The World has Voted for the New 7 Wonders !
Saturday, July 07, 2007. Source New7Wonders Foundation

• Great Wall, China (220 B.C and 1368-1644 A.D.) Perseverance and Persistence)

• Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection

• Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness

• Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication

• Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge

• Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 - 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering

• Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion

See: The announcement

The pyramids of Giza, the only surviving structures from the original seven wonders of the ancient world, were assured of retaining their status.

A Peruvian in national costume held up Macchu Picchu's award to the sky and bowed to the crowd with his hands clasped, eliciting one of the biggest cheers from the audience of 50,000 people at a soccer stadium in Portugal's capital, Lisbon.

Time is running out to vote for seven new wonders
Thursday, July 05, 2007. Source Associated Press

The Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome and Peru's Machu Picchu are leading contenders to be among the new seven wonders of the world, as a massive poll draws to a close with votes already cast by more than 90 million people, organizers say.

As the 8 p.m. EDT Friday voting deadline approaches, the rankings can still change. Also in the top 10 are the Acropolis in Greece, Chichen Itza pyramid in Mexico, Eiffel Tower in Paris, Easter Island, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Taj Mahal in India and Jordan's ancient city of Petra.

The winners will be announced on Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal.
 

Bill Gates in Machu Picchu: Incas Enjoy Famous Guests in Cuzco
June 24, 2007. Source Andina.com

Bill Gates in Machu Picchu

Peruvian City of Cuzco celebrated on Sunday the Inti Raymi (The Sun Feast) that recalls the glory of Incas empire, with two famous guests the Microsoft magnate Bill Gates and the actress Cameron Diaz. Gates explored the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu Saturday.

The staging of the Incas worshiping the sun God, completely paralyzed the city, located at 723.9 miles southeast from Lima with hundreds of thousands of tourists, since this date is one of greatest influx of foreign tourist.

With the participation of 600 actors attired with Inca's common clothes and the symbols of the time, the work began at Coricancha temple, in the heart of the city.

Andina reports noted US actress Cameron Diaz, who is shooting a documentary in Cuzco, for a few days ago and Microsoft owner Bill Gates were attending the feast as tourists.

Microsoft worked with several universities to develop a Windows version in Quechua, the language of the Incas, which was launched in Peru last year.
 

There's Something About Machu Picchu: Cameron Diaz explores ancient Incan capital in Cuzco
June 19, 2007. Source AFP.

Cameron Diaz in Cuzco

Hollywood star Cameron Diaz arrived Tuesday in Cuzco, the capital of the ancient Inca empire, on vacation with guests and a security team, the official news agency Andina reported.

Diaz, 34, star of "Charlie's Angels" and "There's Something About Mary," checked into a hotel in downtown Cusco, a city 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level some 600 kilometers (373 miles) south-east of Lima.

After a short rest the Cuban-American star turned heads as she went for a walk in the city's historic plaza.

Diaz plans to visit the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and attend annual re-enactment of the Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun and a major Cusco tourist draw.

Regularly voted one of the world's most beautiful women, Diaz plans stay in Cusco until June 26, Andina reported.

Diaz's film credits include "Gangs of New York" and "The Mask."

Macchu Picchu is one of 21 historical sites in an internet competition to be one of the new "Seven Wonders of the World."
 

Olivia Newton-John visited Machu Picchu
June 13, 2007. Source Correo, Peru

Olivia Newton-John visited Cuzco

Olivia visited Peru for a private visit that became public when the media spotted her. But Olivia didn't seem to mind signing autographs for fans

According to the people with Olivia she visited important sites in Cuzco's Sacred Valley of the Incas, including Machu Picchu. "Everything here was very beautiful," she said to reporters after they asked about her trip.

Olivia Newton-John is putting her all into promoting health and healing. The multi Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/actress and longtime breast cancer survivor tells to Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith, "I'm building a hospital in Melbourne, Australia. It's a cancer and wellness center, and I hope we'll break ground in about 18 months. We're raising all the money and we're doing some major fund-raising for that."

Egypt rejects pyramid stamps
June 6, 2007

Egypt has refused to allow its pyramids of Giza to be featured on Portuguese postage stamps promoting a global contest to name the new 'seven wonders of the world', AP reported. Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the pyramids, one of the original Seven Wonders, would not be part of any stamp plans.

Pyramids of Giza out of contest for New Wonders
Honorary New7Wonders Candidate

April 20, 2007. Source: New7Wonders Foundation

After careful consideration, the New7Wonders Foundation designates the Pyramids of Giza—the only remaining of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World—as an Honorary New7Wonders Candidate.

The 7 New Wonders of the World will now be chosen by the people across the globe from the 20 active New7Wonders candidates.

Machu Picchu and the election of the New Seven Wonders of the World

Only one of the ancient wonders of the world still survives -- now history lovers are being invited to choose a new list of seven.

See: Ranking as of June 7, 2007.

 Video: New 7 Wonders Finalists
 Video: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The 20 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World, alphabetically:

1. Acropolis, Athens, Greece (450 - 330 B.C.) Civilization and Democracy

2. Alhambra, Granada, Spain (12th century) Dignity and Dialog

3. Angkor, Cambodia (12th century) Beauty and Sanctity

4. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge

5. Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness

6. Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 - 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering

7. Easter Island Statues, Chile (10th - 16th Century)  Mystery and Awe

8. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (1887 - 89) Challenge and Progress

9. Great Wall, China (220 B.C and 1368-1644 A.D.) Perseverance and Persistence)

10. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey (532 - 537 A.D.) Faith and Respect

11. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan (749 - 1855) Clarity and Serenity

12. Kremlin/St.Basil's, Moscow, Russia (1156 - 1850) Fortitude and Symbolism

13. Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication

14. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany  (1869 -1884) Fantasy and Imagination

15. Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection

16. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA (1886) Generosity and Hope

17. Stonehenge, Amesbury, United Kingdom (3000 B.C. - 1600 B.C.) Intrigue and Endurance

18. Sydney Opera House, Australia (1954 - 73) Abstraction and Creativity

19. Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion

20. Timbuktu, Mali  (12th century) Intellect and Mysticism

An original list of nearly 200 sites nominated by the public was narrowed to 21 by the organizers and experts, including the former director general of Unesco Professor Federico Mayor.

The vote is organized by a Swiss foundation called New7Wonders which specializes in the preservation, restoration and promotion of monuments, and the results will be announced on July 7, 2007 -  07.07.07, in Lisbon, Portugal, considered a neutral venue as the country has no contending landmark of its own.

More than 40 million votes have already been lodged, including many from India, for the Taj Mahal; China, for the Great Wall and from Peru for Machu Picchu, the fortress city of the Incas.

The original Seven Wonders of the ancient world were selected by Greek philosopher Philon of Byzantium more than 2,000 years ago. Only the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is is an Honorary New7Wonders Candidate, is still standing.

The other original seven wonders of the ancient world were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.