Here’s some background. When we visited Kiev in January with our kids, we took a self-guided walking tour 
of the city and came across an unusual pedestrian bridge in one of the central parks. It was a wood plank bridge with attractive metal-work railings, stretched across a ravine near the big stadium of the popular Kiev Dynamo soccer team. On the bridge were signs of a newly-popular practice: attached to the metal rails were hundreds of padlocks of all shapes and sizes, most labeled with the first names or initials of couples who’ve pledged their love for each other by attaching their lock and throwing away the key. Above is a close-up of this unusual bridge in Kiev.
of the city and came across an unusual pedestrian bridge in one of the central parks. It was a wood plank bridge with attractive metal-work railings, stretched across a ravine near the big stadium of the popular Kiev Dynamo soccer team. On the bridge were signs of a newly-popular practice: attached to the metal rails were hundreds of padlocks of all shapes and sizes, most labeled with the first names or initials of couples who’ve pledged their love for each other by attaching their lock and throwing away the key. Above is a close-up of this unusual bridge in Kiev. When we shared this discovery with local friends in our English Club, they said this practice is only a few years old and in fact there is a similar pedestrian bridge in Odessa. Knowing of our plan to visit Odessa this weekend, Peter’s clever and, yes, romantic gift brought us laughs, smiles and appreciation of our fortune at having 25 wonderful years together.
Our visit to Odessa was for the combined purpose of celebrating our anniversary and attending a meeting of a “support group” for older Ukrainian Peace Corps volunt
eers (PCVs). Our group of visiting older PCVs participated in a delightful walking tour of central Odessa given by a knowledgeable younger Odessa-based PCV who is a history teacher by training. Lo and behold, what should be one of the final points of interest on the tour but the famous Mother-in-Law Bridge – a pedestrian bridge across a ravine. It was supposedly built by a former mayor whose mother-in-law lived across the ravine. Two reasons have been given. He had the bridge built in order either to more easily enjoy her wonderful borsch or for her to more easily return home after a visit, rather than spending the night there. In any case, the bridge has become a favorite among lovers and newlyweds, and it is adorned with hundreds of labeled padlocks! See all the locks stretched across the Mother-in-Law Bridge above right.
eers (PCVs). Our group of visiting older PCVs participated in a delightful walking tour of central Odessa given by a knowledgeable younger Odessa-based PCV who is a history teacher by training. Lo and behold, what should be one of the final points of interest on the tour but the famous Mother-in-Law Bridge – a pedestrian bridge across a ravine. It was supposedly built by a former mayor whose mother-in-law lived across the ravine. Two reasons have been given. He had the bridge built in order either to more easily enjoy her wonderful borsch or for her to more easily return home after a visit, rather than spending the night there. In any case, the bridge has become a favorite among lovers and newlyweds, and it is adorned with hundreds of labeled padlocks! See all the locks stretched across the Mother-in-Law Bridge above right. 
So in the middle of the tour, we whipped out our padlock, chose an appropriate spot on the bridge, and attached it in honor of our anniversary. Our Peace Corps friends documented the moment for us. 
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