The incredible route of the Dragon

The imagination is only limited by our intellect and our reasoning, not by the materials that we use.
(Edición en Español)

Hi, I love the legends, when I was small I was very fan of Bruce Lee, as you know, the most famous fighter of martial arts of the history written and televised. But, outside of the legend, there was an inspiring, honest man and who loved martial arts, to such an extent that he created one, the Jeet Kune Do. In his honor, and recalling that he was born in the year of the Dragon and the Dragon hour (between 5 and 8 in the morning) I decided to put on my list to build my future (and fabulous) building, the Komodo Island (or island of the Dragon).

When I was in the Hotel Komodo, a resort whose specialty is the cruises of diving, on the terrace of the bungalow where I staying, I remembered that I had heard one thing, in the present century, have built two bridges of the Dragon, "with than I like the bridges and I haven't crossed these, one failure for me, Rodolfo!", I thought and, a few hours after, I was already heading to my first destination: the Dragon bridge of Alcalá de Guadaira (you know that I don't like very much to wait).

Always is a pleasure visit Andalusia, I still remember the last time that I was by the matter of the Almohad plaster, was a pleasant surprise to discover that, to some extent, the bridge had a lot to do with the Almohad style. They built it to cross the Guadaira River and they called it "The Guardian of the Castle", obviously because it is in the foothills of the Castle Hill, whose visit is indispensable if you travel to the place.

It's the first figurative bridge in Spain and also in Europe. It was designed and built by the engineers José Luis Manzanares Japón and Iñigo Barahona Fernández, which they presented their design to a competition organised by the Government of Andalusia, but whose final election was passed by the hands of the citizens of the population, a kind of voting convened by the council of Alcala de Guadaira which obtained (nothing more and nothing less than) 95% of the votes: they won.

Its inauguration occurred on March 28 in 2007. The bridge has a length of 123 meters and a width of 22.6 meters where you will find four roads (two of exit and two back) and two sidewalks. The beauty of the construction is indisputable, as well as its simplicity in what refers to structural performance, of course, a central beam supported on three pillars and two extreme which have the walkways in cantilevered.

All the arches are clad of trencadis of ceramic with multiple colors, simulating the skin of the Dragon, as had the own Gaudí, in Barcelona, in total they covered a surface of 4,500 square meters by this system. By the way, without the Gaudí master, it may not be understood the architecture current, this man was so important. The Dragon looks with hate who dares to cross the River in direction to the Castle, his open mouth threatens with devour you, and if you manage to escape, the queue wait for you on the other side of the bridge. Maybe don't believe me, but I almost weep of emotion while I contemplated this beautiful work.

The distance between the supports of the Central arches is 43 meters each, the end support is only 18 m. For the stability of slabs, the pressurising system was used which ensures the enough tension at the ends that flying, this reduces their singing to 21 centimetres, being the width in its axis of 1.21 meters, as if they were wings of a "mythological animal". The body of the dragon have two meters wide transmitting the loads to the ground with 12 piles of reinforced concrete of 1,500 mm of diameter and 20 meters deep, which are anchored to one pile of great thick (this pile is a foundation whose function is to pass the burden of the structural element to the micro piles).

The Ulma company was contracted to carry out the scaffolding on which carry out the construction process, and the Valero Group was responsible for the creation of the mould of EPS (expanded polystyrene) for concreting the central structure of the dragon, as well as the specials parts for their ends (head and tail). The concrete poured, because of the shape of the structure had to be self-consolidating, this concrete does not need vibrated and not is segregated, so we can pour into the interior of a formwork with security of that  the mass will be well distributed, I do not know how we have been able to build without it until today.

Now we let Seville to go to Viet Nam, whose region is not unknown, do you remember when we were in a bar of bamboo? I called it "The path of the Dragon" and you can walk its 14.764 kilometres of separation in 180 hours if you go by car (a little more if you decide to rest) or take a plane and save 160 hours. The second bridge of the Dragon lies on the river Han, in the city of Da Nang, and it has been baptized with the name of Rong.

