If you could visit any of the world’s greatest wonders, where would you go? That was the big question with our #My7WorldWonders contest and the response was truly inspiring. From the rose-colored treasury of Jordan’s Petra and the thundering wildebeest of Kenya’s Great Migration to the mystical landscapes of Easter Island and the magical sky of Northern Lights in Iceland, our planet is full of some incredible places.
We’re excited to catch up with Bob Blair of New Hampshire, the grand prize winner of our contest, to learn a little more about his personal 7 wonders, where his travels have taken him to before, and where he’s off to next.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Past job, family, hobbies – we want to know it all!
My name is Bob Blair, I live in New Hampshire and, my wife and I are empty nesters with 6 adult kids and a current count of 8 grandkids. I am retired from a dual career of construction and then retirement plan accounting and advice. In 2018 we decided to go around the world with a One World airline ticket. We met Exodus at the New York Times Travel Show and signed up for 4 trips with Exodus. Those trips plus our own filler trips took us around the world in 3 months. I was a frequent traveler in my youth having lived in Switzerland for a bit and it was great to add some of the rest of the world to my European travel experiences.
What was your reaction? Who did you tell first?
My initial reaction was disbelief, but I was encouraged that the email included a cell phone number I should call. My concerns were put to rest when I realized the person at the other end of the line was the same person who helped me plan our trip with Exodus a year earlier. My wife was the first person I told, and her reactions mirrored my own.
You’ve been lucky enough to do some traveling before, what’s your favorite country (or city) that you’ve visited and why?
It would have to be South Africa. The country has an intriguing history, a very diverse population, and beautiful and dramatic geography. I would pick two areas I liked, Lesotho which is a landlocked country inside of South Africa, whose people are delightful and whose mountains are beautiful and Cape Town, a city filled with history, and unforgettable geographic beauty.
The #My7WorldWonders contest is all about personal World Wonders. We’re curious if you believe there are in fact 7 Wonders, or if they are unlimited?
I think it is up the individual to name the seven wonders of his or her world. It is not a list you should get out of a book. Some of them are natural like Niagara Falls and of course, no more of these are being made but also many of them are manmade like the Taj Mahal and who knows what the future might bring? The Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was built in the early 20th century.
What were your 7 picks and where do you plan on going first?
To be honest, I have traveled quite a bit, so my choices represent the places I have not traveled so they probably vary quite a bit from someone else’s choices:
I think my first trip will be Cycling Croatia this fall. It sounds like a great trip and although I frequently take spinning classes at the gym I have not owned or been on a bike in 50 years, so I am looking forward to the challenge and the sights.
Which Wonder are you most excited to see? Why?
I am most excited to see a couple of the ancient wonders that are still with us such as the Pyramids of Egypt and the Temple of Artemis or Diana in Turkey. Nothing lasts forever and the fact that these ancient wonders are still with us speaks to their lasting significance as a world wonder.