The New Seven Wonders Of The World

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Christ the Redeemer Statue


new old 7 wonders christ redeemer rio janeiro brazil 18303 600x4501 The New Seven Wonders Of The World

 

The 105-foot-tall (38-meter-tall) “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was among the “new seven wonders of the world” announced July 7 following a global poll to decide a new list of human-made marvels.

 

Great Wall of China

new old 7 wonders great wall china 18307 600x4501 The New Seven Wonders Of The World

This newly elected world wonder was built along China’s northern border over many centuries to keep out invading Mongol tribes.

Constructed between the fifth century B.C. and the 16th century, the Great Wall is the world’s longest human-made structure, stretching some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers). The best known section was built around 200 B.C. by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Di.

 

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

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The only finalist from Europe to make it into the top seven—the Colosseum in Rome, Italy—once held up to 50,000 spectators who came to watch gory games involving gladiators, wild animals, and prisoners.

Construction began around A.D. 70 under Emperor Vespasian. Modern sports stadiums still resemble the Colosseum’s famous design.

 

Petra, Jordan

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Perched on the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to A.D. 40).

Petra is famous for its many stone structures such as a 138-foot-tall (42-meter-tall) temple carved with classical facades into rose-colored rock. The ancient city also included tunnels, water chambers, and an amphitheater, which held 4,000 people.

The desert site wasn’t known to the West until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt came across it in 1812.

 

Machu Picchu, Peru

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One of three successful candidates from Latin America, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century mountain settlement in the Amazon region of Peru.

The ruined city is among the best known remnants of the Inca civilization, which flourished in the Andes region of western South America. The city is thought to have been abandoned following an outbreak of deadly smallpox, a disease introduced in the 1500s by invading Spanish forces.

Hundreds of people gathered at the remote, 7,970-foot-high (2,430-meter-high) site to celebrate Machu Picchu’s new “seven wonders” status.

 

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

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Chichén Itzá is possibly the most famous temple city of the Mayas, a pre-Columbian civilization that lived in present day Central America. It was the political and religious center of Maya civilization during the period from A.D. 750 to 1200.

At the city’s heart lies the Temple of Kukulkan (pictured)—which rises to a height of 79 feet (24 meters). Each of its four sides has 91 steps—one step for each day of the year, with the 365th day represented by the platform on the top.

Taj Mahal, India

new old 7 wonders taj mahal india 18314 600x450 The New Seven Wonders Of The World

The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, is the spectacular mausoleum built by Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to honor the memory of his beloved late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Construction began in 1632 and took about 15 years to complete. The opulent, domed mausoleum, which stands in formal walled gardens, is generally regarded as finest example of Mughal art and architecture. It includes four minarets, each more than 13 stories tall.

Shah Jahan was deposed and put under house arrest by one of his sons soon after the Taj Mahal’s completion. It’s said that he spent the rest of his days gazing at the Taj Mahal from a window.
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Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!

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The city of Rio de Janeiro is situated on the south-east coast of Brazil, at the inlet of Guanabara bay, surrounded by green mountains with the statue of Christ the redeemer embracing the city on one side and the blue crashing waves from the Atlantic ocean on the other.

rio de janeiro Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!However famous for it’s vibrating samba in the Rio de Janeiro carnival, often associated with beautiful half naked Brazilian girls, the city has allot more to offer with an enormous wealth in Brazilian culture, tourist attractions and exotic adventure for every kind of traveller be it a family, a romantic couple, singles or back packers.

Over 50 km of white sandy paradise beaches can be explored by sunbathers or explorers, with perfect surf spots for the beginner and the advanced surfer. Copacabana beach is Rio de Janiero’s and probably the worlds most famous Brazil beaches and lies only a stroll of 10m from the myriad life in the samba metropolis, with beach bars, coconuts and tropical Brazilian weather!

b3 Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!


Bring your sunglasses when going to a Rio beach! Copacabana or Ipanema are usually the first encounters with brazilian beaches arriving the samba capitol. If the salt breeze of white ocean foam and the sun doesn’t blind you, the beautiful Rio de Janeiro beach girl will!

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NIght Views Of Rio Beaches

Entering the Brazil beach landscape of Rio going from west to east, you’ll see the wide white covered sand of Leme and Copacabana unfold before you, just crossing the Avenida Atlantica.

You’ll see the Arpoador beach, Ipanema and Leblon. These are all located right at the south zone of the city, with just a stroll needed to get to them. (You can find a beaches Rio de Janeiro map here )

These Rio de Janeiro beaches can often get crowded during hot days and weekends. If you want privacy, further out you can find the 12 km Rio beach of Barra de Tijuca, which is excellent for surfing.

