Competed in April 1937, surprisingly $1.3 million under
budget, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is a fundamental character trait of mankind to exceed what previous generations have accomplished. The Olympic motto "citius, altius, fortius" (that means "swifter, higher, stronger" to us regular people) sums up this drive perfectly. I do applaud this ambition to my full clapping capabilities. Without the desire to achieve we'd still be banging rocks together for some pretty sparks in some cave instead of downloading new apps for our I-phones in our office cubicles. So the completion of this bridge is certainly something to be proud of. But it's just a freakin' bridge.
budget, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is a fundamental character trait of mankind to exceed what previous generations have accomplished. The Olympic motto "citius, altius, fortius" (that means "swifter, higher, stronger" to us regular people) sums up this drive perfectly. I do applaud this ambition to my full clapping capabilities. Without the desire to achieve we'd still be banging rocks together for some pretty sparks in some cave instead of downloading new apps for our I-phones in our office cubicles. So the completion of this bridge is certainly something to be proud of. But it's just a freakin' bridge.I'm sure the 118,000 daily drivers over the bridge have forgotten about
it's impressive dimensions of 2.7 kms long, 27 m wide and 227 m tall. A height certainly considered important to the nearly 40 successful suicide attempts (plus 70 talked down) on an average year. That makes it the single most popular suicide location in the world (if you don't count a Jerry Lewis movie marathon). But all being said and done, it does have a pretty setting, stretching across the turbulent San Francisco Bay. With park land at either end, it gives an impression of something of a bridge of wilderness as opposed to just some urban span. And it is, after all, a very photogenic bridge.
it's impressive dimensions of 2.7 kms long, 27 m wide and 227 m tall. A height certainly considered important to the nearly 40 successful suicide attempts (plus 70 talked down) on an average year. That makes it the single most popular suicide location in the world (if you don't count a Jerry Lewis movie marathon). But all being said and done, it does have a pretty setting, stretching across the turbulent San Francisco Bay. With park land at either end, it gives an impression of something of a bridge of wilderness as opposed to just some urban span. And it is, after all, a very photogenic bridge.There are a couple of important things of note about the bridge, though. Not the least of which is the fact the bridge has a closing time for pedestrians.
Even with the big ass signs stating the fact, this normally astute traveller totally missed it. At 6:30 pm or evening (whichever comes first), a large metal gates clamps shut, stranding any traveller (including me) on the far side of the bridge with seemingly no way to get back across. Nearly reduced to tears, i stood staring at the dooming sign leaving me no one to plead my case with. Suddenly a voice, as if from God himself, echoed (with a fair degree of static and feedback) "USE THE CALL BOX". The yellow suicide help line box next to the gate was my only hope. The man on the other side was initially all like, "Dude, you like totally shoulda' thought ahead, man!" but he eventually gave in and sent a Bridge Patrol car to escort me back to civilization. After a rather invasive body cavity search, I was back in the city.
Even with the big ass signs stating the fact, this normally astute traveller totally missed it. At 6:30 pm or evening (whichever comes first), a large metal gates clamps shut, stranding any traveller (including me) on the far side of the bridge with seemingly no way to get back across. Nearly reduced to tears, i stood staring at the dooming sign leaving me no one to plead my case with. Suddenly a voice, as if from God himself, echoed (with a fair degree of static and feedback) "USE THE CALL BOX". The yellow suicide help line box next to the gate was my only hope. The man on the other side was initially all like, "Dude, you like totally shoulda' thought ahead, man!" but he eventually gave in and sent a Bridge Patrol car to escort me back to civilization. After a rather invasive body cavity search, I was back in the city.It is a pretty bridge. The views are lovely. And i did spend the better part of a day (and almost the entire night) in, on and around it. As an individual site itself, IT'S JUST A FREAKIN' BRIDGE! But as part of the overall pleasant San Francisco package, it is most certainly a complimentary addition.
0 comments:
Post a Comment