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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 12:00:33 GMT
While in New York City last week I took the time to take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. My husband and I had done this many years ago and I wanted to repeat the experience as it was so memorable. I started off on the Manhattan side of the bridge and headed toward Brooklyn. It was a gorgeous spring day,temperatures around 70F,clear skies,a nice breeze blowing,really quite pleasant. The bridge was opened to the public in 1883. It is 1.14 miles long. The main span is 1,595.5 feet.each of the four main cables are 3,578.5 feet. It has 6 lanes for autos,a walkway, which also accommodates bicycles and joggers in their own lane.(God forbid you veer into the bike lane,you will get run over and or cursed out.)Needless to say,the views are spectacular,of both the Manhattan side and Brooklyn. I did not get off on the Brooklyn side because I had an appointment to keep in Manhattan,and I had dilly dallied too long and needed to get back. There is a well known pizza parlor,Grimaldi's ,on the Brooklyn side,well worth a visit to,but often there are very long lines,mostly from pedestrians having crossed the bridge.   A glance back to Manhattan,the tall building in sight is the Woolworth Building  Quite a few pedestrians that day,mainly tourists,some school children and best I could tell,some commuters.  This lovely couple had just got married on the bridge and were heading back to Manhattan.  Walkway down the middle,traffic lanes below on the right.  Another glance back to Manhattan      Another glance back to Manhattan from the opposite side  same   Looking down to auto lanes  Looking up....    Glancing far back to Manhattan,getting closer to Brooklyn  Far,far in the distance,the Statue of Liberty. As good a shot as my zoom would allow.  A boat load of tourists,also fairly far away.  Approaching Brooklyn skyline   Cars exiting bridge into Brooklyn   View of the Manhattan Bridge which runs parallel to the Brooklyn Bridge,an absolutely gorgeous structure.  Heading back to Manhattan,the Manhattan Bridge with Empire State Building in the middle,this was such a great view.      Heading back to Manhattan.... |
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Post by happytraveller on May 21, 2010 12:18:51 GMT
Either you have a fantastic camera or you are a very talented photographer. Or both probably. Those pictures are awesome, thanks for sharing !
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 13:09:50 GMT
Thanks HT!! No, I don't have a great camera,just an Olympus FE-360 8.0 megapixel,pocket camera, which I'm still learning to use (reading the manual might help  )I enjoy taking pics so much though,and can see some improvement overtime. What a generous compliment,thanks again. Glad you enjoyed! |
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Post by happytraveller on May 21, 2010 13:25:28 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on May 21, 2010 14:44:55 GMT
Oh gosh, oh golly ~~ this is absolutely one of the coolest picture threads ever to be posted on AnyPort! Really, I'm sort of gaping like a fish, only capable of saying dang! or wow!
Yes, yes I know you had a great subject, but it's the angles you caught, the framing you did, that really captures the beauty of the setting, the pleasure of the walkers, and how the bridge ties Manhattan and Brooklyn together. There are too many individually perfect pictures in this group to count!
A question about that last picture -- is that couple as unprotected as they look, or is that a trick of the light not showing the barrier?
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 17:22:58 GMT
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Post by bjd on May 21, 2010 17:24:41 GMT
The second and last time I went to NYC in 1998, we did the walk in the other direction -- took the subway to Brooklyn and then walked towards Manhattan. Not nearly as many people on it then.
The Brooklyn bridge always reminds me of the scenes in Woody Allen's Manhattan
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 18:15:38 GMT
Thanks good people.
Bixa,the last shot I believe looks that way because of the angle it was taken from. Those people are well protected by the same wall like structure you see in the other pics.
I remember the first time we walked across,it was early in the morning,even so,there were hardly any people at all. My husband was inspired to do the walk because of the scene in Sophie's Choice (the movie version),where Nathan,the main character,and Sophie,go walking across in celebration of the other character's literary triumph.It is a great scene.
I was pleased to see many school children on there with their teachers,sketch books in hand,drawing the skyline,the Manhattan Bridge etc.
Kerouac,I don't think that there are too many other bridges in NYC that have pedestrian walkways. Would have to check on that.I wouldn't mind doing another one next visit.
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Post by bjd on May 21, 2010 18:18:21 GMT
The Veranzano bridge must have walkways, or do they run on the road during the NY marathon?
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 18:20:56 GMT
The Veranzano bridge must have walkways, or do they run on the road during the NY marathon? This is true,didn't think of that one....Like I said,would need to check,I think maybe the George Washington has one as well. I know the Triboro(now RFK) and the Manhattan do not. |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 21, 2010 18:52:59 GMT
Whoa ~~ I know what movie I'm watching next! I've only watched Manhattan once, on the big screen when it was first released. The movie is a wonderful love poem to the city and it was exciting to see the opening scenes all over again.
I can't remember details, but much of the history of the Brooklyn Bridge is of the "stranger than fiction" variety. I do remember that the main engineer became an invalid during the construction of the bridge, and his wife had to fill his role.
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Post by fumobici on May 21, 2010 20:22:45 GMT
Wonderful photo essay. NYC is magic.
