October 5, 2013
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the bridge of Normandy / compared to a Roman bridge
Le Pont de Normandie
The bridge of NormandyEnglish version below the picture
october 1st
Le spectacle que nous avons quand nous approchons du pont de Normandie, à l'embouchure de la Seine, est comme un jeu de cordes de harpes plus ou moins penchées et espacées.
Elles se rejoignent en haut des hauts piliers et on a l'impression d'entrer dans une harpe double, une de chaque côté du pont.
Nous oublions que ces fils suspendent le pont et nous admirons seulement cette oeuvre d’art géante dont la forme évolue quand la voiture avance.
Ce sont des formes mouvantes comme une musique jouée sur des cordes par le vent de la merThe Pont de Normandie is a cable-stayed bridge on the mouth of the river Seine is among the longest bridges in this category in the world : length is 2,143.21 metres (7,032 ft) – 856 metres (2,808 ft) between the two piers

Le Pont de Normandie est un pont à haubans sur l'embouchure de la Seine est parmi les plus longs ponts de ce type dans le monde: la longueur est 2,143.21 mètres - 856 mètres entre les deux piliers
Photos taken by Michel Fauquet Sptember 2013
The show that we get when we are approaching the bridge of Normandy on the mouth of the river Seine is like a set chords of harps more less leaning and spaced.
They join together at the top of the pole ;and we have the impression to enter into a double harp, one on each side of the bridge .
We forget that those wires are suspending the bridge and we admire only this giant work of art whom the shape is evolving when the car goes on .
This moving shapes are like a music played on those chords by the sea wind
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A roman brige : the Pont du Gard (in Provence , south of France) up dated October 5,2013
English version below the picture.
Nous pouvons comparer le pont de Normandie à un pont-aqueduc construit par les Romains au cours du premier siècle, il y a près de 2000 ans. Ce pont a permis à l'aqueduc de passer de la montagne à la ville de Nîmes, au-dessus de la rivière Gard en Provence (sud de la France).
Il est incroyablement bien conservée et est un bon exemple du talent des bâtisseurs romains: 3 niveaux d'arches. 48m. de haut et 74 m de long. La technique utilisée montre l’ habileté des bâtisseurs romains. L'esprit humain a toujours été en mesure d'utiliser admirablement les techniques et les matériaux qui étaient à sa disposition à un moment donné (pour le meilleur, mais malheureusement aussi pour le pire.)
Le pont du Gard River Gard bridge photo René Falempin 2011We can compare the Normandy bridge to an aqueduct-bridge built by the Romans during the first century , almost 2000 years ago . This bridge allowed the acqueduct to go from the mountains to the town of Nîmes, above the river Gard in Provence( south of France).
It is incredibly well preserved and is a good example of the talents of the Romans builders .: 3 levels of arches . It is about 135 feet high ( 48 m) and 242 feet long(74 m) . The technic used shows how much clever the Romans architects were .The human mind has always been able to use beautifully the technics and materials that were at its disposal at a given time ( for the best but unfortunately also for the worst.)




Photos taken by Michel Fauquet Sptember 2013
Comments (37)
Amazing!!!! I love bridges, but the days of old iron and steel structures have passed, you describe the new harp structured bridge perfectly...We can almost hear the sea wind playing! ilym
Oh, I love the harp analogy ~ how wonderful it would be to hear the harps of heaven!
I've talked to Danishdoll so I know she's on Xanga 2.0
we have a new bridge in Dallas,Texas called the Mary Hunt bridge and it's wires,too.
can you really hear music?
What a creature man is
constructing such grandiose things
drawing iron and stone from the earth
tempering his art with fire and water
drawing thin lines from horizon to horizon, from shore to sky
What a creature man is
Could the beaver brag such wondrous works
in his tiny dam of sticks and mud?
Could the ant claim such achievement
in his little tunnels in the sand?
What comparison is the wasps nest
made from paper and spit?
No.
Only man can declare with firm finality
He is the king of fabrication
from the depths of his imagination
I would have so loved to have witnessed this project during its construction!
I love when archetechs make their creations both utilitarian and artistic!
I could hear the harps play while looking at these amazing photos, Michel!!!