Here there should be plenty of space for everyone. You can easily get here by taking a bus or a mini wan from the Atlantica.

Brazilians have tradition for going to Rio beaches. They often go early or in the afternoon when the sun has lost some of it’s intensity.

 

The basic facts about brazil:

Brazil is the fifth biggest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, and the USA. Per 2006 188,078,261 (5th largest) people, spread out on an area of 8,514,877 km² (5th Largest).

The population density is highest along the coast of Brazil with the district of Copacabana, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, one of the worlds most populated areas with 25,000 people per km². While in Rio de Janeiro as a city, 4,781 per km².

However, the enormous rainforest reduces the average population density in Brazil to 20.5 inhabitants per square kilometer .

The capitol facts of brazil;

The capitol was moved in 1960 from the marvellous Rio de Janeiro to great disappointment of the cariocas. (People raised and born in Rio)

Other interesting cultural facts of Brazil involves the history of the Portuguese. Unlike the Spanish colonial empire of the rest of South America, the Portuguese populated brazil by mating with th

Brazilia is the current capitol, after it was constructed by the famous architect Niemeyer by order of the brazilian gouvernment to spread the population more out in the inner part of Brazil.

e existing Indians.

Slaves were imported and further contributed to making a mix of people existent to a large degree also today. You will find Indians, Blacks, Whites, Mulatas, chineese, all kinds of mixtures which make Brazil a exotic country of mangfold.

All of these different kinds of people brought a little bit of culture making a mix very special for Brazil. There is no problem in having several religions even though the official one is catolism. Many have two religious tables in their houses, following the African candomble religion and Christian icons.

The major exports of Brazil are: aircraft, coffee, automobiles, soybean, iron ore, orange juice, steel, ethanol, textiles, footwear, corned beef and electrical equipment

Facts and Rio de Janeiro, more facts of brazil:

The capitol was moved in 1960 from the marvellous Rio de Janeiro to great disappointment of the cariocas. (People raised and born in Rio)

Other interesting cultural facts of Brazil involves the history of the Portuguese. Unlike the Spanish colonial empire of the rest of South America, the Portuguese populated brazil by mating with th

Brazilia is the current capitol, after it was constructed by the famous architect Niemeyer by order of the brazilian gouvernment to spread the population more out in the inner part of Brazil.

e existing Indians.

Slaves were imported and further contributed to making a mix of people existent to a large degree also today. You will find Indians, Blacks, Whites, Mulatas, chineese, all kinds of mixtures which make Brazil a exotic country of mangfold.

All of these different kinds of people brought a little bit of culture making a mix very special for Brazil. There is no problem in having several religions even though the official one is catolism. Many have two religious tables in their houses, following the African candomble religion and Christian icons.

The major exports of Brazil are: aircraft, coffee, automobiles, soybean, iron ore, orange juice, steel, ethanol, textiles, footwear, corned beef and electrical equipment the Rio de Janeiro Carnival ! Exploding rhythms, colours, magnificent carnival floats, women dancing samba nude only covered in body paint, these are all usual associations with the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.

Dancing the Rio de Janeiro Carnival


Car Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!


Although it’s not allowed to be completely naked during the carnaval, not much is left for the imagination when the samba dancers move with incredible agility through the sambodrome (Rio’s location for the main carnival parade) or the streets in the city.

251689634 oathg M Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

The history of carnival in rio de janeiro shows roots to both Europe and Africa. Originally the celebration came from Roman tributes to their gods, which the church later turned into the initials of the “Carne Vale” meaning something like “goodbye meat”.

The Carne Vale was the initiation of the lent period which you were supposed to keep from eating for some time as a way of purifying the body.

The Carnival spread to Brazil and Rio through the Portuguese which had divided South America with spain. (Brasil is the only country which speaks Portuguese, the others Spanish)

The big drums and feathers is believed to have entered the Rio carnival with the slavetrading from Africa. The black mans culture was seen down upon and even forbidden until around 1930 when Vargas pin pointed the carnaval themes or “enredo’s” back to the roots of the brasilian population in which Africa had a part.

The big drums came back to samba, and the famous Rio de Janeiro carnival costumes started to emerge as we know them.

Uniao da Ilha stad 1843251i Rio de Janeiro the marvellous city~ Once you come, you never want to leave!

The Sambodrome, the location of the Rio carnaval

There are two places to see Rio de Janeiro carnival, in the streets or in the Sambodrome.

The sambocrome is the Rio carneval as we know it, an enormous parade with samba dancers, batteria (a corpse of drums, playing samba so you feel the rhythm in your bones.).

