Global Voices Online

Photo taken by C.J. Schexnayder and used with permission.

The much delayed selection of the “new seven wonders of the world” has finally ended; Machu Picchu, also known as the lost city of the Incas, came in fourth place in the election, which was decided by internet users around the world. Let’s see what Peruvian bloggers had to say about the news:

Of course, most bloggers are happy with the results, as is obvious in the blog Dttodo's post “Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the modern world“.

Mi papá es Cuzqueño y Yo he tenido la suerte de vivir parte de mi infancia en esa hermosa ciudad. La semana pasada quedó plasmada la influencia de nuestra cultura para la humanidad con la elección de Machu Picchu como una de las 7 maravillas del mundo moderno. Esta es una de las ocasiones en las que podemos hinchar el pecho y decir a viva voz, ¡Que viva el Perú carajo! (También sentí mucho orgullo por México y Brasil…felicidades!)

My father is from Cuzco, and I have been lucky enough to live part of my childhood in this beautiful city… seeing my father anxiously await the results reminds me that it is not easy to be Peruvian. It made me think that remaining in our country has not been easy that for his generation (and many others)… This is one of the times when we can puff out our chests and say loudly, Long live Peru damnit! (I also was very proud of Mexico and Brazil… congratulations!).

Letra Suelta [ES] in its short post (Machu Picchu: A New Wonder of the World, Surprised?) reviews the media coverage of the award in newspapers of the Spanish-speaking world:

Hubo gran cobertura mediática: El Comercio (Perú), Clarín (Argentina), El País (España), El Universal (México), El Mercurio (Chile)…Y, claro está, la blogósfera mundial estuvo atenta a los resultados finales. Se resalta que Latinoamérica haya acaparado tres maravillas.

There was a lot of media coverage: El Comercio (Peru), Clarín (Argentina), El País (Spain), El Universal (Mexico), El Mercurio (Chile)… And, of course, the global blogosphere also paid attention to the results. In the end, Latin America was home to three of the wonders.

Ernesto of Fisica3 [ES] explains the reasons behind the Peruvian victory in his post: And the Peruvian effort supporting Machu Picchu prevailed.

Razones del triunfo peruano? Simple… trabajo que empezo hace tiempo, el tomarselo como asunto de orgullo nacional lo que llevo a que muchos websites peruanos tuvieran un banner invitando a votar desde el año pasado, osea que no ha sido casualidad, sino una labor de tiempo y persistencia de los internautas peruanas, la cual ya habiamos visto en los casos de Libido, TK y la gringa Sofia.

Reasons for the Peruvian victory? Simple… work that began a long time ago, and the fact that many Peruvians took the matter as a point of national pride and placed banners on their websites that encouraged people to vote during the past year. In other words, it wasn't just luck, but instead was through the hard work and persistence by Peruvian internet users, which we have seen in the blogs of Libido, TK y la gringa Sofia.

In the midst of the celebrations, PEDROVILCAPAZA [ES] reflects on the need to care for the Inca city: Machu Picchu, wonder of the modern world.

Nos toca a todos los peruanos preservar este patrimonio de la humanidad y no destruirlo ni perderlo en el tiempo, felicitaciones a la ministra que se puso la camiseta en esta campaña, hoy todos ganamos y como dice un comercial “Machu Picchu es una maravilla, ser peruano es una maravilla”.

It is our responsibility as Peruvians to preserve this human patrimony and not destroy it or lose it to the ravages of time. Congratulations to the government official who helped in this campaign, and as the commercial says, ‘Machu Picchu is a wonder, being Peruvian is a wonder.

The sentiment that Machu Picchu needs more care than it has previously received was echoed in the blog Cuaderno de Borrador [ES] in its post Of seven wonders, Machu Picchu is the fourth.

¿Hacía falta el concurso para que los peruanos sepamos que Macchupicchu es una maravilla? Para los peruanos no, pero tal vez para que lo sepa la parte del mundo que no lo sabía. Con o sin concurso, visitemos y tratemos con cariño la siempre (antes del 07/07/07) maravillosa Macchupicchu. Ahora, con concurso y galardón encima, los encargados de la administración de nuestra maravilla ¿estan preparados para la pronosticada sobre avalancha de turistas que se viene?, ¿no abusaran de los precios?, ¿cuidaran mejor que nunca el mantenimiento de la ciudadela?, ¿etc. ?

Did we Peruvians need the contest to know that Machu Picchu is a wonder? For Peruvians probably not, but maybe the rest of the world now knows. With or without a competition, we will visit and treat with love the always (before 7/7/07) marvelous Machu Picchu. After the competition and with the prize, are the officials responsible for the monument ready for the forecasted avalanche of tourists who will descend upon the site? Will they inflate prices? Will they take better care of the site?

The above post is the only one that questions the capacity and ability of Machu Picchu to receive more visitors. Media Perú [ES] its post Is Machu Picchu ready to be a seventh wonder of the world? cites an answer given by a representative of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR).

