An item in my list of things to do before I die is visiting one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Out of that seven, I would really want to visit the Pyramids of Egypt. The pyramids might be built a long time ago, but they have survived the listing of the seven wonders of the ancient world and entered the listing of the seven wonders of the modern world- it is the only surviving member of the ancient world wonders.

There are well over 100 pyramids erected in Egypt were built for the Pharaoh’s and their consorts. Of the 100, the most popular are the Pyramids of Giza, which is the 10 architectural marvels in Giza, and out of the 10; the first three are the most popular. Known as the Great Pyramid, it is the largest and oldest of the ten pyramids ever built and it was erected for Pharaoh Khufu. The Great Pyramid is also called Khufu’s Pyramid and rises 450 feet and covers 13 acres of land.

Most of these pyramids were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods to represent the primordial mound from with which, Earth was created, according to Egyptian beliefs. The pyramids were shaped thus to represent the descending rays of the sun and has a surfaced of polished and reflective white limestone, igniting a brilliant ray if viewed from a distance.

If I manage to set foot on Egyptian soil, apart from the pyramids, my next visit would be to the Great Sphinx which is a statue of a reclining lion with a human head. To whet my appetite for more tombs, the Valley of Kings is where to head next. As the name implies, it is a valley in Egypt that houses several tombs for kings and powerful nobles of the New kingdom. The tombs were built between the 16th to the 11th century BC.

If temples interest you, then the Temple of Karnak, or simply known as Karnak is an obvious choice if you want to learn about the praying rituals of ancient Egypt. The temple is a vast land that houses ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other monuments and is located near Luxor.  The temple of Karnak is the second most visited site in Egypt next to the Giza Pyramids.

The Eiffel Tower has garnered much attention and international publicity and is one prominent symbol associated to France, just as how the Statue of Liberty is associated with America. Built by Gustave Eiffel, this tower is not only a popular landmark but is an architectural achievement and the tallest tower in the world before the Empire State Building’s construction. 

When planning a trip to the Eiffel Tower, its best to book a place in a hotel many months in advance because there are about 6 million visitors in Paris annually and hotels are full all year round. Some hotels to consider in accommodation are the Hotel Passy Eiffel which is a charming 3 star hotel located near Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees. Also there is Hotel Relais Bosquet, also 3 star hotel and ideally located between Eiffel Tower and Invalides, in the very heart of Paris. The Hotel Tourville is  4 star hotel and is located near Champ de Mars and Eiffel Tower. The hotel has very spacious rooms. Another 3 star hotel would be the Hotel du Cadran located in the center of Paris, near Eiffel Tower and Orsay Museum. The Hotel Latour-Maubourg is a parisian hotel with 40 rooms all equipped with WiFi internet connection, bathroom, TV satellite and individual safe.

Paris has over 5,000 restaurants that prepare gastronomic delights time and again. Some of the well known French cafes and bistros are L’Ardoise that serves classic French dishes, such as calf’s liver cooked in sherry vinegar and scallops cooked in basil oil. La Tour d’Argent is a national institution that serves mouth-watering and expensive dishes with half the menu dedicated to duck cuisine. Other restaurants are such as Guy Savoy, Buddha BarGoumard, Le Grand Véfour, L’Alcazar, Le Jules Verne and the Black Calavados.