The Sambodrome itself is a huge stage area with a characteristic design of something that looks like a m at a distanse. The parade enters in between two stages with seats for 100,000 people.

Carnival in the streets is very different! Here you join in on the dancing, and don’t be surprised if you get a kiss during the night, the Rio de Janeiro carnival is know to make everyone a little crazy!

To finish off the introduction, some carnival rio de janeiro photos comes naturally.

 

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Top 10 Things To Do In San Jose, Costa Rica

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San Jose, Costa Rica has a wide variety of attractions, from butterflys to bullfights. Read on for information about the top ten…

You’ve flown into San Juantamaria Airport (SJO) in Alajuela and take a taxi or bus into San Jose to your hotel.  Once you’re ready to venture from your hotel room, here are a few suggestions:

1. Zoo Avenue

Zoo Avenue is a sanctuary for injured animals on one hand and a bird-lover’s paradise on the other. See colorful macaws, toucans and others from Costa Rica and around the world, mysterious owls, hungry raptors. There are also deer and monkeys and a good-sized crocodile. Time out: 2 hours

2. La Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles

Though destroyed in 1926 by an earthquake and rebuilt after, the basilica is still a very popular attraction. When Christianity came to Costa Rica, there were many devotees to the goddesses. Because of this, the Virgin Mary became very popular. The legend states that the statue of the virgin appeared miraculously on the site. Even if you aren’t religious, this is a beautiful church

3. Art

The art of Costa Rica is preserved in several popular museums.

First is the Museo de Arte Costarricense – known as el MAC – is home to the national collection of art which includes over 2,500 pieces. Sculptures, woodcarvings, and paintings can be seen here, as well as traveling exhibits from around the world. Then there’s the Galeria Ocelote. The Galeria was created to promote Latin American handcrafts. Shown here are textile designs, sculptures and ceramics among other things.

4. Butterflies

Costa Rica is home to an abundance of magnificent butterflies. Two gardens in San Jose will let you get up close and personal with these kaleidoscopic creatures. At the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, you can learn about the natural history of Costa Rica and see the living relationship between the butterflies and their surroundings. See also beautiful plants and hummingbirds. Stop by the gift shop for lunch, all things butterfly and fabulous coffee. Open 8 to 4.

At the Butterfly Farm, just south of Alajuala, you can walk through an enclosed garden while the butterflies flutter about. You’ll see up to 80 different types of butterflies as well as see the various phases of the butterfly’s life, from egg to caterpiller to cocoon. The cocoons themselves are displayed in the shimmering colors and movement that helps keep them safe from predators. Daily bus tours leave from many San Jose hotels and is included in the admission. 2 hour guided tour.

In addition to these two, there is also the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This is an attraction that offers not only a huge butterfly garden (claimed to be the largest in the world) but takes you into the rain forest alongside the La Paz River to see orchids and hummingbirds and a series of waterfalls that are nothing short of breathtaking. La Paz may be a bit pricey, but it’s worth every peso. There’s a remarkable hotel here as well. Plan at least 2 to 4 hours to see it all.

5. Café Britt Farm

Coffee Break time? How about a trip to the coffee farm? Café Britt is one of the top coffees in Costa Rica and the company has an interesting tour at the farm 20 minutes outside of San Jose. From the plant to the roaster to the can, see all phases of production. And, of course, a trip to the coffee farm wouldn’t be complete without a taste. Differing qualities of coffee are there for you to try and there’s a gift shop and restaurant as well.

6. Lankester Gardens

Costa Rica boasts over 1000 varieties of orchids and there are over 800 here at Lankester Gardens in Cartago (30 to 40 minutes from San Jose by bus.) The gardens are administered by the University of Costa Rica and the goal is to preserve the local flora. Walk their well tended trails from sunlight to the shadow of the forest, seeing orchids in bloom everywhere. Give yourself up to three hours for this and don’t miss the gift shop.

7. Bull fighting

If you can call it that. Ticos play at bullfighting. Las Corridas a la Tica is a popular sport. No traditional blood and guts killing of the bull here, though. Ticos prefer to just tease el toro. It’s rather an enclosed running of the bulls as up to 150 toreadors improvisados ( improvised bullfighters) scramble to stay out of the bulls way. If the bullfighters are feeling particularly brave, they’ll slap the bull’s behind on it’s way by.

8. Volcan Arenal

Not technically in San Jose, but worth a day trip to see the one of the most amazing volcanoes in Central America. The night view is breathtaking as Arenal throws fireworks into the air.

9. Soccer

The soccer season runs from September to June and Ticos – native Costa Rican – are serious fans. Costa Rican soccer is as good as any in Central America and their national team has gone to the World Cup more than once. Games are usually on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and tickets range from $2 to $15. Better to pay more and get reserved seating in the shade.

