Along the verdurous river were iconic skyscrapers, historic bridges, and bustling waterfronts. The river was a hub of activities, with boat tours, kayaking, cruises, etc., and also a home to dazzling wildlife. White gulls glided across the glittering surface of the bluish great lake, where numerous white sails anchored near the shore. Unlike other city rivers that are either too swampy or narrow to be appreciated or too wide to fit into the cities rather than divide the city, this river felt natural to the metropolis, making the city center a small and cozy town by itself. The air on the deck was warm under the almost dazzling sunlight. With every short sail, our ship would cross a heavy iron bridge, full of industrial atmosphere and a sense of age. Trains or cars would roar past many of these bridges, leaving a rattling and uneasy noise that echoed between the tall riverbanks. Some tourists or pedestrians walk across the bridges or along the banks. Some of them would wave to the tourists on the boats and some would enjoy sunshine in the meadows on the riverbank.
The buildings along the river were a mix of retro and modern. Geometric glass boxes were prevalent, reflecting sunlight and the blue sky, but what stood out were the khaki and brownish buildings refined with surface sculptures and relievo. I remember seeing a terracotta-covered building made up of two towers of differing heights connected by walkways. The guide said it was inspired by a Spanish cathedral and some French Renaissance details. There was also a tower heavily influenced by Medieval towers, featuring gothic elements, limestone walls, and intricate buttresses, it was as if the tower was bringing together the fragmented history… Standing on the deck of the tour boat, I could feel a massive building approaching. It was a long and rectangular building with a monumental façade and a distinct Art Deco style, as if an important government institution or museum. Speaking of creativity, the building that stunned me the most was the so-called Aqua Tower, a shimmering edifice inspired by the movement of water and it featured a standing-up wave surface. The Tower acted as a perfect bridge to the gap between glass and stone. At the end of the tour, I saw an 87-story skyscraper wrapped in a curving multi-colored glass exterior. It was a truly magnificent addition to the already iconic cityscape.
The dense architecture of the city would not give my eyes a break. I’d rather take a moment to appreciate the cozy atmosphere of July. The clouds above my head were ever-changing, blocking or leaving way for sunlight at their will, letting the warmth and coolness flow randomly in the air and giving a feeling of mild yet playful weather. The cabin of the tour boat was a delicate bar where through the retro windows I could see the green waves shaking the boat gently and licking the hull. I stepped out the cabin door and stuck my head out the railing. The wind was coming straight to my face and the smell of water to my nose. It was a rare thing to feel amidst a large city that was unlikely to be related to rural natural landscapes. The magical and almost illusory situation, the balance between the metropolis and nature in such a relatively small space, and the symbiosis of a city’s modern magnificence with historical details were things I’ve never seen before and deeply appreciated.