Continuing with our seven theme — there are seven natural wonders of the world. Here’s the list I found:
- Aurora Borealis
- Rio de Janeiro
- Grand Canyon
- Great Barrier Reef
- Mount Everest
- Victoria Falls
- Paricutin, Mexico
Have you been to any of them or seen the aurora borealis? If you could only pick one place to visit which one would it be and why?
Julie: I’ve been to the Grand Canyon a couple of times. It well deserves its place on this list. I’d love to visit the others, with no intention of seeing Mt. Everest from the top. Ever.
Jessie: I’ve seen the Northern Lights on two occasions. I enjoyed seeing them during a trip to Iceland for a conference in 2016. The first time I saw them was several years earlier on Beggar’s Night, which in my village has been customarily celebrated on October 30. Children in costumes were running about trick-or-treating and ther, dancing in the skies above them were the most magnificent plumes of coloredlights. It was utterly magical. And a little spooky besides!
Liz: So, once I tried to go to the Grand Canyon, and it was…closed. Yep, I’m not kidding. Like you, Julie, I have no desire to visit Mt. Everest, but would also love to see the others!
Edith/Maddie: Closed, Liz? But why? In January 1970, I landed in Rio de Janeiro to begin my year as an exchange student. It is a stunningly beautiful city, just like in the pictures. Forty other American high school seniors and I spent two weeks having language and culture training before we dispersed to our host families (mine was in the southernmost state). I again stayed in Rio for a week at the end of the year with a temporary host family. We went up to the Christ Redeemer statue and to the beaches. Amazing. Also amazing is that, as a person from Los Angeles, I have never been to the Grand Canyon. I’ve been to Mexico and all over west Africa, but never to any of the other wonders on the list
Barb: I am feeling like a piker because I’ve never seen any of these. The closest I came was a business trip to Cairns, Australia, a popular jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef. Bill and I have talked about a trip to the Grand Canyon, but nothing concrete has happened.
Sherry: Between my second and third grade years we took a car trip from Iowa to California and back. By the time we got to the Grand Canyon on the way home we’d already been dazzled by Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, the cliff dwellings, in Mesa Verde, cactus in Arizona, Disneyland, and Knott’s Berry Farm. It was hotter than the blazes when we looked over the edge and shrugged. I would love to see the Aurora Borealis.
Readers: Have you see any of these natural wonders? Are there any you’d like to see?