Imposing Icon

Harbour Bridge

built with hardened steel

and men's toil

Of the two icons that grace Sydney Harbour which adorn travel brochures worldwide, the Bridge for locals, as much as it might be loved, is simply a means of getting from one side of the city to the other, and often a pain at that. 

Even on a pleasant Sunday afternoon when you would've thought traffic would be reasonable, take into account the huge sign indicating 'Incident on Bridge' and the cars start peeling off in all directions into alternative lanes to find the quickest route possible with the least disruption. Nonetheless, we proceeded to our destination as planned in order for me to have the obligatory Bridge experience most visitors to this teeming city want, though I would baulk at the idea of attempting it as a daily commute in peak-hour traffic. 

From The Rocks to the North Shore, the Bridge is not the prettiest in the world, but its design has stood the test of time. Even nearing its own century, its sheer bulk and strength show no signs of developing wrinkles and wilting, and as the years have passed it has been put to good use to further advertise the attractions of this particular city of the Great South Land, adorned as it is in a million fireworks for all the world to see.

Imposing, yes, but quite something to behold, and you can't help but regard it with awe and admiration, along with the men who risked their lives and those who died in order for that inconvenient stretch of water to be breached.