Bridging Nations

Serving more than 160 destinations around the world from their Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways’ crew share a few favorite bridges.

• Tower Bridge, London: It’s recognizable silhouette has been used in countless movies to show viewers where the story is taking them. Its position in Southwark has probably seen bridges across the Thames River since Roman times. An architectural and engineering marvel when it was opened in 1831, it was painstakingly rebuilt between 1968 and 1972. The bridge is famously sturdy, with granite cladding over a steel frame. Despite that, its two 1 200-ton bascules – sections raised to allow shipping to pass – only take 60 seconds to lift.

  

• Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest: The first bridge across the mighty Danube River connects Buda and Pest, the western and eastern areas of the Hungarian capital. When it was built in 1840, the engineers probably didn’t imagine that in 2001, Hungarian stunt pilot Péter Besenyei would fly his aircraft upside down under the bridge during an air race event, a manoeuvre that’s became a standard in Red Bull Air Race events today. The Qatar crew’s tip: Once you’ve crossed the bridge, take the Castle Hill Funicular to Buda Castle for a view of the city. And if you find you’re ear-wormed while crossing it, that’s because it featured in the video for Katy Perry’s song “Firework”. Factoid: The stone lions on the bridge are almost identical in design to those at London’s Trafalgar Square, and according to Hungarian legend, have no tongues.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge: The ‘coat-hanger’ as it’s affectionately known by the locals carries two motorways, a railway-line, a cycleway and a footpath. It’s roughly modelled on the New York’s Hell Gate Bridge and along with the beautiful Sydney Opera House is synonymous with the city. Factoids: It’s the world’s largest steel span bridge; you can hike up it if you have a head for heights. It cut residents’ and visitors’ traveling time around the coastal city by several hours. Factoid: Paul Hogan (Better known as Crocodile Dundee) once worked as a rigger on the bridge.
• Passerelle du Palais-de-Justice, Lyon: The capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Residents and visitors have crossed these rivers for 2 000 years. The first bridge at this spot was built in 1638 and various iterations since then have been argued over by townsfolk and the city fathers. Selfie opportunity? Oh yes: The graceful suspension footbridge is in front of the historic Palais de Justice (law courts), a majestic neoclassical facade featuring 24 Corinthian columns, the seat of law in the city and province since the 10^th Century.
• San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge: often shrouded in fog and regularly destroyed in blockbuster disaster movies, the bridge was thought to be unfeasible due to storms and the Bay area’s seismic activity. It withstood a major earthquake during construction in 1935 and more than a dozen measuring over 6 on the Richter Scale since. Factoid: toll collectors have been known to accept items in lieu of cash payment, including walking-canes and false teeth. The Qatar crew’s insider tip: it’s free if you walk or cycle, otherwise its easier to swipe your card.

  

• Prague’s Charles Bridge: the beautiful medieval city in the Czech Republic has many bridges over Vlatva River, but the 500-metre Charles Bridge is unique, lined with 30 Baroque busts and statues, each historically significant. The Bohemian sandstone has survived floods, revolutions, electric trams and millions of feet since construction was completed in 1402. For a truly immersive experience, walk the bridge and the city with Czech composer Bedřich Smetana’s Má Vlast on your headphones: it’s his passionate lyrical love-letter to his homeland.
• Ponts des Art (Padlock Bridge) Paris: The bridge is famous – many Parisians would say notorious – for being festooned with padlocks fastened there by sweethearts from around the world. The weight of the locks – more than 700 000 of them eventually – caused the bridge to partially collapse and were removed. The bridge is still worth a visit and has some fine views of the beautiful city. The Qatar crew’s insider tip: take selfies with your plus-one, but leave the padlocks attached to your luggage.