The “locks of love” flood Thessaloniki, but they hit the “Umbrellas” of Zongopoulos. [εικόνες]
The locks of love overwhelm ironwork on bridges, railings and other places in various cities of the world, while they have recently arrived in Thessaloniki as well.
Loves and romances, dreams and promises were “locked” by their protagonists and found in… the bars, with the hope, the expectation, maybe even the certainty that they will last forever.
Regardless of what ultimately wrote the root of each, the “locked loves” remained there to testify, without chatter and revealing details, the power of a love, the birth of a love between two, maybe even more, people.
In idiosyncratic “monuments” of these locked loves, various types of metal railings were and are being turned, the purpose of which is (usually) to demarcate areas, block passages and protect people from potential injuries. The first “monuments” of this kind in Europe were found a few decades ago, but their number gradually increased, making their presence felt in more and more cities.
In most cases, railings with locked eros are found along rivers and sea fronts. And that’s because lovers want, as soon as they “lock” their love, to throw the keys into the water to be lost so that their lover remains “locked” (not imprisoned) forever!
Among the most famous cities where there are “monuments of love” built from… locks, are Paris, Rome, London, Cologne, etc. In fact, in Paris a few years ago, a Seine bridge was in danger and tons of… love-laden locks had to be removed to prevent it from collapsing.
And Thessaloniki acquired its own “monuments of love”.
Thessaloniki also entered this world with original monuments of love a few years ago. Two small in size, but noteworthy “monuments” were born and grow on the city’s 5 km beach front, contributing with their aesthetics and dynamics to the attractiveness of this – admittedly – impressive side of the city.
Dozens of locks, of all kinds, shapes and colors, have been hung on the guardrails placed around stairs leading up to the sea level and provide an interesting sight to passers-by, locals and loved ones.
In the time we spent photographing the colorful clusters of locks, dozens more people were doing the same, most using their cell phones.
But in all this interesting development that is observed on the beach front of Thessaloniki there is a dark spot and this has to do with the fact that some lovers hang their “locked loves” on the metal shafts of Zongolopoulos umbrellas. It can be interesting to photograph the subject, but it does not cease to be an aesthetic exercise in a work of art and create a risk of its alteration and destruction.
The locks of love on the beach of Thessaloniki
There are few, if any, details that one can read on the locks. Some initials, a painted or carved heart, even a short message, give food to the imagination to complete the rest! As we rummaged through our ‘own’ locks, in the back of our minds was a story I read a few years ago about a couple of old key collectors. The couple found a lock on a Seine bridge in Paris with the names ‘Michel & Barack’ engraved on it and ‘Love Forever’ underneath, in Paris in 2009.
Despite the meticulous search, we did not “catch” such a sea bass. Of the riddle locks we found on the railings opposite the statue of Alexander the Great, it is a silver one that houses on its back… three names. In fact, the names are engraved, which excludes the possibility of adding the third name. So this lock there are above and below the names “John and Angeliki” and on the side the name “Ariadne”. It may be the third person in a relationship, it may be the fruit of a great love… Who knows. story intended for her machine imagination!
On the same bars we find, among other things: A red lock on her back that houses the initials “Ε+Φ”, two painted hearts and the date 14-01-2022.
“George and Marina” left their imprint on their own lock, dated 23/07, but they do not testify to which year of salvation…
On a silver heart we read the promise “Forever” and on another “K+C #26”. Another red lock, weathered but impressive, houses an engraved heart and the initials “S” and “G”.
Thomas and Irene write as the start time of their love on May 29th ΄21 and end on… infinity (∞) while in some other locks we read: “AFRODITI DIMITRIS 15/2/19”, “YANNIS + IOANNA”, “I +L 23/9”, “K+R”, “M+B 2022.
The 2nd “monument of love”.
At a distance of less than one kilometer is the second “monument of love”. It is similar to the first one. Railings, painted green, around where there are stairs leading to sea level.
Locks that caught our eye include:
One that is hung on a horseshoe lock and reads BOUBOU
Another one with calligraphic letters testifying to the love of “Patrick & Jae” with the date 06.06.2012.
In the same cluster, there is one in gold color that says O.K without being clear if it is the initials of two people in love or if what it wants to point out is that everything is OK.
Next to it is the lock that closed the love of “Zoe and Maritina” and near it an old, tattered but very impressive one that houses the love of OLGA and MANOS.
An edited love testimonial on the back of a rosy lock is that of “Petra & Oliver” dated 28.04.2019.
Next to her is a gray lock that says “SISSY ROCHALAS” and the date 11.03.05.
A lock with a strong personality, despite its advanced “rot” is the one with a ring hanging from its neck and two metal hearts hanging from it, also shaved. An image that causes tenderness and emotion.
On a golden lock he writes “I will love you and don’t care”, referring to the well-known song of Loukianos Kilaidonis and Margaritas Zorbalas.
Next to her, locked on the same railing, is another that reads: “Mastag 69” and the date 22.7.20 and another with the names: “Panagio & Dimitris”.
Locks in Zongolopoulos Umbrellas as well
Unfortunately, however, we also see locks of lovers in the Umbrellas of Zongolopoulos, hanging from their rays! Bracelets made of beads (eyelets) and hair bands hang with them. It seems that some people, in their excitement, hang everything they have, wherever they are!!!
There, a granite-colored lock houses a heart and a promise: “forever” with a start date of 9/4/20 and an end date of infinity (∞) while another houses the initials: “X+N”.
Yes to the love locks on the protective bars, but no to works of art, both the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, and the man who designed the New Beach of Thessaloniki, the architect, Prodromos Nikiforidis, say in statements to APE-MPE.
Zervas: Locks are welcome, but do not deface markings
“When the public space enters people’s lives in such a way and motivates them with an act to express their love, feelings of love and devotion, we cannot but feel satisfaction and joy.
The “monuments of love” in Nea Paralia are places that welcome a statement.
A personal statement that takes on material substance. A memento that stands the test of time, banishes wear and tear and is placed in public view.
What’s more romantic?” […] “To the extent that they do not alter the landscape, do not cause damage, they are welcome.
But I would like to single out and plead that such initiatives do not touch or alter other monuments, other landmarks. For example, in Zongolopoulos’s Umbrellas, it would be good to avoid such a development. If we will intervene correctively”, the Mayor emphasized.
“No locks in the work of Zongopoulos, it is a work of art
For his part, Mr. Nikiforidis said: “Personally, it does not bother me that something like this is done in a structure that is not a work of art and is not something valuable that will be in danger, as was done a few years ago in the case of the Paris bridge . But I disagree with those who hang locks or other objects on Zongolopoulos umbrellas. This is a work of art!