the tombs, baths, funery halls and temples with arched gateways located on the steep  hillsides, accessible thru sand, dirt and rocks with over 800 steps.  Because of the vastness of the site, it is impossible to see it all in a day, visitors who wish can stay at one of the hotels or Inns and cafes and restaurants are open for meals. For those who find it difficult to walk for hours at a time, horses, donkeys and camels  are available for hire, as cars are not permitted.  At the visitors center, outside the entrance to the Siq, guides can be hired as well as horse-drawn carriages to travel thru the Siq, they cannot be used within the site.  Even with all of this, there is a certain amount of walking and climbing involved, dress casually, bring a hat and lots of water and try to get an early start. Petra means rock, which is what most of these monuments were built from, and it is a rock that is now one of the new Wonders of the World

Built over 2000 years ago, by the Emperor - Qin Shi Huangdi - to keep the Mongols oput of China, the Great Wall stretches 5,500 miles from east to west. During the Ming Dynasty modifications were made to the Great Wall, raising it 25 feet high with 15 to 30 feet width at the base, and 9 to 12 feet wide at the top - wide enough for marching troops and wagons. Guard stations and Watchtowers were also added, however due to the original constructionof the Great Wallthe Mongols had no problem breaching it, or going around it. Over time the Great Wall was left to fall into dis-repair and today there are only parts of the wall remaining. Near Beijing there a a few places were visitors can see and walk on the Great Wall, the most popular is Badaling, which is the most crowded as it is used by the Tour Groups. This section of the Wall has 19 Watchtowers and was critical for the protection of the Capital in ancient times.  The Great Wall of China is one of the few structures that can be seen on a Earth Orbit.

Machu Picchu lies 43 miles norfthwest of Cuzco in the Urumbamba Valley, between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, a Inca Ruler.  It is believed that it was built either as a Royal Estate or as a Religious Retreat.  A well kept secret, it was unknown to the rest of the world for centuries until 1911 when it was discovered by Hiram Bingham.  This was considered a great discovery, particularly as it had not been plundered by the Spanish. 

The site is 8,000 feet high above the Urubamba river Canyon Cloud Forest, and can be reached in many ways.  There is a train from Cuzco that takes visitors to the small town below the historical site, from there visitors ride a bus, when I visited the bus seemed older than the site, and it groaned and wound its way to the top.  This part of the trip is not for the "faint at heart" as the road is narrow, no guard rails and there are many horseshoe turns.  Once at the top there is a square with a hotel, a restaurant and cafe with open air seating and great views directly down to the river below - if you can see that far.  To get onto the historical site groups wait in the square until they are called, then follow their guides onto a most breadth-taking site with an accumulations of ancient ruins.  For anyone who has a problem with heights they might want to reconsider venturing forth.

For the more adventurous they can Hike the Inca Trail, "the ancient royal highway", however it must be part of a organized group arranged by an officially Agency, who offer different length of times - 4days/3nights or 2days/1night - and you must be able to haul your own supplies.  Whichever way you choose to visit this sacred city, and now one of the seven new Wonders of the World, it is a trip you will always remember.   

One of the new Wonders of the World is located 75 miles from Merida, Capital of the Yucutan.  This Archaeological site is over 1500 years old and is rated one of the most important of the Mayan culture, where once there were hundreds of buildings, now there are about 30, most of which are mounds, but the Kukulkan Pyramid, the most impressive  structure at Chitzen Itza, was constructed between 1000 and 1200 AD, its name was El Castillo - the castle.  Dominating the center of the archaeological site, Kukulkan served as a temple for the Feathered Serpent God, there are stairways up each of the four to the temple which is on the top.  Believed to have special astronomical significance, due to its layout, each of the 4 sides has 91 steps when they are added up it comes to 362, include the step to the temple and you have 365 - the number of days in the year.  There are 9 terraces on each side equalling 36, divided in half  it is 18 segments, the number of months on a Mayan Calandar, and the overall structure has nine levels which match the nine levels in the Mayan Underworld, while the staircase in the center of the Pyramid has 13 levels, equal the 13 levels in the upper world.  TheMayans had it all figured out.

Every year there are celebrations at Chitzen Itza for the Spring and Fall Equinox, during the Equinox the sun casts the shadow of a serpent on the northern steps of the Pyramid resembling a snake slithering up and down the pyramid.  There are guides, who speak many different languages, as the archaeological park gets visitors from all over the world, who takes small groups through the site relating the past and present history.

One of the best preserved ball courts in the world - Pelota Court, and the Temple of the Warriors, adjacent to the Temple of the Jaguars, are among the imporressive ruins to be seen.  Open to the public 8am to 5pm daily, admission is free on Sundays