Sep 14 2022 - The Most Bridges

 

The Queen's funeral plans were code named Operation London Bridge.  That seems interesting to me. and matches up to the expression "rainbow bridge" as the passing from this life to the next - mostly relating to pets.  Niagara  has its Niagara River bridges, and bridges over the Welland Canal.  The Burlington Skyway is quite impressive.  But these are few compared to other places where bridges abound. Did you know that Pittsburgh is known as the "City of Bridges" and has 446 bridges, with the claim of more than any other city in the world.  But then New York City has 788 bridges, so I wonder how they made the decision.  And then Amsterdam has 1,281 and finally the city with the most - Hamburg Germany has more than 2,300.  If you were appreciative of bridges, Hamburg would be the place to visit.   If you look through the pictures of tallest and longest bridges, the winner is China.  But the compelling pictures are the bridges that are strange and weird.  And there are lots of them.  These vary in shape and purpose and some are just bizarre.    And who thought there would be the thinnest bridge in the world?  And it is made of glass.   There's the bridge that goes underwater - that's the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.   Mostly, one can find pictures and pictures of the weirdest bridges.  Here's one article.   We in Canada have the distinction of the world's tiniest international bridge. Zavikon Island is home to the world’s tiniest international bridge, measuring just 32 feet in length. In the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, it links a Canadian island with an American one. Bridges are beloved - they are considered great feats of human achievement.  I went searching for the meaning of life as represented by bridges and this essay explains it: "I am constantly fascinated by bridges, not just because they are such a marvel of engineering, but also because they are a metaphor for so many things in life. For me they are a way to transition between the highs of life, a way to get over the valley of darkness." from Om Malik, San Francisco writer.   Here's one that caught my attention -  the Magdeburg Water Bridge.   The picture is below.  Our own Welland Canal is ordinary in comparison.

Here's the Martindale Pond Bridge across 12 Mile Creek (I think) with little Dezi as the focal point. This is the site of the Old Welland Canal so some structures are still there, along with the Creek as it runs into Lake Ontario.  This is in nearby Port Dalhousie.   Here's a remnant of the Old Welland Canal - just beside the footbridge. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblog.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca