7 WORLD WONDERS – THE NEW, THE NATURAL, AND THE ANCIENT

 7 WORLD WONDERS – THE NEW, THE NATURAL, AND THE ANCIENT

I was looking at some lists of the New 7 Wonders of the World the other day and realized Dave and I had visited all of them.

I then did some more research and discovered that we've also visited many of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, as well as the only remaining Ancient Wonder of the World.

We are so fortunate to have witnessed these world wonders with our own eyes, and we want you to do the same.

It had been our dream to travel for nearly two decades before we finally took the plunge and started travel blogging, photography, and videography. and film our careers We've seen a lot since then. So, since I'm feeling nostalgic today, I thought I'd share our thoughts on some of the 7 Wonders of the World we've visited. The New Seven Wonders of the World

The New 7 Wonders of the World were created in 2000 when "The New 7 Wonders Foundation (N7W)," based in Zurich, Switzerland, decided to launch a campaign to name the New 7 Wonders. Given that only one of the original ancient Wonders of the World remained standing, it made sense. More than 100 million votes were cast (this was long before bots were used on the Internet, so I believe it was mostly real people), and the New Seven Wonders of the World were announced in 2007.

It was not without debate. Many people were disappointed with the outcome. The votes were cast, however, and the wonders were named. We've been to all of them and must admit that we agree with the majority of them. There are other incredible places on the planet, but the one below left us speechless.

1. Jordan, Petra

Petra Jordan's Treasury

We had visited a number of ancient cities before arriving in Petra. We thought we'd seen everything until we walked through the 1.2km-long siq (a narrow gorge with high rock walls reaching 80 meters into the air) that leads to the incredible Treasury building. The journey was beautiful, but when we arrived at the canyon opening, we gasped in awe. For centuries, this ancient marvel was kept hidden from the rest of the world. It wasn't until 1812 that Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt "discovered" it. Since then, the Lost City has become Jordan's most popular tourist destination.

2. China's Great Wall

We had the honor of seeing the Great Wall of China not once, but twice! We visited two sections of the wall: the Muytianyu Wall and the Badaling Great Wall. They were both equally impressive. We believe that the Great Wall of China lives up to its reputation. The scenery is breathtaking as it winds through the mountains for miles and miles. We enjoyed it despite the crowds in Badaling, which is close to Beijing. The wall was built in the seventh century and stretched for nearly 9000 kilometers.

3.Brazil's Christ the Redeemer

Rio de Janeiro is one of our favorite places on the planet. Christ the Redeemer stands proudly overhead high on a mountain overlooking the city, visible from all angles. The most incredible experience we had was taking a helicopter ride with the doors off to see Christ the Redeemer from above. The construction of the Jesus statue atop Mount Corcovado began in 1926. It stands 30 meters tall and has contributed to Rio becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet.

4.The Colosseum in Rome

It had always been our dream to visit Italy's Colosseum. When we finally got to Rome, we not only got to see it, but we also got to stay in the most incredible apartment right next to it, with a view of the ruins from our window. This amphitheater, built in the first century, has a bloody history, with gladiators fighting to the death and Christians being thrown to the lions. Animals were used and abused within its walls, and it is estimated that half a million people and nearly one million animals died there. It is now in ruins and no longer sees bloodshed. Instead, it attracts a large number of tourists, with over 6 million people visiting each year!

5. Peru's Machu Picchu

When we first arrived in Peru, Machu Picchu was shrouded in clouds. I'll never forget Dave's expression. He was depressed. It was our one and only chance to see this world wonder, and we weren't going to miss it! Fortunately, as the morning progressed, the heavens opened up, revealing the breathtaking sight of this ancient city high in the Andes mountains. The Incan City was discovered by the western world in 1911 and is thought to have been inhabited in the 1600s. With its spectacular setting, Machu Picchu deserves to be on this list. The city's terraces plunge into the valley below from an elevation of 2400 meters. It's beyond my comprehension how they built these structures on the side of a mountain hundreds of years ago, but seeing them today will take your breath away.

6.Mexico's Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was the first of the world's new wonders that Dave and I visited. In fact, our 1999 trip to Mexico was one of our first international trips together. I'll never forget when a friend told us to go, and I'm glad we did. It was terrifying to walk up the ancient pyramid at the time. We understood why they closed it to tourists; it was steep and terrifying, but it was also an unforgettable experience. Chichen Itza, a Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula, dates back to the 9th century. It is closely related to astronomy, with buildings designed to coincide with the Spring Equinox. and the winter equinox The Great Pyramid also has 365 steps and a Venus platform.

7.India's Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal in India was our least favorite of the new seven wonders to visit, but it is still a sight to behold. We never wrote about our time in Agra because we didn't care for the Taj. Many people obviously disagree with us, as it was named one of the seven. The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of Mughal architecture. It is also considered a beautiful love story because Emperor Shah Jahn built it for his wife in 1658. She died in 1631, only three years after he started building, but he continued to honor her memory. The Taj Mahal is stunning, and we waited in line early in the morning to be among the first visitors. We quickly took the iconic shot at the reflecting pool before frantically running around trying to stay ahead of the crowds so we could see it without them. I'd like to go back and give it another shot. Maybe I'll fall in love with it like so many others have.