Danube-Networkers
My first visit at the bridge of friendship
Text: Margarita Holzer
The “Giurgiu-Russe- friendship bridge” or “bridge of friendship” is a street and railway bridge across the Danube between Giurgiu in Romania and Russe -my place of birth- in Bulgaria. The bridge is located on the Northeastern beach of Russe. The two storey frame bridge made of steel was designed by by Georgi Owtscharow and built with Soviet help within two years between 1952 and 1954. It was opened on June 20, 1954. On two one upon the other arranged levels separated the car and railway traffic is conducted across the Danube, and there is also a side walk for pedestrians. The bridge is 2,8 kilometres long and the highest point is 30 metres above sea level. When it was built it was the longest combo bridge for car and railway traffic in Europe. A 85 metres long middle part of the bridge can be tilt up to make it possible for bigger ships to pass. The design of the two bridge portals on the Romanian and Bulgarian side was made by the Ukrainian sculptor Michailo Iwanowitsch Paraschtschuk.
In front of the bridge there is a building for the boarder control and a building for costums. Nobody was allowed to take a walk on the bridge. It was borderland, prohibited area.
In 1961, when I was in fifth grade primary school we started to study geography. The topic was Bulgarian borders. Our teacher asked for permission at the authorities to go with the class to the bridge by bus. There a border control counted our group and accompanied us to the bridge. Our teacher put us in rows of two and after some steps we arrived at the bridge. We were allowed to walk until the Bulgarian border control. The border line was in the middle of the bridge. We were excited to meet a real border control for the first time in our lives. He wore a green uniform, held a riffle and stood in front of the hut. After a distance of 30-40 metres there stood the Romanian soldier in front of his hut. We waved but he didn’t react. Our teacher explained that he is not allowed to wave or talk to us. This day was really beautiful. A day in the autumn with much sun,the water in the Danube was still and clear, like preparing itself for hibernating. Then our teacher gave us the tune and the class started singing:” Still, white Danube, stirring.”
After our visit we were very happy and content about our meeting with a real border control and after a walk along the bridge we went back home.
