A couple of months ago I met my dad for chess and coffee at Le Boulevard coffee shop in Visalia, CA.
I had passed by this little gem of a coffee shop many times, but never got around to actually, ya know, stopping by there. But now that we have discovered this hidden treasure, we are hooked!
While sipping on an excellently brewed cup of liquid happiness amongst the Disneyland quality Main St. USA landscaping at Le Bouldevard, my dad pointed out that there was a love lock gate by the fountain.
A love lock gate??? What the heck is that??
Now, my dad is into lock picking, and as such is privy to the random randomness that comes with the twisted minds of lock pick enthusiasts. Apparently professing your love via locks is… a thing? Anyway, lets consult Wikipedia on this one… ahem:
A love lock or love padlock is a padlock which sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts’ names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love.
Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at an increasing number of locations worldwide. They are now mostly treated by municipal authorities as litter or vandalism, and there is some cost to their removal. However, there are authorities who embrace them, and who use them as fundraising projects or tourism attractions.
The history of love padlocks dates back at least 100 years to a melancholic Serbian tale of World War I, with an attribution for the bridge Most Ljubavi(lit. the Bridge of Love) in thespa town of Vrnjacka Banja. A local schoolmistress named Nada, who was from Vrnjačka Banja, fell in love with a Serbian officer named Relja. After they committed to each other Relja went to war in Greece where he fell in love with a local woman from Corfu. As a consequence, Relja and Nada broke off their engagement. Nada never recovered from that devastating blow, and after some time she died due to heartbreak from her unfortunate love.
As young women from Vrnjacka Banja wanted to protect their own loves, they started writing down their names, with the names of their loved ones, on padlocks and affixing them to the railings of the bridge where Nada and Relja used to meet. In the rest of Europe, love padlocks started appearing in the early 2000s.
So, of course, after learning what love locks are, we just needed to add our own love lock to that gorgeous gate on Mooney in Visalia!
This past weekend was a LOVELY rainy day, and we met my poppa for coffee, conversation, and some good old love lockery.
My poppa brought one of his locks for Tessa and Thyme, and let them choose where to place them on the gate. The girls had so much fun putting the lock on the gate, and I just know they will love checking in on their lock over the years whenever we stop by for coffee and chess!
Excellent post (as always)!Thank you very much 🙂
Thank you Ami!!!
What lovely pictures and a great idea!
Have a good day 🙂
Rosanna x
Yeah, it is such a cute idea! I am surprised the gate isnt covered in locks being so close to a college!
This is so cute.
kisses
Maggie Dallospedale
Thanks Maggie! <3
OMG I love this, I’ve heard of the love lock bridge in France, I didn’t realize there is a love lock gate in Visalia, I have to check it out on my next road trip to LA.
There are tons all over the place it looks like!!
This is such a BEAUTIFUL post, girlie! I’ve known of love locks before, mainly the one in Paris, but didn’t know it had such a deep origin to a personal story of a couple, wow! I think it’s so beautiful that your little ones were able to participate and have a love lock of their own with their Poppa because that love for sure will NEVER be broken nor disappoint! It gives them something to look forward to and a memory they will always be able to remember and touch. So special! Thanks so much for sharing, girlie, and I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week so far!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Yeah, I love seeing my girls get to experience so many things… I want them to explore and experience life to the fullest!! Feeling very lucky to have such a special little place right around the corner from our home! <3 (And yes, my girlies LOVE their Pop Pop, haha!)
Aww, this is too cute! What a sweet little thing to remember later…
-Kati
Right?! I am so happy to craft these lovely memories with my littles!
I haven’t heard that story before and I think that it’s so romantic 🙂 What’s more, if you want to see a bridge with a lot of love padlocks, visit (or google) bridge in Wroclaw in Poland 🙂
Have a lovely evening dear,
Hahaha, I saw some amazing images of bridges with love locks when I google searched it!! Simply amazing, especially the one in France!
It’s such a cute idea! I’ve seen a few through Europe although the idea hasn’t quite taken off here in Australia-yet!
Looks like YOU need to start one!! 😉
I love this idea, I really wish we had something like this here in Halifax, maybe we can find a place … I would add a lock to it xox
Google search it! There might be one! <3
I never knew the history of this tradition so thanks for sharing. Your girls are too cute and that was so sweet of your dad. I know in Venice they remove the locks every so often to make space for more.
Awww thank you.. I think my girls are quite precious, and they are SO BLESSED to have a grandpa that loves them so much!
Great! 😀
The Lunch Girls
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Great! 🙂
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What a fun and cute idea for the kiddos! My husband and I placed a love lock on the Pont des Arts Bridge the last time we visited Paris.
Oh man!!! How awesome is that?!?!??!!
So cool to learn about the history. I have seen them, many times, espcially in Europe. Got one pic I took on a bridge this summer in Budapest that I particularly like.
Man, it appears to really be a European thing, yeah?!
That’s so cool, dear! I remember seeing something similar when I was in Vienna. How romantic! xoxo
Man, you guys have all been to such amazing places!!
Great post, adorable pictures and such a loving idea. Thanks!
Thanks Christine!! <3
There’s a famous bridge in France where they do this. I didn’t know it was so popular in so many places.