Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days is one of my favorite children’s books. Young readers and adults have been enthralled with the imaginary tale since 1873, when it first appeared in movies, television shows, and video games. When I was in the third grade at PS 39 in Arrochar 65 years ago, I was captivated by the prospect of flying in a hot air balloon and visiting distant places. More recently, I became aware of Nellie Bly, a writer from New York who, in 1889, traversed the world in 72 days after being inspired by the fictional story of Verne Fogg’s character Phileas Fogg.
I chose to sign up for a Smithsonian Journeys-TCS World explore trip in order to fulfill a boyhood goal, and I boarded a private jet to explore the world. Despite being equally thrilling and dramatic, my intriguing journey only accounted for a small portion of Nellie’s 22-day journey.
I visited important locations in nine countries—Peru, Chile, Fiji, Australia, Cambodia, India, Tanzania, Egypt, and Morocco—and covered 28,105 nautical miles in three weeks. I offer a selection of highlights and thoughts about four UNESCO World Heritage sites in this column: the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Rapa Nui in Chile.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, was named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World in 2007. I climbed 11,152 feet above sea level to Cusco in order to reach Machu Picchu, which is far higher than the 401-foot highest point on Staten Island and the eastern seaboard of the United States. I took altitude medication to help me adjust to the sudden shift in air pressure before landing. Our excellent local guide, Alfredo, took my fellow visitors and I to the location of the lost Inca empire once we had settled in. The site, which is 7,972 feet above sea level and situated between the Amazon rainforest basin and the Andes Mountains, was reached by rail and then bus.
The Incas founded Machu Picchu in 1450, and for a century or so, until the Spanish conquest, it was a flourishing agricultural and religious site. The Incans built some of the structures that demonstrate their advanced knowledge of astronomy and wild plant cultivation, which translates to “Old Peak” in the native Quechua language. Their medical and hydraulic engineering skills were exceptionally sophisticated. Interest in restoring Machu Picchu didn’t grow until 1911, when explorer Hiram Bingham found the ruins of the mountain.
Rapa Nui, Chile
Our second stop is Rapa Nui, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It is situated in the Pacific Ocean, almost 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile. Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen dubbed it Easter Island after discovering it on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1722. His experiences with the weird statues and the native Polynesians were recorded in his ship logs. Tribal conflicts plagued the island for years after Roggeveen was discovered, causing damage and toppled sculptures, a decrease in population, and the depletion of natural resources.
About 1,000 enormous, enigmatic, monolithic Moai figures that were made of volcanic ash, or tuff, were preserved. They are thought to have been built to honor departed tribe elders and act as spiritual guardians of their people, facing inward toward the earth. One block of tuff was used to make the largest statue, which stood 32 feet tall and weighed over 82 tons. The statues were positioned upright and transported up to 11 miles after being carved on their backs.
A couple of the over 1,000 enormous, enigmatic, monolithic Moai statues that were built from tuff, or volcanic ash, that was left behind in Rapa Nui, Chile—named Easter Island by a Dutch explorer—are displayed with the author. (Dr. Frances R. Curcio’s permission)Advance of Staten Island
In addition to seeing and learning about the Moai, I was interested in visiting the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts, as I detailed in the Staten Island Advance in 2023. I was lucky to have met Mahani Teave, a well-known classical pianist, environmental activist, and co-founder of the school. My request to revisit the school was granted when organizing my second trip to Easter Island. This time, Mahani welcomed a group of my traveling buddies and I with great grace, and the students and their teachers gave us a very special concert. Mahani played piano accompaniment for a few of the young artists. We heard a blend of classical and traditional music, as well as traditional Rapa Nui ancestral chants, which are essential to conserving their culture and legacy.
Children on Rapa Nui have free access to dance, art, and music education thanks to grants and contributions. The instrument used to form and carve the exquisite Moai statues is called a toki. The Toki School is the instrument that gives kids the opportunity to improve their skills and foster a respect for the arts. Readers can visit [email protected] to find out more about the school and to support and donate to the fine arts program on Easter Island. (Dr. Frances R. Curcio, courtesy)Advance of Staten Island
Under the direction of American architect Michael Reynolds, the school was planned and built over a decade ago with consideration for the Island’s ecology. It is a self-sufficient building made of recyclable materials, such as tires, glass bottles, and aluminum cans.
Some kids receive grants to help pay for their tuition to pursue dance, music, and art, while others receive scholarships. The instrument used to form and carve the exquisite Moai statues is called a toki.
The Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Even though there are many pictures of this architectural wonder, it is genuinely amazing to see it in person. In 1983, UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site and named it one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The ivory-white marble monument, which was constructed between 1632 and 1648 to commemorate Mumtaz Mahal, the second (and favorite) wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, is a beautiful example of symmetry and a testament to the Shah’s unwavering devotion. Precious and semi-precious pietri dure are used to decorate the inside. Quranic texts and chapters are embedded. It’s wonderful how the font sizes rise with height to provide a consistent visual effect.
The 4,500-year-old limestone Great Sphinx of Giza, which is next to the Great Pyramid and is acknowledged for its cultural and historical value, is the most notable of the numerous landmarks in Luxor and Cairo. With the head of a human representing wisdom and intelligence and the body of a lion representing power, the sphinx is a mythological figure connected to deities (Horus, Ra). King Khafre, who constructed one of the three Pyramids of Giza and ruled from approximately 2472 to 2448, is shown as the human head of the Great Sphinx.
The Sphinx was believed to be a divine representation of the right to rule and a guardian of a pharaoh’s final resting place.
FIJI, NADI
While our jet was refueled in preparation for our flight to Cairns, Australia, our quick third stop provided additional cultural enrichment. Traditional cuisine and exotic celebratory Fijian Meke entertainment, including a thrilling fire dance on the beach, were used by the local indigenous people to commemorate our arrival.
Traditional cuisine and exotic celebratory Fijian Meke entertainment, such as an exhilarating fire dance on the beach, are common ways for the indigenous people to celebrate events. (Dr. Frances R. Curcio, courtesy)Advance of Staten Island
Impressions
Seeing how and where the past and present converged while touring historic locations and learning about various cultures, faiths, and customs was gratifying. Meeting people from around the world allowed us to experience, share, compare, and talk about commonplace and distinctive sights, sounds, smells, and flavors that will always be a part of my life.
(Dr. Frances R. Curcio, Ph.D., a resident of Arrochar, is Queens College’s professor emerita of secondary education and youth services.)
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