On the first of January, I walked across the new bridge that spans the Garonne along with the children, their friend and 40 000 other Bordelais. The contrast between the ultra modern vertical lift bridge and the more central Napoleonic "pont de pierre" is striking — the new bridge is unfamiliar, sleek and shiny, the old bridge ancient and honey-coloured. Another nice contrast is provided between the bridge's official name, "le pont Chaban Delmas" for the long-time mayor of Bordeaux, and the name most people seem to be using "le pont Baba" from Bacalan-Bastide, the two quartiers that it links.
I'm sure I could extract some significance from this ritual crossing: something along the lines of making new connections; the new link between left and right bank and their social make-ups; a city coming together to celebrate the river that runs through it, the passage from one year into the next, the old one so much water under the, er, bridge. To be honest, however, people were subdued, there was no sense of symbolism or celebration and for most it was manifestly simply pleasurable to be out in the fresh air after such a short night. But then most of weren't actually going anywhere, we were crossing over just to come straight back again.
(This is one of those panorama photos from my iPhone, the bridge isn't really bent in the middle)
4 comments:
Can't wait to check this out -- we'll be able to go for a long run now, down the promenade, then across the river and back!
I really like the look of it, I do envy you living there xx
Someone had the good idea to use a George Brassens quote à propos the new bridge :
Il suffit de passer le pont, c'est tout de suite l'aventure
and anyone visiting the Musee Cap Sciences can sit out on a terrace upstairs right by the bridge ... impressive and peaceful at the same time.
@materfamilias - I feel tired just thinking about that!
@auntiegwen - It's a nice place to live, I have to admit.
@deborah - Good oldGeorges Brassens, he is exactly right. We had been to Cap Sviences the week before and saw a gorgeous sunset from the deck.
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