| Seven Wonders of the World, Wonder What They Are
Only One Remains From Original List, New Sites Under Consideration
The Signal - Business Section, February, 2006
We’ve certainly heard of them, but how many of us can actually name the original Seven Wonders of the World? And of those seven, only the pyramids at Giza still remain. Because of this, a Swiss filmmaker is trying to start a new list of wonders to replace those of yesterday.
Calling his group the New 7 Wonders Foundation, Bernard Weber has organized a team of architectural experts from around the world to contribute to the newly formed list and vote on the final selection. Currently, there are 21 suggested candidates under consideration as semi-final replacements to the original seven. Once selected, Weber is expected to release the updated wonders in January 2007.
In case you’re curious, the original Seven Wonders are: the pyramids at Giza, Babylon’s hanging gardens, Olympia’s statue of Zeus, Rhodes’ Colossus, Ephesus’ temple of Artemis, Alexandria’s lighthouse and the mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Whether we can name them or not, who knew that most of these grandiose sites no longer exist.
The runner’s up on the new list are an impressive, awe-inspiring bunch as well. The top 21 include Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, Timbuktu, Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House and the Great Wall of China. Absent from the list are Mount Rushmore, the Sistine Chapel and the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.
All of these locations are spectacular world sites for visitors to behold. Man-made or the unexplained work of Mother Nature, these wonders – both old and new – are amazing feats. To visit any of them is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. From the original list I have only had the opportunity to explore the pyramids at Giza, and what an experience. Walking, stooped over through a narrow two-way passage you actually get to crawl inside to the middle of the ancient burial. Completely sealed in by the pyramid walls, the small center room is enough to cause even the un-claustrophobic to squirm.
Many of us have visited several of the sites on the updated list, and would agree that each one deserves to be named a seven wonder. Perhaps my favorite is Machu Picchu. I traveled there last year for a three-day excursion that led us up and down thousands of stone steps hand-laid centuries ago throughout the Andes Mountains by the Mayan tribesmen. We hiked from morning until evening, camped at night and after three days and 30 miles, we made it to the breathtaking Sun Gate entry of Machu Picchu.
That’s the exciting thing about travel. New experiences can be life-changing. Another destination with major wow-factor, also absent on the new top 21 list, is the Giants Causeway on the Northern coastline of Ireland. This unexplained natural formation of hexagon-shaped rocks stretches for miles. What a sight, however it was created.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation welcomes your vote on what you think should be on the updated list. Information is available at
http://www.n7w.com/. If your favorite is not there, let me know what you consider a wonder of the world. That is surely one list of seven you’ll be able to name.
For more information
contact Nicole Stinson, Public Relations
(310) 312-3368