Some persons says that its designers, Amman and Whitney Consulting Engineers of Louis Berger Group, were based on "the Guardian of the Castle" for the project, personally, I don't think so, even though of the parallelism must be taken into account that the Vietnamese culture is very attached to this mythological animal, in fact, the bridge has shape of Shenglong , a dragon of the Ly dynasty. In addition, the city (one of the most prosperous of the country) is called the "city of bridges". Its construction began in 2009 and opened on 5 April of 2013.

It is a cable-stayed bridge, which simulates (obviously) a dragon, it meanders in such a way that the lower part becomes the bridge columns and the upper part serves for the structure of cable-stayed. Its main body is constructed in steel and weighs 9,000 tons. Crosses a distance of 666 metres, has 36 meters wide and houses six lanes and two walkways.

The budget was of 85 million dollars (76 million euros) and pays homage to the 38 anniversary of the liberation of the city. It has installed 2,500 Led (always led) lights that illuminate the bridge with different colours. But the biggest attraction that I have found is in its powerful mouth of Dragon, which is able to eject (normally Saturdays and Sundays at 21:00) jets of fire and water, impressive.

I don't have to explain that the two bridges have become, for different reasons, in two spectacular rides and tourist reclamations for their respective localities, it is commendable that the administration use the theatrics or the figuration to make fantastic works of engineering. For my part, I have decided that, in my building, I will include a swimming pool with a bridge, you not need that I tell the form of my bridge. Bye bye.

The venetian dream of Angelina and Johnny Depp

Visiting Venice is a pleasure for the senses, is the city of the luxury for excellence, also, has one of the best hotels of the world.
(Edición en español)

Hi, when the mankind put the hands to work is capable of the best and the worst, at this time, we already have it rather than assumed. But, if you're like me, Rodolfo, will understand that you don't have to conform to discover what is able to make mankind, the important is to discover what is able to improve, and in this direction we still have road for grow, but time to time.

One of the best examples of what our species is capable of achieving when it elevates the art to priority, is the city of Venice, you know, canals and gondolas. This city is so rich in detail that I advise to my accompanying that (never travelled only to Venice) several weeks before they try to improve their visual memory, in this way, may withhold in its retina the spectacular places that the camera can only display in two dimensions. In my last trip, I stayed at one of the best hotels in the world: the Hotel Danieli (yes, yes, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp used it in their film "The tourist") a Venetian dream.

The dream begins when you've not yet set foot in the city, but the nerves have already penetrated deep into you, you know that you're going to a special place, a region steeped of history, with many legends to tell and with much to teach you. The building in which engages the Hotel exudes tradition by the four pores, exudes experiences in spectacular details, not in vain, was built by one of the most traditional families of the region, before nation. This family gave to Venice four Doges, one of whom was Enrico Dandolo, which conquered Constantinople (almost nothing). This building is the Palace Dandolo (Did you had never imagined?).

The construction dates back to the 14th century and exhibits a marked Venetian Gothic style, with its pointed arches (a arc than is cut by two lines parallel to the sides of his shaft and is join thus forming an arc with tip termination) and its windows with form of clover, something that is repeated in the interior, also has a characteristic pink colour in its facade. For several centuries it belonged to different families: Gritti, Bernardo, Mocegino or Nani, were holders of the property until 1822 when Giuseppe Dal Niel bought the second floor and turned it into a hotel, years more late his daughter Alfonsina Muzzarelli, ended up of buying the rest, appropriating of the building.

Over time it changed of owners, Genovesi and Campi Bozzi & C. invested a small fortune in 1895 to introduce the electricity, lifts and steam radiators, a luxury at that time. In 1945 it completed what is now the hotel, demolishing the buildings between the Palazzo Dandolo and the Palazzo delle Prigioni, and building the Palazzo Danieli Excelsior. This last building was redesigned by the famous French architect Jacques Garcia in 2008, giving it the appearance that today have proud.

