There is no one to credit for this ‘wise old saying’ as the author is unknown, but surely there is wisdom in heeding this recommendation; after all, you may need to cross over them again . . .
Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, Shandong Province, China, Wikimedia Commons image
I’ve always had a fascination, as well as a fear of [some] bridges. Reading an article recently about the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, touted as the “world’s longest over-water bridge at 26.4 miles,” reminded me of several bridges that I have crossed over; especially the Chapel Bridge, spanning the Reuss River in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Chapel Bridge, Lucerne Switzerland, Flickr image by bigbirdz
I was indeed fortunate to have seen the original bridge in 1992 before it nearly met its demise in a fire the following year. Imagine walking atop timbers that were nearly 1,000 years old and viewing original paintings depicting history from the 17th century. This medieval style bridge, built in 1333, is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe and still a popular tourist attraction. The almost blue-green waters of the Reuss River were calm and the sun was shining brightly, so my leisurely trek across the 670’ long bridge was a delight. Now, if I could only find where I placed those photos of my sojourn in Lucerne my memory would be complete.
I vividly remembered another bridge crossing and my trepidation to complete the journey when I was barely several miles into the 23.73 mile length of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana. It is entirely possible that the strong winds and driving rain added to my overall horrific experience. Little did I know that this bridge was the world’s longest over-water bridge until China’s Jiaozhou Bay Bridge opened recently. I learned first hand what it was to be knock-kneed, when I disembarked from my car at the end of the crossing. Although I know that Paul Simon’s record “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was related to the film Bridge on the River Kwai, I personally felt it was apropos to my trip over Lake Pontchartrain.
Covered bridges, such as those displayed in the banner above are indeed romantic, but they cannot hold a candle to famous bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed in 1937. The day I crossed it had been raining, but then again we are speaking of San Francisco – the fog was eerily lovely though and it seemed as though the world stood still but for a moment.
Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge is reflected in the East River, Wikimedia Commons image
No so with my next bridge crossing: the Brooklyn Bridge, not only an engineering marvel of its time, but a masterpiece of art in steel. Bright sunshine, blue skies peeking through drifting cloud puffs and a kaleidoscope of noises echoing throughout my drive across the East River have left me with an indelible memory. I only wish I had been able to cross at night to experience the rainbow of colors reflected off the East River, similar to what is seen in the photo above.
Wikimedia Commons image of Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge
The Grand Canyon Skywalk deck is definitely not a bridge for the fainthearted! This partial glass bottom cantilever bridge can support up to 822 people weighing in at 200 pounds each, but only 120 people are allowed on the bridge at any given time. I visited the Grand Canyon as a teen, but never in my wildest of dreams could I have envisioned a platform jutting out from the canyon wall where one could realistically walk above the canyon. Talk about a rush, without any sugar. Whoah!
Engineers with a vision in artistry can surely account for the 10 most unusual and creative bridges in the world. Here are but a few, but to see them all, visit: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/06/17/10-unusual-and-creative-bridges/
Henderson Waves Bridge, Flickr image by Schristia
Two of my favorites, which I hope to visit in my lifetime, are the Henderson Waves Bridge, which is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, with its unique wave-form made up of seven “undulating curved steel “ribs” that alternately rise over and under its deck. The wave forms glow at night with LED lighting.
But, the blue hue [at night] of the Aiola Island Bridge in Austria, and its breathtaking futuristic design is the one bridge I believe I could cross over and over again. Why not visit this website to see for yourself: http://www.ricarch.com/2010/12/futuristic-aiola-island-bridge-in-austria/
What the Bridge On the River Kwai looks like today, Wikimedia Commons image
Perhaps what stands out most in my memory of bridges is a piece of fiction, “loosely based on the building in 1943 of one of the railway bridges over the Mae Klong – renamed Khwae Yai in the 1960’s” and an award winning movie. The Bridge On the River Kwai was “deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant and selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry, and why not; it is still one of the greatest movies ever made.
I never know where I’ll go next or what I’ll blog about, but I hope you’ll join me, from my ‘arm-chair’ or from been there, done that and 68 years of living!
Arm-chair Tourist et al 