Sunday, March 18, 2007

Happy birthday, dear old bridge


Big celebrations today, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is 75 years old. No extravagant fireworks on the agenda but a truly exceptional feature: the bridge will be closed to traffic all day and fully open to pedestrians. People had to register online to take the walk, in a compulsory southbound direction only and in waves departing every half-hour from 10 am to 7:30 pm. The response has been overwhelming and the bridge will be packed all day. Unfortunately the weather is grey and rainy today, offering little chance to take outstanding photos. This one was taken a while ago on a particularly spectacular sunset. It was an exhilarating experience !

Evénement aujourd'hui, le pont de Sydney fête ses 75 ans ! Pas de feu d'artifice au programme mais une chance exceptionnelle : le pont sera fermé aux voitures toute la journée et entièrement réservé aux piétons. Il fallait s'inscrire en ligne pour faire la marche, qui se prend obligatoirement dans le sens nord-sud avec des départs par vagues toutes les demi-heures de 10h à 19h30. Les inscriptions ont fait le plein et il y aura foule sur le pont toute la journée. Pas de chance, il fait gris ce matin et il pleut : peu de chances de faire des photos spectaculaires. Celle-ci a été prise il y un moment déjà, lors d'un coucher de soleil particulièrement extraordinaire qui m'a laissée éblouie et comblée !

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such a wonderful back drop for such a magnificent bridge.

Pat said...

What a great scene! Just one question. If everyone had to walk in one direction, how did they get back home?


Pat's Photos and
Guelph Daily Photo

Deb said...

For some reason The Doors' "C'mon Baby Light My Fire..." immediately came to mind.
Nathalie, I'm beyond words-this is another Work of Art!

edwin s said...

Stunning picture! I wish I was there to walk the bridge.

Kate said...

OOOOH!! AAhhh!!

Paul Murphy said...

A pity you didn't get to walk the Bridge Nathalie. The rain stayed away and everything went smoothly. It was a great experience.

Anonymous said...

Nathalie,
this picture is worthy of all good words to describe it, just beautiful.
And congratulations to the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Unknown said...

I walked quarter the bridge the last time, but together with the cars. haha..

Too tired, and walked back. hahaa..

Walking up high on the bridgewalk is much nicer!

Marguerite said...

Ici on peut vraiment parler de flamboiement il aurait éét dommage de garder ces superbes feux dans tes archives. Le soleil est star qui ne distille pas toujours les même récitals...

J'adore regarder le marathon de Paris... à la télé. Je participe à la fête en balançant du corps et des bras dans mon fauteuil. Comme lorsqu'il m'arrive de suivre le ski de fond aussi.
J'ai horreur de courir. Mais j'admire ceux qui s'astreignent journellement à cette disipline quelque soit leur age dansle but de participer à un événement tel que celui ci ou le marathon de new york ou même un quelconque challenge régional. Ils courent et jouir après jour ils acquiérent le souffle, l'endurance...

Je trouve édifiant la leçon qu'on en retire : plus on le pratique plus l'art est aisé...

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

So if you lived southside and wanted to walk were there ferries to take you across to the start?

alice said...

Quelle photo encore une fois! 75 ans? Un vrai jeune homme, ce pont!

Anonymous said...

Wow - who needs firworks with a backdrop like that. (happy bridge birthday)

Anonymous said...

Was this sunrise or sunset? Knowing you, sunrise? It's fun that we around the world recognize certain cities by their bridges. Imagine being the designers! Such an impact. Thankfully this one is very attractive. Your photo is scrumptious, and being there must have been out of this world.

Anonymous said...

Answer to your question: if you all walk in the one direction, how do you get back where you started? Well the seven lines of car traffic were closed but the train line was kept open so you could take the train back ! Easy !

Paul, so glad you did it! I was kept away not by the rain but by my daughter's birthday: I had a party of 14 girls sleeping over. Couldn't really get away! They camped in the garden and of course, in this drought-stricken country, it rained! What a mess. But good fun anyway!

Anonymous said...

Ruth, missed! This was sunset! I was looking west here, standing at the foot of the Opera house.

Marguerite, mille fois d'accord : plus on le pratique, plus l'art est aisé. Ici, pas vraiment de challenge, le pont n'est pas si long, sauf pour les vétérans, anciens enfants des écoles qui avaient défilé sur le pont lors de son inauguration en 1932 et qu'on a invité à venir recommencer cette année...

Gregory Sey said...

Il se passe toujours quelque chose à Sydney! C'est incroyable.

Gaëlle said...

Si seulement il y avait des couchers de soleil comme ça par ici ! C'est spectaculaire.

freelancer said...

Alors là ! Chapeau pour cette magnifique photo !

Bon anniversaire au pont ...

Kala said...

the magnicifent beauty of sydney shines in all its splendor for 75 glorious years! Wonderful colors and another great shot you have provided!

isa said...

It reminds me of the burning of Atlanta sky in "Gone with the wind"...Magnificent!

Carlos Lorenzo said...

Gorgeous and excellent. I can't imagine a better view. A wonderful landscape, sunset picture and architecture.

Chamamy said...

Quel incendie
Merci de partager cet émerveillement :)

Olivier said...

ce coucher de soleil sur le "old bridge" est merveilleux, superbes lumieres, bravo

Ben Nakagawa said...

Your sky is on fire, Nathalie. Did you call...

This is truly stunning in colour and you captured icon. The events on there was on the news. The bridge is a amazing result of engineering (Considered , there was no computerised aid to made perfect alignment at middle when the construction meet at middle.)

Oya said...

What a fantastic photo Natalie

Anonymous said...

post card perfect! showing the bridge at its best!