The Marriage Lock�s tree on Tretyakov Bridge, over the Moscow Ri

Moscow is a very romantic city. This is the metal tree which the authorities fixed to the middle of the (pedestrian) Tretyakov Bridge, next to the statue of Repin (see above), in order to discourage newly-wed Muscovites from attaching symbolic padlocks to the iron-work on the bridge. The custom is to paint the initials or name of the couple on a padlock and fix it to the tree, or bridge, and then throw the key into the river, as a symbol of eternal union. Ribbons are attached for fun and show. Presumably, rather than cutting the locks off from time to time, the Moscow city parks department will remove the tree, trash it and install another one, ready for next season' s romantics.