European Capitals of CultureΠοιειν Και Πραττειν - create and do

River Odra

 

The river Odra runs past the religious quarters. The location from where the photo was taken is close to the peace bridge (not to be seen but to left) with the National Museum vis a vis.

The river cannot be used by boats as a destroyed German bridge lies but one meter below the water surface during normal times (in the photo the water level was very high) underneath the neutral looking peace bridge. It would take tremendous public works to reopen the river to boat activities.

In view of the river, I remember how at EXPO '67 in Montreal, Canada it was a special feature to be able to visit and to experience the site at various levels - on the water, beside the water, above the embankment, in the streets and from above due to a monorail circulating throughout the site.

Something should be done to link the people of Wroclaw much more to river crossed over right now only in cars on crowded bridges and therefore nearly forgotten, even if there are hundred bridges to mark this special feature of a city and its river.

Compared to other cities, there come to mind life unfolding along the Seine in Paris or there are the sun bathers besides the Isar in Munich.

Always rivers have their own story to tell.

Alan Dix when working as cultural advisor in Greenwich thought of a project called 'Taste' to let people experience different tastes as they would travel by boat down the Thames.

When Cork was European Capital of Culture in 2005 they revised the annual boat race out to the open sea and back in again.

 

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