7 Wonders of the Modern World With my Wonder Wo-Mom
Machu Picchu, Peru 2019
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…” therefore I blame my mom for this contagious travel bug. Growing up, my mom planned family vacations every chance we were off from school. Fast forward to 2019, I plan our trips whenever she can take PTO.
I'm incredibly lucky to have a mom who gives me the world and it's a bonus that she loves to see the world. We’ve travelled to 20 countries and 21 American states together, and we still have a lot more to go!
So far the most memorable of our travels is checking off ALL the 7 Wonders of the World together. These monuments are phenomenal but my mom’s tenacity and gumption to reach the top of the monuments are far more impressive. In ode to Mother's Day, here are the 7 Wonders of the Modern World with my travel buddy and my very own wonder wo-mom!
1. Chichen Itza
Our first of the 7 Wonders of the World was back in 2004. We visited Chichen Itza during our summer family vacation in Cancun, Mexico. The thing about traveling to historical sites when you're a kid, you never fully appreciate them. My brothers and I had more fun drinking virgin margaritas at our all-inclusive resort than visiting this ancient civilization. We had no clue how lucky we were to walk on these pyramid steps. But we do remember how fun it was racing up and down them (and my mom freaking out about it).
2. Roman Colosseum
From kindergarten to graduate school, my mom has been right by my side during each transition. When I moved to Rome for my Masters program, my mom took full advantage to "help" acquaint me to this beautiful city. During my first week in Italy, we explored the ancient ruins of Rome and ate our weight in gelato together. That week also fell on my 23rd birthday so we celebrated by visiting the most grandiose of all Italian masterpieces, the Colosseum. We fell in love with the eternal city, and Rome became home for the both of us!
3. Christ the Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro is one of our favorite cities in the world. From the dramatic landscapes, to the colorful culture, and to the delicious carnivore friendly food - we're crazy about this city. Every angle in Rio is gorgeous and the view at the top of the Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the best (Amen to that). If you're interested in more breathtaking views in Rio be sure to also experience hang-gliding from Tijuca National Forest.
Click here for more on my Hang-Gliding in Rio blog!
4. Great Wall of China
Visiting this wonder is by far my favorite adventure with my mom. I booked us a "moderate" 3 mile hike on the Great Wall of China assuming it would be fairly easy for her. Let's just say it wasn't what we expected but it was certainly an adventure of a lifetime. Hiking up this remote part of the Great Wall took our breath away (especially my mom's).
Click here for more on my Great Wall of China blog!
5. Taj Mahal
We were picked up at 3am from Delhi to make it just in time for sunrise at the Taj Mahal. By arriving at 6am we were able to beat the crowds and the scorching, Indian heat. Our eyes were half closed but just a slight glance of the Taj was already stunning. We had to pinch ourselves several times to realize we were staring at THE Taj Mahal (and also to wake up). The timeless marble structures were just as beautiful as we imagined!
Click here for more on my Golden Triangle blog!
6. Petra
Whether you’re there for a spiritual journey or a history lesson, a trip to the Holy Land will leave an imprint on your heart. This past year we went on a Holy Land pilgrimage through Jordan, Israel, and Egypt with a few of my mom’s sorority sisters. The ancient city of Petra was one of the most memorable moments of our trip. It was fun getting our Indiana Jones on walking through the red rock mountains and sandstone hills while gazing at the Nabatean sculptures and inscriptions.
7. Machu Picchu
LAST Wonder of the World on our 15 year journey and it happened to be our favorite of all 7. There’s something special about the high vibrational energy of the Sacred Valley in Peru. Whether it’s a few days or a few months, spending time in the Sacred Valley will heighten your senses, inspire creativity, and mystically connect you to Pachamama (Mother Earth). There’s still a lot to learn about the ancient civilization of Machu Picchu. But the Incas truly left a lasting, spiritual legacy on the mountains. And we’re glad that Machu Picchu, in exchange, was a part of our mom and daughter travel legacy!
7 Wonders of the World - CHECK!
Happy Mother's Day to all the travel moms out there - especially to my wonder woman! Solo, couple, friend travel are all great but don’t forget to wander the world with your wonder wo-mom...it’s quite the wonderful experience (last pun I promise).
So what’s next on our mother daughter travel bucket list? Stay tuned for our quest to complete all the 7 continents!
