With the dawn of another year, we hit the web for travel inspo in search of the bargain holiday of our dreams. Whether you are a sun worshipper and head abroad for your hit of Vitamin D firmly planted on a sun bed with a drink in your hand; or you don your hiking boots and belt songs as though you are adventuring through Lothlorien; or if you warm-blooded-souls head to closer to the poles, where snow sleeps on mountains and there are plenty of slopes to grace and enjoy gravity on, there is a high possibility that somewhere nestled on your bucket list, is one of the seven wonders. 

I can hear you through the page… Is Pisa one? You’re sure that the Great Wall of China is? It’s okay, we will learn through this together, and if you are stuck on where to travel this year, let’s discuss the seven places that are apparently wonders of our planet. I may begin by enlightening you that the seven wonders are all monuments. If you were hoping for the true natural wonders of the world, Grand Canyon and so on, this is not the list for you, and I too am disappointed by learning this. 

1. Great Wall of China. At 5,500 miles long this epic feat of engineering and planning commenced before the current era, in 7^th century BCE. Last year, over 10 million people visited this monument. Photos appear showing the masses of crowds struggling to navigate through the annual hoards. 

2. Chichén Itzá. This Mayan pyramid is 79 feet tall and has 365 steps, representing the days of the solar year. Fun fact: the solar year was first created by the Egyptians in 3000 BCE. 

3. Petra. Set in the sandstone cliffs of Jordan, Petra is a chiseled marvel, once used as an important trade centre. 

4. Machu Picchu. On the apex point of the Peruvian mountain range, this Incan site is still being studied today to understand it’s true origins. 

5. Christ the Redeemer. The figurehead of Rio, built after WW1 as a 5-year project now stands at nearly 100 feet tall. 

6. Colosseum. In the heart of Rome, the Colosseum once had a capacity of 50,000 spectators to gory gladiator fights. 

7. Taj Mahal. Mughal architecture built by an Indian Emperor to honor his wife in the 17^th century. 

P.S.- If you’re wondering what arbitrary units were used to select which monument would make the final 7, it was a very X-Factor-esque moment of the 2000s, without Simon, where 100 million votes were cast on the Internet. 

Photo credit: Jovyn Champ on Unsplash