I missed it.
I missed it.
Travelers that dream of seeing the world often have their list of top places or sites they want to see. Those lists start developing early. My first item on the list was Mont Saint Michele, France after reading about it in a high school French class text book. Being able to see it years later was literally a dream come true. It was as magical as I had hoped.
Over the years the list has grown and grown and grown – especially with the gorgeous photos on Pinterest! Do you add things to your list when you visit Pinterest? At this point, it is safe to say that if I haven’t been there, yet….it is on the list.
But, alas…..as time passes things change. I just read today about the love locks on the bridges in Paris being removed. They are heavy and damage the integrity of the fence they are locked onto. Pieces of the bridge have been damaged and in the interest of safety they are being removed. The fences will be replaced with plexiglass borders so the locks can not return. I have heard travelers love the lock idea, but many Parisians don’t, so perhaps in Paris itself there is no love lost.
And I missed it. I’ve been there several times, but all back in the day before lovers placed their lock on the bridge and threw away the key to symbolize their unending love. Paris is for lovers so it seemed to fit. But, now it will be gone and those locks will be another symbol….a symbol of what was missed.
But something new is always afoot and the world ebbs and flows. We now look ahead and add something new to the list! And, at the same time, we add another chapter to the story we will tell one day to younger travelers. We’ll say, “I remember when the bridge was so full of locks that the fence broke in some places. So many locks to symbolize love.” Without the internet to prove such statements, younger travelers would surely have wondered if this is another story like the ones where someone walked uphill to school barefoot in knee deep snow – both ways!
Savor the moment, enjoy what there is to see, but pine not for what is lost. The future holds more that our imaginations can conjure!
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Happy travels,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
I missed the Parisian Bridge too… But in other hand I visited so many amazing places that wasn’t in my bucket list… That is what travel is about, discover new and old things, always searching for a place that fill up our hearts with beauty and great experiences.
All the best,
Nat
So true! Thanks for stopping by!
That bridge was never something I felt any desire to see. I guess I’m with the Parisians on this one, but I get your point. I feel the same way about the destroyed buildings in Timbuktu, which has always been on my list, and now Palmyra, Syria, which is threatened.
The world changes, doesn’t it. Thanks for stopping by.
Thankfully, despite not having been there this one has never been high on the agenda (I had read man years ago the locals were not fans).
Our big one was to visit Cuba before it fully opens up to the world (which will in truth, much better for the Cuban people), which luckily we did last year…
I bet that was an interesting experience. You’ll have to go back years from now and see how things change.
Let me tell you, even though you might have missed this one, there’s the same kind of love bridge in Cologne, Germany and you can also do that on the N Seoul Tower in Seoul, South Korea 🙂 Wouldn’t it be cool to do it in one of those places and tell people ‘this might not be as famous as the Paris one, but the meaning is just as real.’ It was never on my bucket list, but some things disappear while other doors open up ^^ that’s just the way the world works.
I’ve heard there are many and they are special, I know! I hope Paris comes up with Plan B. Thanks for stopping by!
I was so sad when I saw they were removing the locks!
I know! I have a travel planning client who already bought locks for it and was so sad to hear the news! I Hope they come up with a Plan B. I’m sure they have to clean out the river, too as tossing the key over the bridge is part of the ‘tradition’ and that is a lot of keys!
I used to travel around northern France loads when I was a kid and I remember loving Mont St Michel when I went there and now I really want to go back. Great post, sometimes holidays close to home can be just as good as ones in far-flung places.
So true! We make memories every day no matter where we are!
It is a little sad that they are removing the locks – they were a great photo opportunity… but like you say, time changes and so does the world. Lovely post 🙂
Gabby
I know, I would have loved to see them, but time marches on! Thanks for stopping by!
Le Mont Saint Michele has been on my bucket list for a while now. As for the padlocks on the bridges, what started as a nice symbol of love turned into a nuisance all over the world. I’ve seen this problem in many other places.
The view as we approached Le Mont Saint Michele took my breath away. What a gorgeous spot. We stayed there, but staying nearby would afford you the view! I agree with the nuisance – the locks are damaging bridges. No one mentions the keys that get tossed into the rivers…there has to be a big pile and that can’t be good either! Thanks for stopping by!
I missed it, too… I liked the “sentimental” idea of it, but I could see how the locals wouldn’t be fans. Perhaps the Parisians should embrace the fences and locks by using them as art in a nearby park or hold a national contest to design an art piece that could replace the offending locks. I have read of other places where this tradition continues.
The contest is a great idea! I’m sure that something fantastic could replace it. Moscow built ‘trees’ for the locks. Hope they come up with something. It was a cool sentimental idea… after all, Paris is a city for love, right?
Don’t worry! There are still lots of locks on the bridges in Paris! Was just there last month…
Really? Awesome!