Thirteen wonders I want to see
I was inspired this week by an article on MSN about voting for the new seven wonders of the world. There are 21 contenders. Here are the top places I’d love to visit in no particular order.
Acropolis, Greece: This set-in-stone wonder attracts millions of visitors each year to its famed Parthenon and statues of Greek gods and goddesses.
Colosseum, Italy: The 50,000-seat amphitheater in Rome was inaugurated in A.D. 80 and served as the backdrop for thousands of gladiators who dueled to the death.
Petra, Jordan: This ancient city in southwestern Jordan, built on a terrace around Wadi Musa, or Valley of Moses, was the capital of the Arab kingdom of the Nabateans. The city is famous for water tunnels and stone structures carved in the rock.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt: The only surviving structures of the original seven wonders, the three pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs 4,500 years ago. Nearby is the Great Sphinx statue.
Taj Mahal, India: The white marble-domed mausoleum in Agra combines Indian, Persian and Islamic styles and was built by a 17th century Mogul emperor for his favorite wife, who died in childbirth.
Machu Picchu, Peru: Built by the Incan Empire in the 15th century, Machu Picchu’s walls, palaces, temples and dwellings are perched in the clouds at 8,000 feet above sea level in the Andes.
Eiffel Tower, France: The 985-foot tower, built in 1889 for the International Exposition, symbolizes Paris. The open-lattice iron icon is the City of Light’s tallest structure.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany: The inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, Neuschwanstein is a creation of ‘Mad King’ Ludwig II of Bavaria. Perched on a peak in the Alps, the gray granite castle rises to towers, turrets and pinnacles.
Christ Redeemer Statue, Brazil: The outstretched arms of the 125-foot statue of the Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro from atop 2,343-foot Mount Corcovado.
Sydney Opera House, Australia: With a roof resembling a ship in full sail, the opera house is situated on Bennelong Point reaching into Sydney’s harbor. It was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973.
Great Wall of China: The 4,160-mile barricade running from east to west is the world’s longest man-made structure. The construction of the wall took place over hundreds of years, beginning in the seventh century B.C. 
Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral, Russia: Domes with golden cupolas surrounded by red brick walls are at the heart of Moscow’s Kremlin. The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed on adjacent Red Square features nine towers of different colors.
Stonehenge, Britain: How and why this circular monument of massive rocks was created between 3,000 and 1,600 B.C. is unknown, but some experts say the stones were aligned as part of a sun-worshipping culture or astronomical calendar.
(Bonus) Statue of Liberty, New York: A gift of the French government, the 305-foot statue in New York Harbor has welcomed immigrants and symbolized freedom since 1886. I’ve seen it several times, and feel it’s an important landmark for everyone to experience.
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Nicole Austin - Scandalous 
I’ve been lucky enough to visit two on your list – The Eiffel Tower and Stonehenge. Like you, I’ve always wanted to visit most of the other places you listed as well, especially Petra and Machu Picchu.
wow those are great places..would love to visit the Eiffel tower and Neuschwanstein Castle..great TT
My husband has been to the Coliseum and the Eifel Tower! I want to go to several of those places, too.
Great list!
Great list. I would love to visit Greece.
Go, go now. LIfe is strange and its great to have a list, but you need to actually do it!!!
I’ve seen one out of thirteen…and I’d really love to see at least six more, if not the whole list!
OMG..what a great list. How come I can never think of stuff like this for my list? Mmmm…oh well. I have been to the statue before they stopped the tours. I was a teenager and didn’t really appreciate it’s glory at that time, but I certainly do now. Definitely go when you get the chance.
I’m starting to work toward international travel. I’m taking my first solo vacation and leaving the family behind in October. I’m going to California.
I stole the idea from MSN, Michelle. LOL!
Nice blog….my husband has been to Petra (have a picture of him leaning against it….and he has also been to Pyramids of Giza….all of our family have been to the Neuschwanstein Castle.
The castle I loved…..
My husband really enjoyed Petra!
I’ve been to a couple here, but I’d love to see Petra. Oh, and Easter Island – not here but it was one I voted for 🙂
Hmmm, I’m thinking instead of voting online, we should all travel the world, see what we think, and then vote!
I’m not really interested in Rio De Janiero but the rest I would love to visit! I actually was in Paris and didn’t see the Eiffel tower, can you imagine? My boyfriend, who was with me, had spent a summer there so he was not interested in seeing it again. I totally should have just gone without him. There’s a reason he’s an ex-boyfriend now!
I’ve been to see the Christ statue in Brazil. AMAZING. You can see it from so far away, and up close – wow.
I haven’t been to any of the other places, but I’m such a sucker for archeology and anthropology that I’d love to see them ALL!
Easter Island would have been up there if I did more than 13.
I can definitely see why he’s an ex, Amy!
I’d love to see them all too, Kate!
I’ve never seen any of them in person, but I’d love to. Great list, Nic!