On this day I will talk about a historical event that took place in the remembered Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A young Frenchman named Philippe Petit achieved his dreams and became popular as he walked through a metallic cable that he crossed between these skyscrapers. It was the morning of August 7, 1974 when this boy from France, at a surprising 410 meters high, where you can barely see a small figure from the ground, dressed in black and carried a seesaw to support and keep balance. Philippe takes his first test step on the precipice, he decides with fear but at the same time with pleasure and panic, because in his mind only confused thoughts overflowed and having only a few minutes to decide whether or not to fulfill his greatest illusion that he would put in at the risk of his own life, as well as showing himself to be a great Funambulist, he knew that once mounted on the wire he could not retreat. 

It seems incredible to believe that this young man, with the help of his friends and partners in crime, managed to deceive the security personnel who worked in those towers. They passed as tourists to climb to the top of the buildings so that one of them who was a photographer (Jean-Louis Blondeau) could capture all the architectural details, and write down any information on the possible way to secure and adjust the wire. Within his first notes was the possibility of throwing from one tower to another a ball (later an arrow) with a line attached to it to then be able to pass the steel cable. 

Philippe took about three months to organize and analyze each detail in particular; including opening the doors of the entrances since it was a single key that opened them all but secretly obtained the number and seek help from a friend locksmith. Equally his friend tightrope walker (Rudy Omankhowsky "Papa") advised him on how to secure the cable well. And a young mathematician (Jean-Francois Heckel) also offered his support.  

Philippe did everything necessary to undertake this adventure, it should be noted that at first for some friends the idea seemed a little crazy and impossible but finally were immersed in that crazy plan where in the end they all joined, they formed the perfect team.

The moment Philippe starts walking on the wires no one had appreciated him except for his friends and the occasional surprised tourist and that is how people start to wonder what was going on and they were stupefied, dozens of people arrived, all started to approach, journalists and helicopters of the news, police, firemen with ropes and nets, ambulances, not being able to do anything more than watch. There were people on the rooftops, windows, on the bridges that spanned the East River.     

That day the wind was too strong so he wobbled on several occasions, however it made not just one but four crossings back and forth between the two immense towers, including a few minutes kneeling on the cable and a few moments lying on it. After a few minutes he finally decided to end his adventure and approached the south end, to jump inadvertently where the police officers were waiting for him and down at the street the crowd applauded him with euphoria. The authorities arrest him but not without feeling admiration for the prowess of this thin and blond character. Philippe was immersed in his ecstasy for having been able to consecrate as LE FUNAMBULE, the tightrope walker.   

However, the court did not impose any penal sanctions or fines, but forced Philippe to prepare shows for children in New York, which he transfigured in an act of tightrope walking, in Central Park, over Lake Belvedere.    

Philippe was also honored with a lifetime pass for the observation deck of those twin towers, granted by Mr. Tozzoli from the port authority of New York and New Jersey. He lesft his signature on a steel beam near the point where he started his walk. 

For the year 2008, the director James Marsh made the documentary Man on Wire about the Philippe's walk. And in 2015 premiered under the direction of Robert Zemeckis, a film called: The Walk, which carried the feat to the cinema with the actor Joseph Gordon Lewitt playing the audacious Philippe Petit. 

I hope you enjoyed this story, the defiant young man who pursued his dreams against every obstacle.