Today I would like to take you (and myself) back in time and space – to late spring, Budapest. I stayed in Hungary for almost half a year, Budapest is an amazing city, just the right proportion of everything a big city should be for me. Although one thing I really regret is not exploring it more deeply, so many great places feel lost to me now that I’m back in Lithuania! But among those few places I did manage to get my lazy self into was the Margaret Bridge.
Beautiful stone and metal-work blend, I savour the opportunity to climb it. Being from a relatively small town I have the perspective of a provincial coming to the big city for the first time, many architectural and engineering feats amaze me, I try to never take for granted the awesomeness of places like this, we are among the first generations to have such grand engineering, the thought and effort of building and maintaining them ware unimaginable to countless generations before, and for me, thinking about that makes me appreciate the presence and atmosphere of these places that much more.
As a bonus, the city does have its own style and spirit, its so thick you can feel it in the air, it reveals itself everywhere you look. I cant help it, for me, the bigger, the grander – the better. Margaret bridge is no exception, almost 140 years old and recently renovated its metal carcase looms over us as we stand at the end of Margaret Island. The bridge connects Buda and Pest sides with a small section protruding to Margaret island from the middle stone platform.
The dawn is approaching and its proven to be difficult to squeeze through the metal beams at some of the narrow sections, but the hard physical labour is worth it, we reach the main part and take a moment to admire the view.
The great metal and stone structure vibrates as trams and cars pass above us and we hear people talking to each other as though we ware among them, alas, they are blissfully unaware of our existence.
A few stars manage to shine despite the clouds and the street lights.
Some decorative elements can be seen even from the inside of the structure where almost no wandering eye ventures.
The reflections of decorative and street lighting make a beautiful transition to the natural early morning light in the muddy water of Danube. No Photoshop required!
Its high time for me to take a selfie.
The dawn slowly breaks and it will soon be time to leave. The catwalk below the main part of the bridge leads us to a locked door and the easy way out is no longer an option (not as though it ever was). So, back the way we came it is, with all the sweat and dirt this path brings.
The metal structure is a joy to explore and theres plenty to be seen when you delve below the street level. The goal of doing this sort of thing is getting a fix of those primeval emotions of discovery, exploration and reconnaissance and this did not disappoint.
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I thank my friend from enterbp.blogspot.com for the trip and for being a guide, a friend and an inspiration during my stay in BP and afterwards.
bureau of secret tourism 