Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India
INDIA
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

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The New7Wonders team visited the Eiffel Tower aglow in sunshine. ZDF German television caught up with the World Tour in Paris to speak with Bernard Weber and get our update on the stops to date. The N7W crew admired the breathtaking view of Paris from the second level under the watchful eyes of the camera. One can see the small Statue of Liberty nearby, a copy of the one in New York Harbor which will mark the end of the World Tour in March 2007.The certificate of candidacy was presented to Jean-Bernard Bros, Deputy Mayor of Paris and the President of the Society for the Exploitation of the Eiffel Tower by Bernard Weber, in front of the golden bust of Gustave Eiffel at the northern foot of the tower. The engineering genius would

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The New7Wonders airship stopped rush-hour traffic in Rome as it soared over the Colosseum with blue skies as a backdrop. The majestic royal-blue aircraft stood out vividly, proudly bearing the New7Wonders logo, as well as the World Tour and our World Tour sponsors' logos.

In the afternoon, Bernard Weber handed the official candidacy certificate to Dottoressa Irene Iacopi, Director of the Colosseum, on the terrace outside her splendid offices right in the middle of the Roman Forum and with a view of the Colosseum.

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Aleksey Levykin, Vice-Director of Scientific Research, received the certificate of candidacy from Bernard Weber. Mr. Levykin accepted it for the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve “The Moscow Kremlin” and its General Director Elena Yu. Gagarina, daughter of Russian icon Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.

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Cardinal Scheid noted that the statue symbolized the joyous, embracing qualities of the "Cariocas" or citizens of Rio, and indeed of all Brazilians.After the handover, a group of samba dancers from the Grande Rio samba school danced to the contagious beat of their band. Dressed in their Carnaval finest with high feathered headdresses and glitter, the dancers celebrated the passion of the Brazilian people. The many journalists and tourists who were there could not help but move with the music - just like the New7Wonders team!

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Rio de Janeiro welcomed the New7Wonders team with arms as open as those of the Christ Redeemer statue high on the Corcovado mountain above the city. After everyone took the historic Corcovado train up the steep hill through jungle-like vegetation, the ceremony began with a military band playing Brazil's national anthem, followed by a chorus singing one of the most famous and best-loved local songs about the city. True Brazilian energy and passion came through as the audience joined in for both songs. Several lively speeches followed, led by Savio Neves, the Director of the Corcovado Train and hence of the entire monument site, who called for Brazilians of all ages to vote for the Christ Redeemer. Paulo Senise, the Executive Director of the Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau, underlined how much welcoming foreigners was a part of the Brazilian mentality - whether tourists or, historically, people from many different cultures. Officials from the Brazilian government, the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce and the National Parks institution spoke and appealed to all the various segments of the Brazilian population to support their greatest national monument. The moving final remarks came from Jairzinho ("Furacao" or"Hurricane"), the world-renowned soccer player who not only scoredseven goals during the 1970 World Cup, which Brazil won, but also worethe number 7 jersey. The official certificate of candidacy was handed to Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid in front of the statue framed by brilliant blue skies spotted with few clouds

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The festivities continued in the evening with an oceanside feast of grilled island specialties, hosted by Mayor Paoa. The New7Wonders team was moved, as during their entire stay on Easter Island, by the wisdom and serenity exuded by the island and its people.

Islandwonder

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The Rapa Nui culture was celebrated throughout New7Wonders World Tour visit to Easter Island, with the highlight being the rich ceremony to celebrate the Moai's status as finalists. The annual Tapati Rapa Nui summer festival was the backdrop for the stop in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. After a very well-attended press conference at the town hall with Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa, the celebration moved to the coast. Traditionally dressed Rapa Nui, the men with dark earthen skin markings, flew large New7Wonders kites above the massive Moai statues.This elegant performance was followed by Rapa Nui dancers moving compellingly to the beat of drums and the strains of ukeleles. Mayor Paoa and the Chief of the Council of Elders, Alberto Hotus, accepted the certificate of candidacy om Bernard Weber.

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Local children, dressed in colorful traditional costumes, were on hand as Mercedes Araoz, Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, and Machu Picchu Pueblo Mayor Edgar Miranda accepted the official certificate of candidacy from New7Wonders Founder and President Bernard Weber.
In return, Bernard received an ornate Inca rod and the keys to the city of Machu PIcchu - an incredible honor.The New7Wonders team marveled at the site’s impressive mix of well-preserved houses, courtyards and terraces sprawled majestically on the side of the incredibly steep mountain. The building techniques of the Incas, combined with their knowledge of astronomy, agriculture and engineering, are a tribute to the sophistication of the society

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The sound of several Inca pututus, instruments made from shell or animal horn, echoed through the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and the surrounding Peruvian Andes as the

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A rich, exciting day of celebration in Chichen Itzá began with the early-morning flight of the New7Wonders hot-air balloon in front of the "El Castillo" pyramid, probably the most famous structure in the vast Chichen Itzá archeological complex. As the fog lifted, the royal-blue balloon rising in the stillness of the ancient Mayan city sent chills down the spines of the New7Wonders team. A crowded press conference in the afternoon was then followed by a magnificent, exuberant celebration gala of Mayan and Yucatan culture. The official certificate of candidacy was handed to Patricio Patrón Laviada, Governor of the State of Yucatan.The ceremony featured a moving series of songs in Maya sung by local children in bright traditional clothing, as well as performances by the Traditional Yucalpetén Orchestra and the folkloric ballet troupe of the Yucatan Cultural Institute.Other speakers during the day's events included Jorge Torre Loría, Yucatan's Secretary of Tourism, and the Director of the Yucatan Center of the National Anthropological and Historical Institute (INAH), Federica Sodi Miranda. The celebration continued through dusk, until the majestic buildings of Chichen Itzá were lit up against the dark sky. A festive dinner featuring traditional dancing with fire completed an extraordinary day.At the crowded press event later in the week in Mexico City, the Director-General of the Mexico Tourism Board, Francisco López Mena, accepted another original New7Wonders certificate for Chichén Itzá from Bernard Weber.

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For the grand finale of the World Tour, the predictions of good luck that the New7Wonders team was given in Istanbul (see Founder's Blog) came true for the last time, dramatically and almost miraculously. The sudden patch of decent weather allowed for an incredibly moving close to New7Wonders' global journey. As children from the William C. McGinnis Middle School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and Public School 193 in Brooklyn, New York braved the winter cold and light snow on Liberty Island, the New7Wonders airship circled the Statue of Liberty. The only object visible in the sky, the bright blue airship - called a blimp in the U.S. - flew majestically several times around Lady Liberty. Bernard Weber handed the certificate of candidacy to Cynthia Garrett, the U.S. National Park Service’s Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.
The celebration continued on Manhattan with a cameo appearance by New York's beloved "Living Liberty" (Jennifer Stewart), who posed with the students, teachers and parenty wearing Statue of Liberty crowns and enthusiastically waving "Vote for Liberty" signs. In addition to Superintendent Garrett, Stephen A. Briganti, CEO of The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation also spoke about the history and recent renovation of the Statue. The students from Perth Amboy have taken on the role of ambassadors to children throughout the United States and, indeed, the world to encourage getting involved with the New7Wonders campaign and voting.Early in the morning, students from the Dwight School in Manhattan joined Superintendent Garrett, Living Liberty and the New7Wonders team for some exciting television appearances.