Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Need A Lift To The Beach?

In Barcelona, that's taken care of in style. Um -- you're good with heights, right? (Page translated from French and will undoubtedly read more smoothly in the original for those of you who follow the language).

Built in 1931, just in time for the great Depression and Spanish Civil War, the Port Vell Ariel Tramway is the darnedest thing I have stumbled across in a Google-and-Wiki wander. It's even still running two of the original cable cars. The middle tower -- a stop on the line, mind you -- is the second-highest support tower in any such system anywhere, 107 meters. Rule-of-thumb* tells me that's around 350' American.
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* Multiply by three and add ten percent (353'), rounding as you go (350'). It's fast and close -- actual is 351 and a fraction feet.

2 comments:

NotClauswitz said...

I sure missed seeing that when I was there!

Borepatch said...

It's a fun ride, but I had the kids with me (so anything's fun).

The tram that goes up to Sandia Peak in Albuquerque is way higher up, but it's a natural (vs. man-made) height. But definitely more of a pucker factor, especially looking down on the 1950s plane crash that's still there.