Padlocks of Love

Kudos to the people who decided to turn unused railroad bridges

into pedestrian walkways.  I love the Rail Trail River Walk in Oswego.  The view from the bridge of the river, canal, and Lake Ontario is wonderful.  Even on the hottest day there is a refreshing breeze.  The walk way is much used by walkers and bikers.  Most of the people I pass do not make eye contact or even nod a greeting much less verbalize one. I guess it is ear pod/cell phone syndrome.  The friendliest people I have met on the walk have been from outside the area: Ohio, Arizona, Utah, South Carolina, and Saratoga. Without exception they say “hello” and stop to tell me how much the like the walkway and are enjoying Oswego. 

No one asked about the Padlocks on the bridge.  There are a couple dozen of them. Love padlock dates back at least 100 years when a school mistress in Serbia fell in love with a military officer and they pledged their love to each other on the “Bridge of Love” in their town before he went off to war.  While at war in Greece the officer fell in love with another.  The heartbroken schoolmarm never recovered and died of a broken heart.  Young women of the area began the names of their loved ones on padlocks and affixing them to the railings of the bridge where the Serbia lovers used to meet. 

About 30 years ago love padlocks started appearing in Europe and became more popular after the book and movie “I want You” featured a young couple attaching a lock to a bridge in Rome, Italy as a sign of eternal love.  Traditionally, a couple would pledge their eternal love for one another, put the padlock on the bridge, and then throw the key into the water.  I noticed some are combination locks.

I guess that allows the couple to change their mind. There is always someone on the lookout to make money.  A company sells red padlocks inscribed with the name of the lovers.  There is one red padlock on the bridge but it does not name the lovers.  I first saw the practice years ago in Prague in the early 90s but now the padlocks are in many places.  

The practice has become so popular that some places are calling it an act of vandalism.  Anyone in Rome, Italy attaching a lock to a bridge can be fined 50 EUR (about 55 USD). In Paris, the City of Love, they had to a remove section of the Pont des Art for repairs when parts of the bridge started to collapse under the weight of the padlocks. When padlocks started showing up on one section of Prague’s Charles Bridge where there is a memorial marking the spot where St. John of Nepomuk was martyred a group of people in Prague started to cut the padlocks off. 

While padlocks are the most popular show of love I am not sure what a fence with dozens of bras meant.  I saw one such fence in New Zealand. And, now it seems the Brooklyn Bridge has become another place to hang bras and other unmentionables. 

If you can’t fight them, join them. In Toronto there is a creative steel art installation that spells out “Love” where people are encouraged to put their padlocks. In Russia and Korea they have metal trees where lovers can place their padlocks.  

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites have been deemed to be of such important cultural and natural value that they need to be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy. John and I have visited these and many others, the rest are all on my “Bucket List!” For more location on the World Heritage list check whc.unesco.org or www.worldheritagesite.org.

1. The Statue of Liberty: A must visit for all Americans. It has become a symbol of freedom to people all over the world. A gift from France, the Roman Goddess of Freedom sits on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and has welcomed thousands of immigrants to our shore.

2. Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil: The spectacular Iguazu waterfalls are located in a tropical rainforest forming the border between Argentina and Brazil. The falls are 265 high and nearly 9000 feet long and made up of many cascades.

3. Brugge, Belgium: The quaint city of Brugge is an excellent example of a place that has preserved its historic center with many Gothic buildings clustered around the town square. One of the many fascinating things to see is the Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child” in the Church of Our Lady.

4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia: Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The massive site has the remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire that spanned from the 9th to the 15th century. Most impressive is Ta Prohm Temple with huge roots laced around the buildings.

5. The Rideau Canal, Canada: The 125-mile canal system was constructed during the 1800s. The system connects Ottawa, Canada’s capital to Kingston on Lake Ontario. The 1800s was the canal building era in North America and the Rideau is the only canal from the era that is still fully operational with most of its structures still in use.

6. Easter Island, Chile: The island, also known as Rapa Nui, was most likely settled by Polynesians around AD 300. They established a culture that was free from outside contact for several centuries during which they carved enormous stone figures called moai. How they were able to do this and why is still the topic of much controversy.

7. Prague, Czech Republic: Prague is home to many historical structures that span from the 11th to the 18th century including Hradcani Castle high on the hill above the Vltava, the Charles Bridge and the amazing Astronomical Clock. Many of the buildings were erected in the 14th century during the time of Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor.
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8. Machu Picchu, Peru: The Inca city high in the Andes has jaw-dropping views of the valleys below. Referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas” there is still a debate as to the exact purpose of the difficult to reach site. It is one of the few places not discovered and looted by the Spanish Explorers.

9. Bath, England: Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath became an important center during in the Middle Ages. Bath is the oldest of England’s principal tourist destinations and has been welcoming visitors for centuries

10. Hoi An, Vietnam: Hoi An was a trading town from the 10th to the 19th century. Because the old city escaped the ravages of the wars it is well preserved and shows the influence of local and foreign cultures.

Prague is City of Spires and Surprises

Prague is a magical city but along with the outstanding architecture, artwork, and food there are little side stories that add interesting twists to the sites and make them more memorable.
1. The eyes have it: Tourists gather in front of the 15th century Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square when the clock’s bells ring, the cock crows, and statues perform. One legend relates that the Old Town councilors were so impressed with the clock that they had the eyes of the master clockmaker burnt out with a hot poker so could never build another.
2. Hands off: In St James Church, one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Prague, notice the Virgin Mary statue on the main altar. A thief tried to steal the gifts left next to the statue. The statue grasped his hand and wouldn’t let go. Nobody was able to disengage his hand, so it was cut off. The wizened, blackened hand is hanging near the entrance as a warning to would-be thieves.
3. Pet the dog: The 600-year spectacular Charles Bridge that crosses the Vltava River has 30 wonderful statues. The oldest stature is of John of Nepomuk. On the bottom portion of the statue is a bronze plaque of a knight and a dog. Rubbing the dog will bring good luck and insure one’s return to Prague.
4. Defenestration: Defenestration is defined as throwing someone out of a window. Several defenestrations have occurred in Hradcany whose history stretches back to the 9th century and is often said to be the world’s biggest castle.
5. The Good King: Good King Wenceslas was the second Christian ruler of the Czech lands and is the country’s patron saint. Wenceslas was murdered by his brother over a thousand years ago. The statue of him astride a steed is located in front of the National Museum and looks down the long street that has been the scene of many historic events.
6. Relief: The statue in front of the Kafka Museum, one of Prague’s best known authors, most likely would appeal to Kafka’s surrealist humor. The sculptor created two bronze statues relieving themselves into a pool of water in the shape of the Czech Republic.
7. Before numbers: Prague houses were not given numbers until 1770. Before that houses were identifies by emblems placed on the house. Today the House of the Black Madonna is a museum of Cubism. Some, like The Three Fiddles, indicated the occupation of the owners.
8. Lennonism: After John Lennon, one of the founding members of the Beatles, was assassinated in 1980 a wall on a quiet side street near the Charles Bridge was filled with Lennon-inspired graffiti including comments that annoyed the communist regime. The ever-changing wall of drawings and sayings promote love and peace.
9. Mirror Maze: Atop Petrin Hill the Mirror Labyrinth looks like a fantasy castle and is only one of several interesting places to explore in the park. Next to the maze of distorting mirrors is Petrin Tower, an observation tower modeled after the Eiffel Tower, along with a rose garden and the Hunger Wall.
10. Metronome: High above the Vltava and visible from most places in the city center is a 75-foot functional metronome where the world’s largest statue of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin once stood. The 50-foot statue was destroyed in 1962.