The 7 new wonders

The 7 new wonders

After visiting all new 7 Wonder Wonder, Christ the Redeemer in Rio was clearly disappointing

Kia and I visited all the new 7 Wonders, but only Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro did not impress us. Here we examine whether Cristo Redentor really deserves a place next to the other "new" world wonders.

The new 7 Wonders of the World

The great pyramid of Gizeh is the only survivor from the original list of the seven wonders of the world and was appointed honorary status under the new entries.

controversy

The New7Wonder Foundation made headlines when it cited "the largest survey ever recorded" and claimed that over 100 million votes were submitted in a global internet and telephone survey.

When the winners were announced in 2007, the survey was criticized as unscientific. Although the online vote was limited to one voice per online identity, the delivery of several votes was possible by phone.

Likewise, the subway system and the city's television stations carried out prominent campaigns and infomeric cials in which people were encouraged to coordinate by phone. Some estimates assume that around 10 million Brazilians took part in the survey. That is 10 % of the total votes cast - a disproportionate percentage when you consider that there were 21 finalists.

alt = “Christ the Redeemer”> Some estimates assume that 10 million Brazilians have participated in the survey

In comparison, countries could not carry out such effective campaigns without a large and well -networked population or sufficient means - be it sponsorship or state support.

The UNESCO distanced itself from the survey and said: "The list of 8 new wonders will be the result of a private company that only reflects the opinions of those who have access to the Internet, and not that of the whole world. This initiative cannot contribute to the preservation of the sites chosen by this public."

Our visit to Christ the Redeemer

As a tourist attraction, Christ is a must for every visitor to Rio. The view of the city is spectacular and the statue is as iconic as the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Eiffel towel in Paris. However, as with us, your visit will probably be hectic, overcrowded and stressful.

We visited a wonderful clear day in June and didn't have to wait long for us to go to the viewing platform. A guard told us that it was the quieter season and that it is not unusual to wait three hours or more in the high season!

alt = “Christ the Redeemer”> The position of the statue above the city offers a spectacular view

We reached the viewing platform and were overwhelmed by the sheer crowd. Tourists pushed their shoulders to the shoulder while trying to take photos of themselves that were cried together like sardines. It was practically impossible to stand still and enjoy the experience for more than a few seconds without anyone pressing past.

We navigated around the statue and worked from the platform to the lower levels where it was a bit quieter - and that was outside of peak times!

Overall, we were pleased to see the statue, but also relieved to leave it - not the best confirmation of a "miraculous" attraction!

other contenders

From an architectural perspective, Christ the Redeemer does not really compete with the other miracles who were all built hundreds of years ago - at least!

In comparison, Christ the Redeemer was built in 1931, at a time when the technology was far more advanced and resources were more easily available. The challenges against which the builders and architects of the other six miracles were - as well as so many of the candidates who missed it - were far greater than that of Christ the Redeemer.

The Inca city of Machu Picchu was built in the mountains in the middle of the clouds, the ancient city of Petra was carved into the cliffs in the middle of the desert, while the Chinese wall extends borders of China thousands of kilometers across the historical north to withstand the Mongolian imperies. A concrete statue just doesn't seem to be able to do it.

alt = “Christ the Redeemer”> The Moai of the Easter Island are also iconal

There were 13 other finalists, including the Acropolis of Athens, Angkor Wat, Hagia Sophia and Moai of the Easter Island.

Kia and I visited Angkor Wat and the Moai on the Easter Island and we loved both experiences. Angkor Wat is breathtaking and has several impressive buildings that are more remarkable than Christ the Redeemer.

The Moai are just as iconic, but much more impressive because they were built over 500 years ago. In addition, our trips to these goals were much more eventful.

We spent three days to explore Angkor Wat and six days on the Easter Island. Twenty minutes on a crowded viewing platform that fights for space with other tourists is really not to be compared ...

Visit to Christ the Redeemer: The essentials

what: Visit of Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Decide for a hostel in Copacabana. We had problems in the Rio Deal B&B, but everything with a score of eight or more is usually sufficient.

When: Rio is great all year round. The notorious carnival in Rio takes place in February or early March and is a great time to experience the city's energy - but of course more expensive and overcrowded.

In December it rains the most, while the temperatures rise from January to March. For gentle temperatures and fewer crowds, visit in May, June, September or October.

like: We only had two days in the city, so we booked the "Big Dude Tour" with Brazil Expedition, a problem -free way to see the city. The tour leads to a series of sights, including Christ the Redeemer, the Escadaria Selaron staircase, the Tijuca National Park and the lunch in Santa Teresa (not included in the price).

The tour contains collection and return and offers the option of being stopped at the sugar hat. The prices are 55 USD per person.

Email info@brazilexpedition.com for bookings. You can fly to Rio from most major airports worldwide. Book via skyscanner.net.

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Brazil is dealt with in detail in Lonely Planet Brazil.

Additional photography: Dreamstime

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