When I need a break from my small-town life, crossing the Walkway in Poughkeepsie feels like a breath of fresh air (literally)!
After a few hectic weeks of running around New York trying to absorb all the impressions of a new country and capturing every memorable moment, fresh air and clear thoughts were all that I needed.
So last Friday, I took the bus to the Poughkeepsie waterfront and jumped on the 21-stories-high elevator to the Walkway. The sun was up, but the clouds made sure it wasn’t too hot (the perfect weather for a stroll, if you ask me). Normally I don’t suffer from a fear of heights, but I couldn’t help holding the railing a bit tighter when I saw how high up the elevator was going.
The bridge opened in 1889 and was used by freight and passenger trains, until a fire destroyed the tracks in 1974. Now a walkway open for the public, it’s a major historic site and people flock from all over the Valley just to hang out or exercise on the bridge.
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As expected, the Walkway was crowded with people. Most of them were walking, while others were running or biking. The tourist that I am, I took out my camera (alright, it’s just an iPhone) as soon as I came out of the elevator. I had to snap a picture from every possible angle and post it on every social media account I have (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, you name it).
As I came to the middle of the Walkway, I noticed the customized brass medallions with the names of Americans engraved in the middle. I later found out that they were welded into the railings to honor those who contributed with $10,000 or more to the maintenance of the Walkway. On both sides of the Walkway, there are benches placed to honor those who have donated $50,000 or more. The Walkway probably wouldn’t have been what it is today if it weren’t for these amazing men and women who contributed from their own pockets — incredible, right?
I sat on one of the benches, closed my eyes, and breathed in all that fresh air. I don’t know how long I sat there, but I quickly decided that this place was going to be my little sanctuary. Can I please just stay here forever?
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