Le Pont des Arts

I loved this. It must be 7 or 8 years since I last crossed the Pont des Arts, and I don't remember it festooned with locks then. Locks! Locks in all shapes and sizes, locked to both sides of the full length of the Pont des Arts, as if in a spontaneous, collective artwork. If you look closely, a reason becomes apparent: many have traces of paint, more likely lipstick or nail varnish, letters, initials. In places there are two identical locks, locked together and to the bridge: then, I guess, you throw away the key, into the river below. & I think it's wonderful the Maire de Paris has left the locks there. Even if the Millennium Bridge inspired feelings of romance (and it's certainly not as comfortable as the Pont des Arts) I doubt the Mayor of London would take kindly to it being covered with locks.

& what if Solanas had turned up to film that memorable opening tango-ballet sequence of El exilio de Gardel: Tangos on the Pont des Arts, only to find it covered with locks?