The less-traveled Machu Picchu

by Jerry Guo on

So I’m in the midst of planning a backpacking trip through Peru. As I was flipping through some reading material, I couldn’t help but be bombarded by endless mentions of Machu Picchu. Yet there’s a little known alternative to one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

It’s Choquequirao, another lost Inca city, modeled after Machu Picchu in fact. And it’s only 100 miles away. I’m still considering whether I can make it to both in a week. To hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu takes 3-4 days. To hike to Choquequirao (after that 100 mile cab ride from Cusco) takes a little less.

Apparently Choquequirao gets only 1% of the tourists that Machu Picchu has to endure. It’s just as big, but more sprawled out so things don’t look as photogenic. If you’re looking for a true lost city experience, though, I think Choquequirao might just be your best bet.

Seven (new) natural wonders of the world: cast your vote!

by Catherine Bodry on

The seven wonders of the world were one of my earliest inspirations for travel and learning. Seven is a manageable number, and it seemed plausible to see them all. Well, evidently there’s more than seven wonders, since earlier this year seven new ones were chosen. Over 100 million people participated in selecting the new destinations. Among the new person-made structures are Machu Picchu, Peru, and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue. (The pyramids of Giza are the only structures carried over from the original list).

Now it’s time to nominate the seven new wonders of the natural world. Currently there are around 300 suggestions from 6 continents. Beginning in January 2009, people will be able to vote via mobile phone, Internet or telephone.

Original wonders include the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, and the Grand Canyon. What would you choose?

Thanks to munkeygirl on Flickr for the photo of the Great Barrier Reef.

Yale to Hand Back 4000 Artifacts to Machu Picchu

by Iva Skoch on

After years of battling over the thousands of pieces of pottery, jewelry and bones, taken from Machu Picchu 90 years ago, Peru is winning the war. The artifacts were lent to Yale University for 18 months but the university has apparently kept them ever since one of its alumni, U.S. explorer Hiram Bingham, rediscovered Machu Picchu in the Andes in 1911.

Like museums in Greece or Egypt trying to get the United Kingdom and other countries to return their ancient treasures, Peru has been fighting to get back theirs from the US. Since we officially frown on imperialism, why do we drag our feet returning that stuff?

The ‘Wonders of the World’ Votes are in!

by Iva Skoch on

Following up on an earlier post, the voting is now complete, and the winner has been announced. And here are the “New Seven Wonders of the World”: Mexico’s Chichen Itza, Brazil’s statue of Christ Redeemer, The Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Jordan’s Petra, the Colosseum in Rome, and India’s Taj Mahal.

The organizers say that they got about 100 million votes in what they’re calling the world’s first global vote.

The Egyptian pyramids at Giza retain their place in the “original” list of the Seven Wonders of the World, and that site is the only site which still exists from the original Seven.

The organizers are now busying themselves with the next world-vote: the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Vote online at www.natural7wonders.com

Gigapixel Photographs by Scott Howard

by Justin Glow on

Scott Howard spent two days in 2005 taking almost 200 photos from an area near the Adler Planetarium to create this gigantic image of the Chicago skyline at night. Using a piece of software called Zoomify, the images were then stitched together and packaged in a Flash project that allows you to zoom in — waaaaaaay in — on any part of the image.

He used the same technique on two more stunning locations: Sydney, Australia, and Machu Picchu in Peru. Impressive! [via]