Build Bridges Not Walls

I’m not really sure who to attribute the quote that is the title of my post to. There seem to be a lot of people that have said it at one time or another – and obviously Pope Francis quoted it a few months ago without referring to anyone specific but we all know who he was directing it at. Anyway, I felt it was a very topical as well as appropriate title for this post.

Following on from my Lakes and Lagoons album, I decided to put together a short photo essay on some of the most photogenic bridges I have come across over the last 10 years.

Ponte Delle Torri, Spoleto, Italy

Absolutely incredible architecture. It is thought to have been built in 1350AD and has 10 narrow and graceful arches. It seemed so humble when I visited it, it sort of appeared out of nowhere! Looking down was very unnerving!

Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Spain

Construction took 42 years – the bridge was finally ready in 1793. Parts of the column interiors were used as a prison and later as a bar. Now there is a museum dedicated to the old prison and the bridge. There are absolutely beautiful views over the mountains and always a throng of tourists.

One of the Many Bridges in Venice, Italy

I can’t actually remember the exact location of this bridge are there are so many in Venice! But I do remember it being a really quiet, peaceful waterway – not easy to find in the middle of an August afternoon. I love the reflection of the water shimmering on the underside of the bridge and how the colour of the water stands out against the brickwork of the building.

Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam

We had done a morning’s cycling in the surrounding countryside to then walk through the town to see this beautiful bridge. It was first constructed in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters. Even though centuries have passed and the French flattened the bridge to allow cars to pass through, the design has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design and is beautifully ornamental.

Bow Bridge, Central Park, New York, USA

This is the longest bridge in the park spanning 87 feet. It was a beautiful mid-autumn day, the trees were just beginning to turn and everything seemed a spectrum of green which had a very calming effect.

Gateway to Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Angkor Thom is one of the many beautiful temples in Cambodia and is less touristy than Angkor Wat. We got to Angkor Thom fairly early in the morning to be greeted with this magnificent 12th century bridge leading up to one of the main gates of the temple. It was so peaceful – you could feel the power of the various mythological gods flanking the bridge as we entered.

25 De Abril Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal

The 25 de Abril bridge is the 27th longest suspension in the world and is often compared to the Golden Gate bridge due to its red colour. We were in Lisbon for my Dad’s 60th, eating seafood and drinking gin cocktails overlooking the Rio Tejo. The light suddenly became perfect, bathing everything in gold.

Swing Bridge, Karangahape Scenic Reserve, New Zealand

The Karangahape Scenic Reserve is home to a beautiful gorge, gold mines, an old railway line and a number of swing bridges. This was fairly early on in my trip to New Zealand and I remember standing at the end of this bridge being suddenly struck by what a beautiful country I was in.

Bridge between Buildings at the Crazy House, Dalat, Vietnam

We cycled around the lake and then stopped at the ‘Crazy House’ which was a fun house/very quirky hotel with all different novelty rooms linked by narrow staircases, hidden passages and bridges. It was designed by the president’s architect daughter which could some way to explaining why it’s in all the guide books…..

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

This is definitely one of the most awe-inspiring bridges I have seen, it’s so unusual. A medieval stone bridge, it still has shops along it which was very common back then. Originally they were butchers – nowadays they sell very expensive jewellery and art.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA

The Brooklyn bridge is so iconic of New York, I love it for that alone. It opened in 1883 and at the time was the longest suspension bridge in the world. I remember the cloud formation being particularly unusual that day – walking across it really allowed the fact that I was in New York to sink in.