Every time I’m in
Paris I seem to find myself on
Pont des Arts (the bridge linking the Left bank to the Louvre museum) for one reason – I’m a horrible romantic!
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For the past few years the bridge has been a sort of living museum to love from around the world. Lovers engrave their names on a padlock, attach it to the railings on the bridge, kiss then throw the key into the river Seine below illustrating their eternal love for one-another.
There is a bit of debate over where this strange romantic custom comes from, however most people seem to agree that it’s inspired by a book (Federico Moccia’s novel “I Want Youâ€) as two of the main characters attached an inscribed padlock on Ponte Milvio, Rome, and then threw the key in the river Tiber.
Yet despite the bridge being a bit of an unofficial tourist attraction many Parisian officials consider the padlocks to be an eyesore and large numbers mysteriously disappear on a regular basis in order to clean up the bridge.
So what do you think; is it a beautiful romantic gesture or a vomit-inducing public display of affection?
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