Why Backpackers Don’t Need The New Seven Wonders Of The World
Remember the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? They were the tourist hotspots back in the days when there were no cars, planes, bicycles or cruise boats and getting anywhere that was beyond your backyard took weeks, months – even years.
In those days (we’re talking pre 200 or so BC, by the by), you couldn’t take a quick ‘I was here’ snap to take home with you, or even send a postcard, and the closest thing to the internet was extensive carrier pigeon networks (alarmingly vulnerable to voracious birds of prey and howling gales)…
It was so long ago, in fact, that six out of the seven ‘wonders’ no longer exist. Only the great pyramids of Giza in Egypt have withstood the ravages of time (and mankind).
And so, some bright spark decided it was time to start a campaign to find the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.
Anyway, long story short: a list of 21 finalists was created (the Acropolis, Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal etc) and you, the general wayfaring public, are asked to cast your vote.
Frankly, though, I don’t think backpackers should be voting (I know I won’t be). In my opinion it’s just one more grand title to put on a tourist brochure, and that means more checklist-toting tourists heading that way, clogging things up for those of us who like to take our time.
But perhaps you feel differently, or want to sway the vote in a direction you prefer… and if so, you have 8 days and 10 hours left (and counting) to stake your claim on what will be the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.
(What comes next I wonder – the Newer Seven Wonders?).
Related entries:
Selecting The New Seven Wonders Of The World
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(Photo of Giza by Luke&Colleen/Flickr)
Posted in General Travel, Travel News
June 28, 2007 at 4:03 pm
In my opinion it’s just one more grand title to put on a tourist brochure, and that means more checklist-toting tourists heading that way, clogging things up for those of us who like to take our time.
I couldn’t agree more. In the past few weeks, the travel blogs and industry sites have been all abuzz about this new unveiling. It’s all a fat load of “Who cares?” as far as I’m concerned.
June 30, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I must agree – I just think that the statues on Easter Island should have been on the original list
July 1, 2007 at 2:33 am
My main worry is that places like Angkor Wat And Machu Picchu are already battling to handle the current levels of tourism (without crumbling to bits). How on earth will they handle the surge in tourists likely to visit should it become one of these seven new wonders (such as they are)?
To many of the nominated sites, in my opintion, it’s a kind of death sentence for whatever authenticity remains.
July 6, 2007 at 1:23 pm
What a “b u l l c r a p”.
July 8, 2007 at 4:28 am
I dont think it was a good idea. I think its going to put alot of these sites in danger. Having alot of people visit many of these sites just means that they will be among the list of sites that will need (and probably not recieve) LOADS of money to pay for repairs/up-keep just to insure the site stays around! Take Egypt for example, (simply because thats a huge tourist site) There are many temples and mouments that are not open to tourism because the past visitors to the sites put them in such danger that the choice had to be made to insure that they wouldnt be completely destroyed!