Italy ’98

Venezia

San Marco

panoramae

Murano Glass

famous bridges

gondolae

by foot

by boat

From the Encylcopedia Brittanica:

A gondoala is a tapered, ten-meter-long, flat-bottomed boat peculiar to the canals and lagoon of Venice, carrying from two to six passengers

It is propelled from the starboard quarter by a single sweep manipulated by a gondolier standing on the stern cover.

A prominent steel beak rises from the prow, a lesser one from the stern. In some gondolas a removable cabin cover gives passengers shelter and some privacy.

The first organized boat racing was done by gondolas in the 16th century. Both men and women competed. Ever since a sumptuary law was passed in 1562, gondolas have been painted black.

Most craft ply for hire, though a few, attended by liveried servants, are still owned privately. Gondolas are very costly, and their very specialized construction is a dying industry.

Even though the hulls are painted black, gondola owners find ways to include color, to give each boat a personality. The "barber pole swirl" design tells you that a gondola may be hired here.

It's wonderful seeing a gondola on the water; better even to see several of them. After a few hours one forgets that there are no roads in Venezia, only waterways and gondola and some motorboats. Notice the DHL- (package delivery service company) branded motorboat working the waterways?

At low tide, with additional seasonal variations, the mud is made visible. Boats gently are laid to rest on the muck, and become immobile until the waters begin to rise. Unseasonable storms can wreak havoc with traffic reliability in a place where a few inches of water can make the difference between moving or being grounded.

Just as in any urban setting, emergency services must be rapid and available. Vicili del Fuoco - the fire brigades seen in these pictures - zip through the the water wearing turnout coats. Sirens clear the way of boats, and bring up the cameras of tourists. We also saw a water ambulance and police paddy wagon (paddy boat?).