The dream continues when you arrive at the hotel, and discover that it is located a few meters from St. Mark's square, from which you can explore the Centre of the city and its most emblematic buildings, such as the Basilica of San Marcos, the bridge of Sighs, or the Doge's Palace. There is no better place for you, especially if you let yourself guided by its Consierge Luxury Collection, he knows and he show you the city in all its aspects: sport, fun, art or culture. The Hotel is included within "The Luxury Collection", a wide range of high quality spaces in more than 20 countries that carry the Starwood Hotels brand, a guarantee.

When you enter the Gothic portal of the Calle delle Razze you feel that you invades you the relief, you're there, it is real, a unique decoration in pink marble and a staircase where you will want to stay. The spaces are divided by columns with elegant fracture, floral motifs adorn each corner, busts of marble receive you with joy, without a doubt, the place wait some time by you. The majority of guests at this hotel stand out, first of all, the feeling of home that was feeling in their stay, in my case, of course, more than a feeling is a reality.

Crystal lamps of Murano adorn the living room of the Suite Dandolo, marble coverings are everywhere, in the bathrooms are transformed into bathtubs or walls. One of the outstanding successes of the owners of the place has been give personality their space. Thus, Marco Polo lends its name to a receiver, in that the rest is insured and several Renaissance-style rooms located in the Palazzo Danieli Excelsior, with silk curtains and ceilings with cream moulding and golden. I have also heard the name of Bond, but, frankly, I do not know to who refer.

The three Signatures Suites are inspired in three celebrities: Greta Garbo, diva of cinema in the 1930s, in Maria Callas, great diva of the opera and the last, but not least inspiring in her Royal Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. These suites have antique furniture, parquet flooring and spectacular ceilings, woven soft of bronze colour, and a bed that will make you do not want to get out of there (if you're in good company, I don't know if I explain me). All decorated by the French designer of interior Pierre Yves-Rochon.

You will want to travel throughout the hotel, visit the bar Dandolo, which is located in a corner of the Gothic Hall of the Palazzo, you'll want to memorize rich tapestries that evoke the legacy of the Pearl of the Adriatic, you soak of the smell of the Acqua di Parma with which you feast in the bathrooms, you will want to spend more time at its bar terrace, with its unparalleled views of St. Mark's basin , or its restaurant from which you'll see the unparalleled Santa Maria della Salute and the Palazzo Ducale.

If you have lucky enough to stay in one of our Executive suites, you'll see how pays homage to the Gothic grandeur in its main lobby, and, in its marble bathrooms, you will become in fan of the fragrances of Laura Tonatto, you will enjoy of the earliest childhood with its comfortable bathrobes and slippers, all unique elements, as befits a Hotel five stars. Speaking of stars, the Royal suite Doge Dandolo overlooks 180 ° of the lagoon with the San Giorgio Maggiore island as a backdrop, a real portrait of the 19th century, baroque armchairs and marble tables (again, yes) carrara, has an original fresco of 18th-century of Jacobo Guarana and carpets on the venetian terrazzo floor.

The terrazzo is a floor of origin venetian carried out with a mass of clay with pieces of marble scattered, with the time realized that adding sealants and polishing it turned into a beautiful surfaces. Today instead of clay, it using cement (normally white) and dyes to mingle with marbles or stones of easily polished, don't usually add granite because it hinder the polished. Of course sold in tiles and decorative elements, they can be also manufactured on-site, becoming a surface without joints, in this case, you have to calculate well the expansion joints so that cracks do not occur.

Of course, its facilities have fitness, Spa, TV, you can savour the delicacies of the region, wines and cocktails of first (the bar Dandolo has recently received the award Gambaro Rosso), and much more to discover. Anyway, once inside, you run the risk of not wanting to leave the Hotel, the last person who was there with me said to me: "If I take piece-to-piece, the Danieli hotel would have the best place to live, only would fail Venice". Bye bye.