The new modern Wonders of the World.

Voted on by over a million people around the world, today's modern Wonders of the World were announced in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7 2007. Fortunately, unlike the original Wonders of the World, all of these are still standing and we are able to visit them. Again, fortunately for me, I have been to all of them, for anyone who can go to see them it is a trip you will always remember.

1. CHRIST THE REDEEMER, RIO BRAZIL

This is not really a new sight, the Statue was inaugurated on Oct. 12, 1931 on the top of Cordova Mountain, and was the largest art-deco sculpture in the world, at that time. Visitors used a train, that went thru the rainforest to the foot of the statue, 2300-feet up the mountain. In September 2002 a panoramic elevator and a motorized staircase were added, which has eased the difficulty of accessing 220 steps to the top. Once at the top visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the entire surroundings - Ipanema, Copacabana, the Botical Gardens and the Lagoon. Magnificent during the day, magical and glittering after dark., with his arms stretched wide, to encompass all below. Open from 9am to 6pm Monday - Saturday. If you happen to be in Rio, don't miss this new Wonder of the World.

2. THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM

Another of the new wonders of the world, which is also not new, construction was started in AD72 and completion of the Colosseum was in AD80. It was the most impressive building of the Roman Empire,built on the site of a huge lake in the center of Rome. It was used to entertain the masses with free games, that were a whole day or several days, a symbol of prestige and power of the current Emperor. The games usually started with comical acts, displays of animals, then escalated to "fights to the death" between animals and between Gladiators and animals, or sometime between Gladiators. Today it is the most recogniseable of Rome's Classical buildings which accommodate 6,000 seated and 10,000 standing, all of whom could disperse in a matter of minutes, thanks to the 80 entrances. It was abandoned in the Middle Ages, over time it became a place of Martydom - because of all the Christians slain there. In the 18th Century Pope Benedict declared it Sanctified and restoration began. What we see today is only a skeleton of this mighty structure, but it is worth the money and time to visit and learn all the details of the happenings in this ancient building, now one of the New Wonders of the world.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

3. Built over 2000 years ago by the first Emperor of China - Qin Shi Huangdi - to keep the Mongols out of China, the Great Wall stretches 5,500 miles from east to west. During the Ming Dynasty modifications were made to the wall raising it 25 feet high with 15 to 30 feet width at the base, while the top was 9 to 12 feet wide, wide enough for marching troops and wagons. Guard stations and watch towers were added, however due to the construction of the original wall, the Mongols had no problem breaching the Wall or going around it. It was eventually abandoned and today only portions of the wall exist. One of the places visitors can visit and walk on the wall is just outside Beijing and should be included in all iteneraries. This is one of the few structures that can be seen from Earth Orbit. What was old is new again, and the Great Wall is now one of the New Wonders of the World.

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

4. Machu Picchu located high in the Andes Mountains, lies 43 miles northwest of Cuzco at the top of a ridge, in the Urubamba valley. It was built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui an Inca ruler. The city has an altitude of 8,000 feet, high above the Urubamba River Canyon Cloud Forest, and is thought to have been either a royal estate or religious retreat. Unknown to the modern world for centuries, Hiram Bingham is said to have discovered it in 1911, since then it has become a tourist attraction, partly due to the fact that it had not been plundered by the Spanish, it is considered an important cultural site. There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu, by train from Cuzco direct to the small town at the bottom of the mountain, then by ancient buses that grind and wind up the mountain side to a plaza where there is a Hotel for those who would like to stay overnight, a restaurant and cafe with outdoor picnic tables. A short walk takes you to the entrance to the ancient site. Those who feel adventurous can leave the train at various stops and hike to the site, the walks are 4, 3, 2 and 1 day, along hiking trails across the hills, high above the valley below. How long you walk depends on what you think your endurance is and determines where you leave the train. Visiting here is something no one will ever forget, visitors should be sure they do not have a problem with heights as there are no guard rails, just an open mountain top with a drop on every side.

5. CHITZEN ITZA, MEXICO

Chitzen Itza, which includes the Kukulkan Pyramid, now one of the New Wonders of the World, is located 75 miles from Merida, the Capital of the Yucatan. The Archaeological site is considered one of the Mayan's most important sites, which once had hundred of buildings, now it has only about 30 mounds. The Kukulkan Pyramid, known as El Castillo, was constructed by the Mayans between 1000 - 1200 AD, it has been restored to its former perfection, with a temple on the top. and steps leading up to it. Kukulkan is the Mayan name for the Feathered Serpent God, it is believed that the Pyramid has special astronomical significance due to its layout, each face of the pyramid has a stairway with 91 steps, when added with the step of the temple, on the top, they add up to 365, the number of days in the year. When the nine terraces of each side of the pyramid is divided into 18 segments - you get the number of months on a Mayan calendar. During the Equinox the sun casts the shadow of a serpent on the northern steps of the pyramid, to resemble a snake slithering up the Pyramid.. Every year Chitzen Itza celebrates the Spring and the Fall Equinox - the Fall just ended in September. If you are into archaelogy, attending the Festival which last five days before and five days after the Equinox, should not be missed.

PETRA JORDAN

6. For years I planned on visiting Petra, the rock-carved rose-red city, which is approached thru Al-Siq - a long narrow gorge with steeply rising sides, thru which the sun can barely be seen, then the opportunity came and I was not disappointed. Anyone visiting Petra, now one of the Wonders of the World, will not be disappointed either. My first sight of Petra, was the sudden opening of Al-Siq, considered the secret entrance to this amazing site, into a natural square with the most impressive monument - the Treasury (or rather El-Khazneh) with its intricately carved facade glowing in the sun.

South of Amman and north of Aqaba, Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab people who settled in southern Jordan over 2000 years ago. The city was hidden away for many centuries and was not discovered until 1812 by a Swiss Explorer who made known his discovery. There followed a stream of visitors all wishing to see this amazing ancient city. As one walks about, one monument leads to another, kilometer after kilometer, with beautiful carved facades, it is over 400 years old with more than 800 individual monuments, including tombs, baths, funery halls, temples, arched gateways, colonnaded streets, all carved from sandstone by the artistic inhabitants. The site is too vast and contains too many structures for visitors to see it all in one day. There are hotels, guests can stay at, restaurants and cafe to dine at, allowing visitors to stay a few days. The best times to see the buildings is early morning or late in the afternoon, to help get around there are horse-drawn carriages for hire at the entrance, horses, donkeys and camels can be hired inside, this helps to relive the miles of walking, not just thru sand and rock, but uphill to some of the monuments, that have over 800 steps. Regardless of how tiring it become,s this is one time you will forget your aching feet and enjoy this imposing ancient site, now one of the Wonders of the World.

THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

7. I left this Wonder for last as it differs from the others, this site was build in memory of "love", by the Mogal Emperor Shah Jahan, for his favourite and third wife and queen - Mumtaz Mahal. It is a Mausoleum that houses her grave (the Shah's grave was added later), and is made entirely of marble. The central Dome of the Mausoleum is flanked by four smaller domes and four slender Minarets, that rise 162-feet. The entire mausoleum is decorated with inlaid designs of flowers and calligraphy, using precious gems. It is part of a vast complex with a main gateway, mosque, gardens and other palatial buildings, on the banks of the Jamuna river, in the town of Agra.

The large garden contains 4 reflecting pools, dividing it at the center, each of the four sections is then divided into four sections, and those again into four sections. With the Mausoleum at the northern tip, each element of the Taj is independent yet a part of the structure as a whole, giving it the distinctive look recognized by people all over the world.

Mona Graham, A Way To Travel - http://www.awaytotravel.com