Valentine's Day is finally over, much to the relief of many state-side. Here in Paris, however, the day passes remarkably unnoticed. Sure, storefronts fill with hearts and the pastry shops may display a few extra red- and pink-frosted sweets but despite the commercial infiltration the holiday hasn't taken root culturally. Couples aren't expected to exchange gifts or insist on a special dinner out. (No complaints coming from someone who's single these days.) In such a romantic city, the notion of an individual day devoted to love just has not caught on as in the US. That's not to say that couples aren't fond of expressing their affection in Paris. While the kiss for which this country is famous can be seen on sidewalks across the city, my favorite sort of public affection in Paris takes a different form: that of a padlock. It seems that carving initials in trees has fallen out of vogue. These days, lovers declare their undying affection with a personalized padlock secured along a selection of bridges that traverse the Seine such as the Pont de l'Archevêché shown here. Conveniently enough, unlike the carvings of yester-year, the cynics among us may note that the modern sentiment of devotion can quite easily be erased with the simple turn of a key. Nonetheless, the padlocks crowded along the bridges still contribute to the fanciful romance of an afternoon's meandering along the banks of the Seine, even after years of calling this city home.
Hope you had a very happy Valentine's Day!
[My thanks to either Anya or Minh for this photo-- I can't seem to remember who took it during our Chi Connection weekend!]
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