A Few of My Favorite Things...

In only 176 days, the new seven wonders of the world will be announced! As someone who immensely enjoys traveling and lives to do so, I have been privileged enough to visit a few of the 21 places nominated for this prestigious title: the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Stonehenge, and the Colosseum (actually called the Flavian Amphitheater, but really, who's keeping track?).


The other nominees are Petra in Jordan, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (which I would LOVE to visit), Kiyomizu Temple in Japan, the Sydney Opera House (another place I am dying to grace with my presence), the Kremlin/St. Basil's in Moscow, the giant Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the Pyramid at Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Alhambra in Spain, Angkor in Cambodia, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the statues on Easter Island, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, and Timbuktu in Mali.

I'm not gonna lie, I think the race is going to be close to determine the top seven. I mean, what criteria are we basing this on? How were these chosen as the top 21? Okay, so I did some research on this and could not find out what criteria they (whoever "they" are) used to determine the top seven.

First off, age was no matter. It is believed that Stonehenge was built sometime between 3000 and 1600 BC, and the Pyramids of Giza between 2600 and 2500 BC. Yet the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, the Statue of Liberty in 1886, and the Sydney Opera House (though begun in 1954) was finished in 1973. So if you think about it, there is a 5000 year difference between Stonehenge and the Sydney Opera House!

Meaning was no matter either-the top seven stand for everything from faith and worship to civilization and democracy, from mystery and awe to hope, challenge, progress, knowledge, love, strength, protection, engineering, immortality, mysticism, and suffering. The list goes on and on.

And this got me thinking about the seven wonders of the ancient world, poor forgotten things, because the Pyramids of Giza are on BOTH LISTS! Is that allowed?? Sure, the other six no longer exist, except in the memories of long-dead authors and artists. I give you that, Pyramids. And actually, there were a couple of modifications to the lists over the years (especially in the Middle Ages, those darned hotheads!), but the list created in Hellenic times tends to be the one most commonly referenced. Strangely, all succumbed to either fire or earthquake. Are the Pyramids our only remaining link between the ancient world and the world that we know today? Does that give them an automatic spot on the new list? Hmm.


There are also other "wonder" lists in existence today. The top seven modern wonders, natural wonders, underwater wonders (not sure if this matters, since we can't see them...I don't see a list of space wonders or anything), tourist travel wonders, and the new seven wonders determined by USA Today and Good Morning America back in November. As if they are the ultimate authorities on such things! Pshaw!

Apparently the REAL New 7 Wonders campaign was the brainchild of Bernard Weber, a seemingly Renaissance man who enjoys producing films, writing, aviation, and long walks on the beach. He got the ball rolling in 2000, building hype about a global campaign to choose the seven new wonders of the terra firma. This seems to be a lofty idea-has a GLOBAL voting campaign ever taken place before?? Not only does Mr. Weber seem to be one smart cookie, but also a good guy. Half the profits from the campaign will be donated to global good causes in monument and building restoration and preservation. Everything began when normal, everyday Joes nominated their fav "wonders" of the world. I wonder what some of the original crappy suggestions were? Graceland? Mount Rushmore? The Rock and Roll Museum in Cleveland? The Chunnel? The giant ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas? A panel of "illustrious experts" (whatever that means) then narrowed the list to 77, then narrowed it again to 21. And now they've given the power back to the people.


So you're probably thinking, Well Margo, What are your top choices? And to be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I am admittedly biased toward those that I have visited in person or studied in school. Yet there are others that simply must be in the top seven for no other reason than that they are incredible. I shall have to ponder for a while over a hot cup of tea.

But go. Vote at n7w.com. You have until 7.7.07, when the Official Declaration ceremony takes place in Lisbon. (That also happens to be the day that the new Harry Potter movie comes out. Does it get any better than that??)