blog: the Manhattan Bridge of my BMW series of NYC bridges

Eerily quiet. And people still throw their trash into the can. Wow!

blog: the Manhattan Bridge of my BMW series of NYC bridges – http://ow.ly/3Eina

Shown here are some of the photos I took when I crossed Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The main article’s available by clicking on the link above; I remember this bridge and the experience of its cold character despite the warmth at that time of the day. And it was a such a solitary walk that I had. I soon understood that people actually don’t cross usually to Manhattan or Brooklyn on foot via this bridge. You’ll expect to be disturbed by the noise coming from the many vehicles and the subway trains crossing the bridge. The trip, however, provides an abundance of views normally not enjoyed by residents or visitors unless they cross the bridge on foot===Chinatown, as approached from this bridge, looks more elegant because of the arch

I forgot what these designs are...pls update me if you have the chance to be walking on the bridge one of these days...Portions of the Arch in Chinatown, Manhattan, heading to Canal StreetA view of Manhattan Bridge while walking on it; I was practically alone walking considering that it's a warm weekday at that.

(a view of which is shown in one of the photos here); there’s that beach that you never thought can be located just across Manhattan. Plus a lot more to explore and check out for yourself.  Take time to do this trip one of these days.

I would have wanted to cross the bridge in the evening after someone I know described his experience of crossing this bridge to his place in Brooklyn late in the evening. He only had delivery guys on their bikes as company, which was understandable, as Chinatown’s just across the bridge. I could just imagine how peaceful that crossing was…but I’m not sure if it was that safe a trip to make late in the evening.

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The “W” in the BMW Sequence of Bridges, “Williamsburg Bridge”

look what artists ahead of us have made out of the WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE marker!!! ha ha ha

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the J, M, Z trains use this bridge back and forth Manhattan and Brooklyn; one of the 2 suspension bridges (Manhattan Bridge is the other one) in NYC that still carry both vehicles and trains to this date

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can you recognize the tallest tower in this picture?

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walk, walk, walk on a leisurely but muggy weekend!

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view of the Queensboro Bridge (or the 59th Street Bridge)

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now I understand why the “Domino” brand of sugar is available everywhere in the city!–it has this enormous plant at this side of Brooklyn across the East River

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this is part of a lovely pair of 3-armed lamp (it could have been 4-armed, I could not see it fully from my location), that you’d notice hanging outside of railings when you approach Brooklyn side from Manhattan

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one of the road signs painted on the ground, which on the whole, are largely ignored, including myself–I almost got run over by a biker, when an interesting scene got into my corner view & I turned to see it fully!!!

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The skyline of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg nabe beckons as I approach the other end of the bridge

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lonely red colored townhouse catching my fancy—I wonder what happened to the other townhouses along the same row?

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beige colored townhouse looking warm to the eyes

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This HSBC branch could have been a place of worship before

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On my way back to Chinatown from Williamsburg

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I’d take Williamsburg Bridge among my favorite bridges todate, if not the top of my list. Why? It’s both zany and a lovely structure to get into by walking, that shows the craftiness and utter irreverence of all artists and pseudo-artists who have walked on its elevated ground. You’d see all kinds of graffiti, which got me into thinking, “how can all these people get away with this?” But I know, there’s no point in showing that the graffiti makes the bridge unsightly or ugly. The graffiti and the old structure make the whole stroll on this bridge worth the experience.

