The Golden Gate Bridge

Princess Cheryl's thought of the day:- Forgive me... I don't have the courage to say it in front of you... <<我的眼框 如果有悲伤那是过程中 的收藏 If you see sadness in my eyes, that is what I've been keeping all along the way.>>

It's my 4th day in San Jose, and finally it's time for me to do some sightseeing. Jayant volunteered to be my tour guide of the day. =) After breakfast we departed to the first destination - The Golden Gate Bridge.



I was worried that the weather would not be good for sightseeing...and I was darn unlucky for that morning!! It rained! But luckily it only rained for a short while in the morning.





Thus we could only ride in the car instead of walking on the pedestrian lane of the bridge. Why does a red bridge named as "golden"?? Well, actually the Golden Gate is the North American strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Since 1937 it has been spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge. Technically, the 'gate' is defined by the headlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Peninsula, while the 'strait' is the water flowing in between.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California. Since its completion, the span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. It still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

Initially I did plan to go sightseeing in San Fran riding this red double decker. However since Jayant had become my guide, I get to tour around in private car lolz.





























I personally like this photo very much. Cute huh? That's my new zebra stripe sun shade. No sunlight but it's raining at that very moment. Sun shade only acted as a protection to my eyes because the wind was so strong.



Jayant brought us to the other side of the bridge to get another different view - a view from the Marin Headlands.




I think I camwhore a lot. =p Especially when I just got this new blue jacket with my new zebra stripe shades. Nice?













Here a poem by Joseph P. Strauss, the Chief Engineer who built the Golden Gate Bridge. Written upon completion of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in May 1937.

The Mighty Task is Done

At last the mighty task is done;
Resplendent in the western sun
The Bridge looms mountain high;
Its titan piers grip ocean floor,
Its great steel arms link shore with shore,
Its towers pierce the sky.

On its broad decks in rightful pride,
The world in swift parade shall ride,
Throughout all time to be;
Beneath, fleet ships from every port,
Vast landlocked bay, historic fort,
And dwarfing all--the sea.

To north, the Redwood Empire's gates;
'To south, a happy playground waits,
in Rapturous appeal;
Here nature, free since time began,
Yields to the restless moods of man,
Accepts his bonds of steel.

Launched midst a thousand hopes and fears,
Damned by a thousand hostile sneers,
Yet ne'er its course was stayed,
But ask of those who met the foe
Who stood alone when faith was low,
Ask them the price they paid.

Ask of the steel, each strut and wire,
Ask of the searching, purging fire,
That marked their natal hour;
Ask of the mind, the hand, the heart,
Ask of each single, stalwart part,
What gave it force and power.

An Honored cause and nobly fought
And that which they so bravely wrought,
Now glorifies their deed,
No selfish urge shall stain its life,
Nor envy, greed, intrigue, nor strife,
Nor false, ignoble creed.

High overhead its lights shall gleam,
Far, far below life's restless stream,
Unceasingly shall flow;
For this was spun its lithe fine form,
To fear not war, nor time, nor storm,
For Fate had meant it so.

Finally I've left my footsteps at the Golden Gate Bridge!! =)