GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

It was tiresome biking across San Francisco's iconic bridge but it was definitely worth it for a view like this atop the hilly promontory in Sausalito.

Location: San Francisco, USA

ETERNAL LOVE AT THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

This white limestone bridge over Rio di Palazzo that connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doges Palace was christened the Bridge of Sighs by Lord Byron. It comes from the notion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. A local legend says that lovers will be assured eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge. Well, I heaved a deep sigh of regret when I was told by the gondolier the prohibitive cost ($80) of hiring the boat for the minimum half-hour ride down the canals.

Location: Venice, Italy

TOWER BRIDGE

More often than not, this iconic symbol of London is mistakenly called "London Bridge". The old London Bridge built in 1831 (which was falling down) was sold in 1962 to an American consortium that dismanted it brick by brick and shipped 10,000 miles away to Arizona where it presently stands. A new one was built to replace it and is the next bridge upriver from Tower Bridge. This bridge gets its name by being right next to the Tower of London which used to be at one time or another a fortress, a palace, and then a prison. There is an interesting exhibition hall at the top of the bridge's two towers that you can visit.

Location: London, England