Most Tumski

On August 11, 2012 Michal took me on one of the most amazing dates.  I would have to say that it ranks up there as my top 5 (I don't know what the other 4 are... but this would ranked in the top 5 for sure).  Ever since visiting Wroclaw over 2.5 years ago, I've been asking Michal if we can put a lock on this bridge with our names carved into it.  That was the exact surprise that Michal had planned for me tonight.

We first went to the lock-shop and bought the cheapest lock we could find (about $3 USD) - and then got our names carved into the locks.

Then we traveled to Tumski Bridge (Most Tumski) to display our locks.  This bridge is infamous for having hundreds and thousands of locks placed all over.  The bridge is also known as "lovers bridge" because it is full of padlocks which lovers leave to cherish their feelings.  

 A non-traditional "ceremony" is that once you place your lock on the bridge you throw the keys over your shoulders into the Odra River below.  That way no one can open your lock and it remains imprisoned there forever.

 On this night I fell in love with Michal all over again.  Not only is our lock now forever displayed on Most Tumski - for everyone to see - but Michal took me out to an amazing restaurant and gave me another surprise: that we were going to go to Turkey in 3 days!  A lifelong wish come true... and just in time to celebrate our "other" anniversary of "dating" each other for 8 years.  My night couldn't have been any better.  Walking hand in hand with my best friend, planning out our future, being nourished with surprises, and leaving our legacy.  It certainly was a perfect night.

(Disclaimer: We came back to visit "our lock" before we left Wroclaw to come back to America - only to find that it was NO LONGER there!  Don't worry - I cried.  I thought, "Who hates me enough to cut my lock off this bridge?"  But I couldn't think of anyone in Wroclaw that would do this.  We later found out from nearby security guards - and Michal's mom affirming this - that sometimes druggies and bums come to the bridge and cut off copper locks.  They do this because they can sell them for like a zloty and help sustain their drug habbits.  They were telling us that they advise people to get ugly non-copper locks to put on the bridge.  I was astonished.  We went back to the store - and sure enough - our CHEAPEST lock was copper-plated.  How rude!  I then proceeded to cry again.

I was still VERY upset by this, even after returning home to America, until a few weeks ago.  Michal recently read in the Polish Gazeta (newspaper) that they are renovating this bridge.  In order to renovate this bridge (including repainting) they are going to have to remove every lock from the bridge to make the necessary repairs and maintenance.  So they are asking those who have keys to come and remove them - otherwise - authorities will get rid of the locks instead.  They are also asking that the tradition be kept in place and once the bridge is renovated to please come and place your lock on the bridge to display your love.  

This is what the bridge will look like once renovated and with no locks upon it.

After this announcement I didn't feel so bad - it means that regardless of in August (or a few months from now) our lock would be taken off anyways.  I don't know why, but it made me feel SO MUCH BETTER.  And it means we can always come back and place a new (non-copper, non-shiny) lock on the bridge again!  Regardless, at least our keys still remain in the river below.)