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Post by gertie on May 22, 2010 3:02:56 GMT
How wonderful of you to share, Casmira! Thank you!  |
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Post by imec on May 22, 2010 15:26:20 GMT
Some fantastic pictures in a terrific essay of a sight I've long wanted to see. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 15:39:10 GMT
Very nice pictures. Makes me want to see it, be there.
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Post by auntieannie on May 22, 2010 16:18:54 GMT
Thank you for the lovely walk, Casimira!
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Post by greyghost1 on May 22, 2010 17:09:24 GMT
Thanks so much for those photos. We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge shortly after 9/11. We had viewed the descruction and desperately needed something to clear all that sadness from our minds so we walked the bridge. It was 10 degrees centrigade, and windy but it was an awesome experience. And yes we went to Grimaldi's and had pizza which was the best we have ever had!
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 21:38:32 GMT
Thanks again everyone. It surely is a must do/see kind of NYC thing,even if only once. I think people are put off by it perhaps because they think of it as a much longer hike than it really is. When you take into account all the things to view,benches to sit on and rest,take pics,etc...it makes it that much more enjoyable than say a "forced march" so to speak. I'm so glad you got to do this walk after the 9/11 'tour' Greyghost. (And I have not eaten pizza at Grimaldi's,lines too long... but, hear it's fabulous. You may want to check out another one,Patsy's up on E118 and 1st Avenue. Not as picturesque a neighborhood I'm afraid,but,acclaimed to be the best pizza in NYC,therefore, the world  ) Bixa mentioned early on that the building of the bridge had a "stranger than fiction" story surrounding it. To elaborate on this a teeny bit...The engineer,designer,builder of the bridge,(and the inventor of wire cable!),John Augustus Roebling, suffered a fatal injury by a ferry that toppled him from a waterfront piling.His son Washington Roebling took his place. He, then fell victim to 'the bends' and was an invalid until the end of his life. He continued nevertheless to supervise the project through a telescope from his room on Columbia Heights while his wife,Emily,relayed his instructions to workers and managers. There were other setbacks,faulty cable,and lack of appropriations. Then,just after it's official opening,twelve pedestrians were trampled to death during a panic set off by a shouted warning,anonymous and groundless,that the bridge was in danger of imminent collapse!!! The renowned documentary film maker,Ken Burns did a fabulous piece on the bridge,one of his earliest films,in 1981,(which he had great difficulty in selling!!). Worth a look see. |
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Post by lola on May 23, 2010 11:57:09 GMT
What a wonderful thread, Casimira.
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Post by hwinpp on May 24, 2010 2:36:41 GMT
Great pictures of a great bridge, Cas! I'm not sure I'd walk a bridge of that length, has to do with fear of heights. Did the bridge 'bounce'? Or is it too big for that? |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 2:49:45 GMT
Great pictures of a great bridge, Cas! I'm not sure I'd walk a bridge of that length, has to do with fear of heights. Did the bridge 'bounce'? Or is it too big for that? Thanks HW! I can understand the phobia,I don't have that particular one,but, have one about driving over some bridges with cars rushing aside me... No,there was no 'bounce' HW!! (Surely, you jest!! ) ( There was a Sabrett hot dog vendor at each end though...) |
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Post by cristina on May 24, 2010 4:26:28 GMT
Casimira, this is a fabulous photo essay! I have walked across the bridge...but years ago and without a camera. Your pictures are really beautiful! A wonderful memory... Great pictures of a great bridge, Cas! I'm not sure I'd walk a bridge of that length, has to do with fear of heights. HW, I am terrified of bridges - when driving- but not when walking. I'm not sure why the difference. |
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Post by hwinpp on May 24, 2010 5:18:33 GMT
Driving no problem for me.
I might have used the wrong word to describe the 'bouncing'. It doesn't really bounce but sometimes you get the feeling it's sort of swaying vertically. I don't like that feeling either.
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Post by bjd on May 24, 2010 17:07:33 GMT
I don't like heights either, but the Brooklyn Bridge is so massive that you don't feel anything. Actually, I prefer bridges over water than over roads -- I guess I figure I'll be able to swim if it ever collapses.
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Post by Jazz on May 27, 2010 21:21:15 GMT
Casimira...a fresh, beautiful and unexpected glimpse of New York! Great photos, and now I want to do this walk. If I can find it, the Ken Burns documentary sounds good, love his work. Thank you.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2010 9:56:31 GMT
Yes,Jazz,you really must take a trek down to NYC and do this walk,take in some wonderful art (you would have loved the Cartier-Bresson exhibit,thought of you often while viewing!), and cavort around this wonderful,and as Fumobici states,"magical" city!
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Post by htmb on Nov 21, 2014 22:11:33 GMT
I'm glad I found this thread. Wonderful photos, Casimira!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2014 13:13:48 GMT
Thank you HTMB!
Reviewing it, it seems like it was in another lifetime, and yet, it seems just like yesterday.
To quote the late great Lou Reed, "it was a Perfect Day".
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2014 19:49:53 GMT
Now if you would just get back to posting pictures again...  |
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)I enjoy taking pics so much though,and can see some improvement overtime. What a generous compliment,thanks again. Glad you enjoyed!
)
