Paris, the “Pont des arts”. Each evening young people sit on the bridge over the Seine and picknick in the warm evening sun. The Louvre on one side, the École des beaux arts on the other. Boats below. Spanish guitars. Friends, food and wine. How romantic can you get.
http://renefijten.blogspot.com/
trebor61 12:40 pm on September 27, 2009 | #
Lovely drawing but, hey! “young people!!” I had a romantic time with my wife near there a couple of years ago. Bought her a large bottle of olive oil as souvenir. How romantic is that? (Don’t ask)
roseindigo 6:27 pm on September 27, 2009 | #
All depends on what the olive oil is used for, wouldn’t you agree?
roseindigo 6:31 pm on September 27, 2009 | #
It’s a very lovely sketch, but since I’ve never been there I have a hard time imagining hanging out on a bridge. Isn’t there traffic? Around here we have one-lane bridges, and whatever car reaches the bridge first gets the right of way, and we wave to the neighbors if they wait for us to cross first. And of course, in LA where I lived before this there’s no chance of ever of having a picnic on a bridge what with all the cars and exhaust. But then, France has always semmed more civilized.
Leo 9:55 pm on September 27, 2009 | #
Rose, it’s a pedestrian bridge with a boardwalk. And they really do picnic there (adding to my to-do list). Check out this shot – http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2099108840093270834eaSEch – a strikingly similar scene, down to the guy with a bicycle!
renefijten 12:56 am on September 28, 2009 | #
Leo, thanks for the explanation. Yes it’s a predestrian bridge made of cast iron, built by Napoleon in 1801. You can see the passing boats below the planks. When I was there in august there was a pilgrimage by 13 boats passing below, a statue of Maria in smoke and floodlights, choirmusic, incense, and prayers by the local bishop. How surrealistic can you get.
roseindigo 10:43 am on September 28, 2009 | #
Thanks for the explanation. Sounds very civilized. I don’t know of any bridge here where one can meet and congregate, but I have seen it done on the piers all along the Pacific Ocean. Personally I love bridges, especially the ones I remember from Germany. My mother and father met on a bridge which crossed the River Spree in Berlin and it was love at first sight, so they leave sentimental thoughts in my mind, I guess.
Leo 11:14 am on September 28, 2009 | #
Quoting Rose: “I don’t know of any bridge here where one can meet and congregate…”
Quoting Rene: “Friends, food and wine…”
Stop right there… Wine in a public place? Here in States it would mean a trip to a local police department. Unless you’re willing to ruin the atmosphere by covering a bottle with a brown lunch bag.