From le Pont de l'Archevêché With Love

Valentine's Day is finally over, much to the relief of many stateside. 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. In such a romantic city, the notion of a single day devoted to love just has not caught on. That's not to say that couples aren't fond of expressing their affection, though. 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: 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 above). The cynics among us may note that unlike the carvings of yesteryear, the modern sentiment of devotion can be annulled quite easily 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.