So we asked how much a gondola ride was. The guy said 80 Euros, but he gave us a "special price" of 70 Euros. But we had these other plans already - to go walk around for a while instead of sitting or standing in a boat again. So we said we'd come back later, and we walked away. THEN a different guy came running after us and said, "It's better for you, it's better for me - 60 Euros." So we took him up on it!
Our gondolier was a 4th generation gondolier in his family! That was cool! He said he didn't have to go to school for it, like so many other people do, because he had been able to practice as he grew up. He also said that people who want to be gondoliers have to pass a test about Venetian history. I thought that was awesome!
Going under a bridge
You definitely get a different feel for Venice from a gondola-perspective. Many of the canals are very quiet and peaceful.
I love this entryway!
The red and gold flag is the Venetian flag.
Three bridges
A quiet canal
Another interesting fact about gondolas: They are lopsided, so to speak. They are built that way so that the gondolier can stand on one side without affecting his ability to steer.
I also found it interesting that gondoliers don't exert a lot of energy to "row" or move the boat.
We loved all the window boxes with flowers in them!!!
Looking up!
3 comments:
60 Euros still seems kind of steep to me, or possibly I am kind of stingy... ;)
Just out of curiosity, how long was the gondola ride?
sweet ride!
Yes, 60 Euros was steep, but Laura and I felt that we were in Venice, so we might as well ride a gondola because it might be the only chance we get to!! (And 80 Euros is the price before 7pm. After 7pm, the price goes up. And if you want musicians to sing to you, it goes up even MORE!!!) The ride was 40 minutes long. It was worth it to us. :-)
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