Travel Goals

I always thought that it was interesting that people I knew wanted to achieve the goal of traveling to every single continent, or every state in the US, or whatever may have interested them. And while It would be nice to say that I'd been to every continent, It's far more important to me to visit quite a few destinations, several of which are on the same continent, or on a continent that I've already visited.

Then an article about the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio caught my eye. I've always thought that it's an absolutely fascinating object, and I've always wanted to visit it. I realized that it's on the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World!

I also started thinking about how I've always been fascinated by the Seven Ancient Wonders, to the extent that I took a class in undergrad about translating the basic themes of the ancient wonders into modern times, and studying how things like the first subways, skyscrapers, dams, and suspension bridges were marvels in their own right, because many of them were constructed without any of the tools that are in use today, like motor-controlled engines, electrical lines, cranes, etc.

So the Modern Wonders... THAT'S MY LIST! Everything on the list is something that I've wanted to visit anyway. This is so cool! Despite the fact that I have no really, immediate travel plans, it's a starting point, and I'm suddenly so very excited!!

The wonders are:
Giza Pyramid Complex in Cairo Egypt (the only remaining Ancient Wonder, and probably my first destination)
Chichen Itza in Yucatan Mexico (my parents have already been there)
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
The Great Wall of China
Machu Picchu in Cuzco, Peru
Petra in Jordan (maybe I could go here at the same time I go to Egypt)
Taj Mahal in Agra India (since everyone who knows me knows that I've been obsessed with India, this destination clearly would be one of the first that I'd go to)

So, who's with me? I'm thinking Egypt in summer 2010. Where to next?