I love bridges and this one takes my breath away!
I, also, love to think about how the bridges were thought of, then built, etc.
I've driven over the Golden Gate Bridge so many, many times and it is beautiful to me every time!:-)
HUGS!!!
PS...also give this post a "rec'" and an "Awesome" MINI!
Century after Century the genius oF THE builders has been increasing about bridges and also for the gothic cathedrales of the Middle Age reveal an incomparable audace and inventivity.. The recent progresses are due to new materiel such iron and concrete which allow all of the audacities .
Such a beautiful and amazing artistry in this bridge. Love the way you have described the bridge to the harp. I can totally see it.
What a really cool bridge! I'd love to have the chance to see it in person!
Such an awesome view!! Especially the very first picture....And you are right in saying they do look like leaning harps....Beautiful!!
It's a beautiful bridge. I also read Danishdoll on here.
I hope you weren't driving when you took the photos "looking up"
While I took the photos of the bridge , it was my wife who drove of course !
Function and art combine to make a thing of wonder.
The first photo makes the bridge look kind of scary. Like a roller-coaster.
There's a new section of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco but I haven't been over it yet.
http://misterbigglesworth2.wordpress.com/
that is so beautiful
It's beautiful. Men can accomplish so much and yet be the biggest fools. I guess I'm feeling like a philosopher this morning. Maybe it's because the government shut down isn't really a shut down it's just shut down what the people like so they cry 'Uncle'.
I must go cheer myself up! Have a wonderful day!
I am having a terrible time getting with this new Xanga! Now I am typing from the left border
I am glad to see you posting here and I love the bridge pictures. Lots of love to you and the family {v}
Hi Michel, that is a beautiful bridge--breathtaking. We have an old suspension bridge in San Francisco that is admired.
blessings
frank
I enjoyed your post..as I always do. Your request for a post from me is....well...I wanted to post some pictures of my garden but couldn't figure how to. Now I can't even figure again how to type a post. I'm sorry.
What an amazing bridge: the architecture of this structure is simply breathtaking!
I didn't realize you are a poet.
"This moving shapes are like a music played on those chords by the sea"
Beautifully said and the pictures also are poetic, Terry would have agreed.
I am very honored, Bev, to be compared to Terry Cutberg.
RYC my photo posting difficulty. I'm sure I'm just doing something wrong, but it's a little annoying!
It is an amzingly beautiful piece of engineering and you described it so musically!
This is an engineering marvel! Thank you for taking us across this beautiful bridge.
What an interesting bridge. It's fascinating how such a simple structure can have so many variations!
Thanks for all your visits and comments of late. I have not been visiting people as much as I used to, but now that I am no longer without a computer I intend to get around more.
The Romans were innovative! Seems to confirm that they just don't build things to last like they used to.
"Grâce à Dieu Anne Terri avec le Saint-Esprit:
Le pont du Gard, rappelle des souvenirs.
AMEN "
bridges are so cool to look at but they freak me out a bit to drive across!
)
I've wanted to see that bridge for years! Thank you so much for posting your pictures of it. Both bridges are amazing but I can't help but wonder which will last longer.
Imagine to build a bridge to take water over the river....that is amazing! ilym
Such a historic bridge! I saw a similar bridge, (I think that also was constructed by Romans), in Turkey. Just amazing.
great pictures.....feel as if I were there
You still need to write a book of love poems, as you have a way with words that is quite enchanting! The bridges...so much like one near me which is quite a thing of beauty when lit at night. It spans the James River, which was named for King James of England. As always you touch my heart!
Merci pour les superbes photos. J'avais vu des photos prises de loin, mais sous ces angles, c'est une toute autre histoire! Magnifique pont au demeurant, je dis ça comme si on pouvait penser autrement!
Celui du Gard par contre, je l'ai vu les yeux dans les yeux, comme on pourrait dire. Là aussi un magnifique ouvrage. Il y a tellement de ces superbes vestiges romains dans cette région. Je me souviens encore d'une pâtisserie achetée à Orange, près du Théatre antique... Un pur délice. Celle-là, c'était loin d'être une ruine, quoique pour le portefeuille...
I love bridges too. Art and architecture.
"Form follows function." ~Louis Sullivan
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