The padlocks that held hundreds of promises of love at the El Caracol viewpoint in San Miguel de Allende were removed by municipal authorities, putting an end to a custom that had taken root among visitors. Although the municipal government stated that the removal was done for security reasons, local business owners claim they were told the padlocks reflected poorly on the municipality.
Couples visiting the viewpoint, located on the José Manuel Zavala Zavala bypass, will no longer be able to seal their vows of eternal love by placing a padlock on the railing. In addition to removing existing padlocks, the installation of new ones has been prohibited.
Although the government justified the removal of 300 kilograms of padlocks as a preventative safety measure—because the excessive weight would have caused damage to the railing’s structure, posing a risk of collapse—those who work in the area claim it was due to image issues: “The president didn’t like it anymore because it gives a bad image,” they shared.
Handicraft vendors who set up shop there commented that they were even prohibited from continuing to sell padlocks. Although people continue to come to hang them, they are immediately removed.
“I think there will be fewer visitors. That’s what caught people’s attention. Right now, everyone is freaking out that they’re gone, because many only came for that reason (…) (they told us) that it doesn’t give San Miguel a good image and that it looked dirty, and the railing was going to collapse,” they stated.
Meanwhile, citizens criticize the measure, which they describe as absurd, pointing out that the structure could have been reinforced to preserve this tradition, which was a tourist attraction. This action is in addition to the removal of decorations from the door frames of businesses in the historic center.
Fact: Around 300 kg of padlocks were removed and placed at the disposal of the Department of Public Works for complete destruction.
Source: periodicocorreo