I’ve been to the other side of the bridge in Brooklyn one time I had to run an errand when I was still doing full time jobs over 2 years ago. So this was the bridge that people were pointing out to me when they were giving me instructions on how to reach one of the farthest streets that is next to the river so that I’d reach my destination for the day. It’s an unassuming, well represented nabe, where I’d like to live and stay in the future. During my stroll, I saw a man with a most unusual headgear, a hat made of something like a fur from a dead animal, plus a long dark-colored coat, with 3 small young girls. Based on the curls on the man’s ears, plus his beard, plus the looks of the 3 girls who almost look the same, they’re Jewish, and they’re going opposite my direction. One of the girls was giving me very curious looks, aghast perhaps at seeing someone like me whom she couldn’t pigeonhole as of yet ha ha ha. I was amused; I would have taken a picture of them, but decided not to, just to preserve their privacy amidst the open space out there on the Williamsburg bridge. And I got reminded again, that whenever I see conservative Jewish people in their prescribed attire staying, leading their community lives together in a nabe like this one, or even anywhere in the city, that gives me a reassuring sign that I can live there myself, even I’d be surely an oddity (me, being Asian, being bilingual, wearing a pony tail, being a freelancer) myself. What difference would it make, anyway?

Brooklyn to Manhattan on Foot (with additional pictures)

Williamsburg Bridge and the Empire State Building from some distance where I paused to note how close these known structures are, actually.Manhattan skyline, another take.Manhattan skyline, another take.Darkness soon crept in and lights went on in seconds.

One time I had to buy my medicines from Cumberland Hospital in Ft. Greene in Brooklyn, I realized I could actually walk and cross over to Manhattan via the famed Brooklyn Bridge. I was then walking towards Jay Street, and I asked one black fellow I met on the street if the bridge that we were looking at from our distance happened to be Brooklyn Bridge. He didn’t answer my question, but he volunteered to tell me that I could just go strait, and the road will indeed lead to Brooklyn Bridge. But along the way, I noticed some posted signs that read “Manhattan Bridge” so I decided to ask a policeman who happened to be standing on a corner doing his traffic chores that time when it was getting into the rush hours. He gave me instructions that would get me to streets leading to the Brooklyn Bridge. Honestly, I didn’t really understand him as much, but I thought to myself, I could do this, and I would have fun doing this. I didn’t anymore ask for additional instructions and proceeded with my last-minute adventure.

The postings on the street have been fairly easy to pick up, and I followed my intuition. I then found myself at the foot of Brooklyn Bridge. People were coming back and forth in opposite directions, and the sun was soon ready to set. I saw the painted drawings on the very ground of the street showing “bikers” who would be ready to hit pedestrians anytime soon if they didn’t keep alert. Very soon enough, someone on her bike coming opposite my direction was shouting herself out: “Fucking stupid moron!” and I realized she was heading my way as she’s got herself fastened to her bike in such swift rate of pedaling motions. That was indeed a close call! I told myself: “I pray the great Lord’s gonna fetch you soon, even before you become aware of it.” I just laughed to myself at the automatic revengeful stance I got towards her.

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge’s an easy 10-minute walk, more or less. But I got myself distracted by all the people who were doing their walk that time. The clouds were greyish, dark, and lonesome to focus at during this first time Brooklyn Bridge walk. I happened to have brought my camera with me, so I took pictures, but I realized this camera’s failing me already. There were others who were having the time of their lives being up there; it’s not the most touristy place to visit especially if one is not on tip-top shape (but it surely will provide much needed exercises for those who would venture by crossing the bridge). But it’s a must-see, I would say, for those who have been to great bridges in other parts of the world. You’d see a lot from not so far distance. The statue of Lady Liberty, Manhattan Bridge, Manhattan’s skyline, Dumbo, the East River, Chinatown, Empire State Building, etc.

I was happy to make it to Manhattan island. I was trying also to reach a friend by making several calls to confirm a schedule to eat out somewhere, but my calls were not returned soon. I was glad and grateful I got to do my exercise for the day, at least. I soon found myself close to City Hall, where I then proceeded to take a bus that passed by East Broadway. I got out again, and decided I’d have dinner in a noodle house I’ve visited twice before. But I saw another food outlet, where regular Chinese who spoke exclusively Chinese were around to have their supper on their way home from work, either to stay or to go in that unpretentious small food space from a row of food shops. I got myself in, and joined them, and had the most filling meal I enjoyed that early night.