W is for wrap.
Two peripatetic American tourists stumbled on this cultural phenomenon by accident one fine fall day in Paris, in 1985.
At first, I was miffed. Bridge repairs? Now? When I wanted to take pictures? Slowly, we began to understand that a different kind of history was occurring.
Christo had wrapped the Pont Neuf. It was a thorough job. Divers had wrapped the bridge under the Seine. The lampposts were starched ghostly effigies, pointing skyward. These pictures are camera shots of slides that we took at the time. The wrap was beige canvas, and stayed up for two weeks.
It's fantastic. "W" is for wonderful words (and picture).
Posted by: Kathy | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 06:44 AM
What a wonderful happening to come upon unexpectedly. It would be bitter sweet as you saw something unique and historic but not the bridge you came to see. It's a perfect 'W'.
Posted by: margene | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 07:54 AM
they were wrapping it in canvas why? it's not a renovation technique i've seen here, lol. i did read the wiki entry though, that was cool!
Posted by: minnie | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 08:05 AM
Amazing. I remember that bridge, but it didn't look like THAT when we were there! It's kind of Whimsical, actually.
Posted by: Marcia | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 08:59 AM
Of course you were there. Of course.
How perfect to stumble across such a thing.
Posted by: Juno | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 09:05 AM
What a fabulous happenstance! Can you imagine how long it would take to spin the thread for all that canvas? :D
Posted by: Marcy | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 09:12 AM
W is also for why??? And for why not? I am giggling.
Posted by: Lucia | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 12:24 PM
ha! so very cool. that christo is whacky ... another W.
Posted by: maryse | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 01:25 PM
That's so cool! Imagine getting a totally original picture compared to the ones so many others have taken of the exact same bridge.
Posted by: Dorothy B | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Weirdly eery in all of it's wrappings! Great 'W" post!
Posted by: Manise | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 03:48 PM
It's important to see and not to see! C'est magnifique....Non?
Posted by: Cindy D | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 06:23 PM
Nifty!
Posted by: --Deb | Monday, November 20, 2006 at 06:46 PM
so was the ground part that you walked on covered also - inquiring minds want to know -- I love Christo's works - DH is usually befuddled by them :D
Posted by: rho1640 | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 10:02 AM
That is too cool!
Posted by: Kim | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Wow, what a wonderful "W" picture!
Posted by: christine | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 10:29 AM
I would have loved to have seen it wrapped like that! How cool! Of course, it's beautiful unwrapped too, but that's a far more common sight.
Posted by: Cheryl | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 12:43 PM
Another amazing letter. :)
Posted by: Chris | Sunday, December 03, 2006 at 04:22 PM