Bridges

Bridges is a charter city of the Saganami Ichizoku, governed by a city manager over a commission and guild council. It was the third city, after the capital, built on Nejiro and began construction in 2808. Taking advantage of the natural resources, the city was established as a logistical and light industrial center. It has a resident population of 230,897 and swells up to another twenty percent in transient and seasonal workers. The city is largely constructed on stilts and is engineered for flood, earthquake, and hurricane endurance. Most of the buildings have bridges or skyways connecting them, making it a pedestrian friendly environment.

Bridges is located at the top of the Yoshino-gawa delta and is situated across a group of several dozen islands that are linked with rivers, canals, and scores of bridges; several of which are famous for their architecture, and engineering. The most renowned, Kizuna Ponte, is a double deck suspension bridge connecting Bridges and the Akai Yoake Military Academy, with a nine kilometer expansion across the Yoshino-gawa.

The islands, on which the city is built, are located in the Venezia Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the Iris and Sile rivers; offshoots of the Yoshino-gawa; with access to Subarashi Bei. As it is the last major river port before the Spaceport, it is an important center of commerce. The city is elegant, and cultured, with a bit of whimsy in the details, greatly influencing and influenced by art, architecture, and literature. There is a high concentration of artisans and skilled craftsmen, so the economy is based in trade exports, especially glass and lace. But shipbuilding, commerce services, textiles, smithcraft, jewelry, tourism, agriculture, and a strong link to the Akai Yoake Military Academy, also contribute. The city is a major fashion, design, and shopping center. Many of the design houses are headquartered here with their flagship stores or offices located prominently in the plazas.

Public transportation is provided by motorized waterbuses, water taxis, and suspended monorail lines. There are also regional and continental rail lines, and the Serenissima AeroField. The port is a major hub for cruise ships and is one of the busiest commercial ports on the planet.

Yes, there are gondole. There are about 700 licensed gondoliers in the city. Most operate  as messengers and carriers of small fast cargos, but there are many in the Gondolieri Guild that serve tourists, weddings, funerals, and date night romantics with decorated boats, colorful costumes, and song. In the fall they parade the canals in chorus to celebrate the guild members elevations as they 'walk the tables' to their new ranks from apprentice to journeyman, and new masters.

For the two weeks leading into, and including the vernal equinox, the city celebrates Ostara, the return of spring with the festival of Kamen no Kanibaru. Masques, contests for the most beautiful eggs, masks, and floats, parades, treasure hunts, public water fights, lavish balls, street parties, excessive alcohol and food, elaborate costumes, dancing, and music are all included in the celebration that attracts tourists from far and wide, and bursts the city population with over three million visitors.