Según Petrozzi existen cuatro accesos a Machu Picchu de los que actualmente sólo se utiliza uno y el número de visitantes diarios oscila en 1500 personas, las que hacen largas colas para ingresar. Despues de las celebraciones las instituciones correspondientes debería realizar un plan de contingencia para el posible aumento de visitas y mejorar el servicio turistico en la ciudad inca.

According to Petrozzi there are four entries into Machu Picchu, and only one is currently being used by 1,500 daily visitors, creating very long lines to enter the site. After the celebration the responsible organizations should come up with a plan to handle the possible increase in visits and to improve service in the Inca city.

These aren’t all of the criticisms. The blog DESDE EL TERCER PISO [ES] outlines many reasons against increasing the number of visits to Machu Picchu in its post Old summit, new wonder?

Lo tercero y final: la sobreexplotación del Cusco en desmedro de otros lugares del país. Cuando he visto a la simpática Mercedes Araoz haciendo campaña por esta bendita votación, me venían dos preguntas a la cabeza:
1. ¿Tenemos política de turismo más allá de promover el Cusco como imagen? Como que hasta Toledo hizo alguito más con la huachafería esa de The Royal Tour.
2. ¿No tenemos otros atractivos que mostrar? Se me vienen a la cabeza varios: las líneas de Nazca, Chavín de Huantar, el Museo del Señor de Sipán, las playas del norte, los manglares de Tumbes, Arequipa, las riquezas folklóricas de Puno, la selva, Kuelap, Choquequirao y el mismo Centro Histórico de Lima.

The exploitation of Cuzco to the detriment of other locations in the country. When I saw the pleasant Mercedes Araoz campaigning for the election of Machu Picchu in this election, two things came to mind:1. Do we have the governmental support of tourism that will go beyond solely promoting the image of Cuzco?
2. Do we have other attractions to offer? A few come to mind: the Nazca lines, Chavín de Huantar, the Museum of Señor de Sipán, the beaches of the north, the mangrove swamps of Tumbes, Arequipa, the folkoric riches of Puno, the jungle, Kuelap, Choquequirao and the historic center of Lima. Even Toledo did something else with the distasteful Royal Tour.

The blog Peruanista [ES]distances itself from this issue and offers a thoughtful reflection in its post The two “new” indigenous wonders of the world.

Este premio entonces no debe ser solamente una forma de reconocer el trabajo, creatividad, inteligencia y excelencia de las geniales civilizaciones Indígenas Nativas que surgieron en el continente Abya Yala (América), sino es una llamada de atención para la reivindicación de los derechos de los pueblos Indígenas. Nuestros antepasados construyeron estas ciudades de las que nos enorgullecemos hoy, mucho antes que los europeos invadieran nuestras tierras con sus balas, caballos, religiones y enfermedades. Pero quiero creer que eso es parte del pasado. En vez de lamentar esa parte de nuestra historia común, quiero aceptar y celebrar incluso que ahora nuestro rico continente es compartido con otros pueblos y culturas.

It is prize is not just a way of recognizing the work, creativity, intelligence, and excellence of the brilliant indigenous civilizations that arose in the continent of Abya Yala (America); it is also a call to reclaim the rights of indigenous people. Our ancestors built these cities that we take pride in today, many years before the Europeans invaded our lands, bringing their weapons, horses, religions, and diseases. But I would like to believe that all of that is part of the past. Instead of regretting that part of our common history, we should accept and celebrate that now our rich continent is celebrated with other people and cultures.

Machu Picchu is a wonder that we must protect; that much is clear. There are various studies on the topic that warn of the dangers that an increase in the number of visitors to the site will have. There is already a lot of damage being done by the chaotically growing settlement that exists at the foot of the site, and we’re not even considering the impact of the infamous plans for a cable car. I’ll end with a few of the many posts in Spanish on the subject.

LaNuez - Machu Picchu una Maravilla
Blogginsomnio.net La falsa votación de las Nuevas 7 Maravillas
Pretextos - LAS SIETE ¿MARAVILLAS? DEL MUNDO
Política en Perú - New7Wonders: Machu Picchu Elegida entre las 7 Maravillas del Mundo
Rosa de Paz - MACHU PICCHU GANO… es una de las 7 MARAVILLAS DEL MUNDO
Crepúsculos y cuadernos Kausachum, Machu Picchu
Pelo Pon Eso - Realmente maravillado
ALEXCELI.ORG [ES] MACHU PICCHU ES UNA DE LAS N7W
Negligencia Médica [ES] - Macchu Picchu instante de ser elegido Nueva Maravilla del Mundo (Video)
Toñito Ávalos - TOÑILUSTRACIÓN: !PASU MACHU!!..MACHU PICCHU MARAVILLOSO!
Peru y Medio Ambiente - Gran alegría por elección de Machu Picchu como maravilla del mundo
Trujillo Daily Photo - A NEW WONDER OF THE WORLD

And to end I'll leave you with this related video of Machu Picchu from Enlace Nacional [ES]. Ciao.

Translation by Linda Rodríguez