Love Locks Spread Throughout the World

August 9, 2013 Libby Zay

The idea behind "love locks" is simple: couples prove their bond is unbreakable by affixing a lock scrawled with their initials on a bridge and then tossing the key into the river below, never to be seen again.

The tradition is said to have originated on the Ponte Milivio, a bridge over the Tiber in Rome. Now, it has become a worldwide phenomenon, with love locks being spotted everywhere from Uruguay to the Ukraine.

Not everyone is in love with the tradition, though. Love locks were just banned on a Kentucky bridge over the Ohio River, and the locks pictured above were once threatened, too. These are from the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Germany, an overpass that has become so packed with padlocks the bridge's operator has threatened to saw them off. But the people of Cologne, as well as visitors, wouldn't have it. After public outcry over the matter, the operator was forced to have -- you guessed it -- a change of heart.

Today, the love locks add a little glitter to a bridge that is otherwise gritty and dull. But up close things aren't always picture perfect: there were a few spots where fence wires were cut, perhaps in an symbolic effort to release scorned lovers of their shackles.

As I crossed the bridge, two little boys were tugging on the padlocks trying to shake them loose -- I guess the heartbreaking starts early in Germany.

Below the bridge, I was actually a little surprised there weren't vendors peddling padlocks. I imagine they could camp out, armed with engraving tools, hawking love locks to tourists for 20 euros a pop. It looks like there really are some things that are still sacred.

Street Art Showcase // Graffiti in Ecuador

July 27, 2013 Libby Zay

Spotted in Baños, Ecuador and the Guápulo neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador.

Scout Adventure #1 // Visiting A Secluded Tribe in Brazil

July 11, 2013 Libby Zay

A group of Brazil’s Kambeba people, an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, are open and welcoming to people who want to learn more about their traditions and culture.

kambeba-tribe-brazil-village-from-rio-negro

One way to reach them is by boat from Manaus, Brazil. Here's a view of cruisers from the Iberostar Grand Amazon disembarking to the village. The blue building is the town hall and the one trimmed in red is the church.

On the beach: FUNAI is the Brazilian government body that establishes and carries out policies relating to indigenous peoples.

In the town hall, the chief gave a short welcome speech while a guide translated. The children of the tribe listened intently whenever their chief spoke. There are only a little more than 50 people living in the village, most of which seem to be children. The chief and villagers joked that the only thing to do there was to make more children.

Our guide told us Kambeba actually means the “Flat Head” tribe, a name given by other indigenous nations. The Kambeba people used to have a ritual where they would compress their heads with wooden boards. This happened from birth until the desired form was made. The Kambeba people are working on documenting their history through several books, such as the one shown above.

The children performed two of their traditional dances for us. That man standing in the middle of the picture is the chief (yes, he’s wearing athletic shorts!).

After the introduction, the tribe led a tour of their village. Above is the church.

This is the outside of a typical Kambeba home. All the houses were on stilts because the river has been known to rise 15 to 20 feet in a season.

Another house. I was trying to capture a collection of pots and pans hanging in neat rows just inside the door, but it was too dark inside. Note the satellite dish!

Next stop: the school. It was well equipped with books and other supplies, relatively speaking. The tourist dollars from cruise visitors probably helps. At the school, children are learning both their native language and Portuguese.

Many of the trees around town were labeled. Health nuts are probably jealous that these folks have açaí berries growing right in their backyard.

Another way Kambeba people make money is by crafting jewelry. The village courtyard has several gazebo-like stands set up in a circle.

This might be a remote village, but a love of soccer still found a way to get here (perhaps the satellite shown above helped!). Here the goal post was made out of branches — look closely between the two boys and you can see one of the posts.

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