07/07/07 was a cute date to pick to release a list of the “New 7 Wonders”, to update the list from the wonders of the Ancient (Greecian) World, as voted by an internet poll (can you say “donkey vote”?). The List is:
- Great Wall of China
- Taj Mahal
- The ruins of Petra in Jordan
- The Colosseum in Rome
- The statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro
- The Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru
- The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico
Point the first: The “ancient” Mayan city? Should that not disqualify it immediately?!
Point the second: The “ruins” of Petra and Machu Picchu?! Oh, I’m suuuuuuuure they’re all well and good, pretty places that were once-upon-a-time wonders, but that doesn’t exactly qualify as a “wonder” now. Oh look, here is where they sacrificed virgins to their gods. Just imagine it, don’t mind the fact that it’s a pile of rubble now.
For what it’s worth, here’s the list I always grew up thinking was the list of wonders around now:
- Eiffel Tower (late 19th century)
- Statue of Liberty (mid 19th century)
- Leaning Tower of Pisa (middle ages)
- Taj Mahal (middle ages)
- The Pyramids & the Sphinx (yes ok ancient)
- Great Wall of China (early-middle ages)
- …
Err… I’ll be honest. I couldn’t ever name the last one in the list, so my 7 were always incomplete - I always thought it was just out of the corner of my eye, metaphorically speaking, and that the 8th should/would be the Sydney Opera House (even on a world scale, it is gorgeous like you wouldn’t believe). So, what’s the 7th shortlist? I thought…
- The Colosseum (yes ok ancient)
- Stonehenge (yes ok ancient, very)
- Big Ben? (19th century?)
- Golden Gate Bridge? (20th century?)
- Hoover Dam? (20th century)
Your suggestions?