The Brooklyn Bridge

“These are little town blues. They have all melted away. I am about to make a brand new start of it right there in old New York.” - Frank Sinatra

Much like Paris and her Eiffel Tower, New York has quite a relationship with the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is an American creation, not a gift from another nation, and proudly an iconic part of the city skyline. It has been celebrated in history and symbolizes the progressiveness of the United States, most precisely New York City.

I finally decided to stroll over the bridge just in time for the return of spring weather. I love its beautiful architecture. It isn’t quiet like the minimal bridges in the Swiss Alps. It represents masculine embodiments: not wrapping around like ribbons, but digging its feet deep into the earth.

Not only does the bridge have distinctive appeal, but also it has its place in history. One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world, it was once the longest between 1883 and 1903.

Since its completion in 1883, the bridge is healthy as ever in 2010. When one is in New York, it is a must on your to-do list. I highly recommend walking the bridge on a sunny day to observe and appreciate the not only the bridge itself but also the skyline of Manhattan. When walking, listen to the hum of traffic below and feel the smashing winds buzzing through the cable suspensions. It certainly is an amazing experience to admire the handsome architecture we proudly own here in New York while traipsing through it.

Photos by D.B. Kim.