The local team is Saprissa (affectionately called El Monstruo, or “The Monster”).

10. The sun has set and it’s time to party. Is there anything to do in San Jose at night?

Absolutely! Let’s face it, where there are tourists and college students – there is NIGHTLIFE! If you want to find out what’s going on while you’re there, where the local ex-pats are hanging out, pick up a copy of Tico Times and have a ball.

Gambling is legal in Costa Rica, so there is a wide variety of places to rid yourself of that pesky extra money. Play slots, poker, blackjack, roulette. Shoot craps. It’s all there for you.

There are discos, dance clubs, and bars aplenty in San Jose. Many of these will draw you to the dance floor with an intoxicating salsa beat. El Pueblo, an entertainment complex in the style of old Spain, offers a smorgasbord of places to try.

Just south of the University is a 2-block stretch called La Calle de Amargure (Street of Bitterness). While the name doesn’t sound inviting, it’s a haven for the suburbanites and college kids. Bars and cafes mixed with shops and bookstores. At night, the place hops.

Feeling a little more artsy than hanging with the wild bunch? Cool. San Jose has a great selection of theater and performing arts. Burlesque, modern dance, theater, symphony, and concerts all vie for your attention. Every March, the country hosts El Festival Nacional de las Artes and each night you will have an amazing selection of things to choose from.

Before you head out, though, a word to the wise. Because downtown San Jose is very compact, you can get pretty much anywhere you want to go on foot. Often, that’s the fastest way to get around. But street crime is a bit of a problem so be careful. Hang on to your purse – better yet, get a fanny pack. Don’t flash your jewelry or camera around. Better to be safe than sorry.

With its wonderful climate, rich growing jungles that are home to abundant color, both in plants and animals, and age-old culture, Costa Rica, particularly San Jose, is a great getaway.

Please Look at our upcoming tours page to take an amazing Costa Rica adventure with us http://www.playersclubtours.com/tours/

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Top Ten Most Popular Things to do in Costa Rica

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There are more things to do in Costa Rica than you’ll likely have days for. These are the most popular.

Canopy tours
Whether it’s a zip-line thrill ride, gondola, or naturalist educational trip through the treetops, canopy tours have exploded in popularity in the past decade.

Coffee tours
Before it was overtaken by tourism, coffee was the driving force of Costa Rica‘s economy. A tour of a coffee farm and processing facility is a great way to satisfy your curiosity about the source of your morning cuppa and get an introduction to Tico history and culture.

Surfing & Windsurfing
Costa Rica breaks are world renowned, and rightly so. Inland, Lake Arenal has constantly balmy water (66 to 71 °F, 19-21 °C), average wind speeds of 24 mph (40 kph), and an exquisite setting for windsurfers. Rental equipment and lessons for both types of board sport are available.

Volcano Watching
Arenal is the premier destination with its lava flows, fire belching, and rolling smoking boulders, but Poás and Irazú have their attractions as well.

Nature Cruise
The canals of Tortuguero, wetlands of Caño Negro, and mangroves of the Damas estuary adjacent to Manuel Antonio are the most popular places to sit back relax and let the boatman be your guide to bird and wildlife spotting.

Whitewater
As you might suspect in a country covered in rain forest that rises from one ocean to 12,000 feet and drops back to sea level in the space of 70 miles, whitewater abounds in Costa Rica. Trips cater to all ability levels and interests.

Beach
Sunning, swimming, surfing, sailing, scuba, snorkeling, and that’s just the S’s. Beach lovers might think that Christopher Columbus had them in mind when he dubbed this (or did he?) the land of the “Rich Coast”.

Nature Walk
This catchall category covers everything from a walk on a paved path to multi-night treks up the bed of a river to prime jaguar country. Most visitors to Costa Rica spend at least some time hiking through the rain and cloud forests or along the beaches.

Hot Springs
There are hundreds of hotsprings in this volcanic land and a couple of them have spawned spas. If you want to relax your tired muscles (or have a masseur relax them for you) hit the natural pools, then spend a night at Tabacón resort.

Waterfalls
Rainforests, mountains, and canyons add up to countless waterfalls and you can enjoy anything from walk up viewing platforms a few yards from a restaurant to strenuous hikes into secluded skinny-dipping pools.

Bird Watching
Everyone becomes an amateur birder as soon as they land in Costa Rica. You can’t help but notice the remarkable colors, calls and plumage, and you’ll find plenty of serious bird watchers and qualified guides to fill you in on the habits and natural history of the species you see.
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