London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Have you ever noticed, while strolling through the city, a small lock on a fence, a bridge, with no reason at all?

The idea started in Hungary in the early 1980ies. Lovers would write their name, sometimes a date and leave them at an important place for them. Very often, this tended to be a fixed place in a town, leading to mountains of them. Bridges are a favourite: the key is then thrown in the water in a symbol of eternal love or left on the lock, waiting for the couple to come back to their cherished city. The tradition travels well: from Europe to China via Russia!

Paris is no exception. They were all taken down mysteriously from the pont des arts in May (fingers point towards the City Hall who do deny having interfered), but they are making a come back…

Amusing? Urban poetry? Romantic pollution? Opinions differ. Authorities do see them as yet another form of graffiti they will have to clean at some point.

London is less invaded but you will find more than a hundred on Tower Bridge grids while walking from the Scoop to the Tower (and sometimes on Embankment bridge, watch out!)

Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge Road
London, SE1 2UP

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