Allons-y !

As I made my way across the Pont des Arts, taking photos to document the sacrilege to the bridge,  a group of kindergartners blew past me followed by their teacher. I was in hot pursuit to see what they were in such a hurry to see.  Ahhhh yes, the one lone panel of heavy duty glass on the whole bridge. A test by the city of Paris to see if it "works". This was the one and only place on the entire bridge where these petits enfants could actually see the Seine and beyond. They stopped, looked and listened as their teacher pointed out what she wanted them to see and learn. The one bright spot on the Pont des Arts that day.

Amour à vente

I shared a photograph of the Pont des Arts before the love locks became epidemic and the aftermath yesterday. Today, a look at the love locks salesmen set up their wares in broad open daylight. They don't like to have their photos taken so you see this one has walked away from the merchandise. 
They are kind enough to offer locks at many price points. I don't know how much they sell for, but I'm sure the largest ones ( that will take a city worker a good while to cut off the bridge) aren't for those who are marginally in love. What having a policeman posted there or between two bridges handing out fines would cost, could be offset by the fines if they were diligent. Now the city of Paris is looking at an enormous expense cutting them off and repairing the damaged bridges. A problem that should have been taken care of years ago.

Pont des Arts Avant

 

This taken in June, 2010, you can see a few locks behind this musician.  Now......there is no space left as the locks of love have covered every single inch of this lovely bridge.  Hopefully,  the city of Paris will soon remove them all as they pose a huge weight on the bridge and also block the view of the Seine.  I vote to have them gone!