It appears that some of the gondoliers in Venice are displaying unruly behaviour and the gondoliers' association wants to introduce alcohol and drug testing. A would-be assistant gondolier was forced to strip and dive into the canal in order to get the job. It seems that even old traditions are plunging to new depths!
Our trip to Venice a few years back was on a very strict budget (I had 3 euros for four days) and so I didn't even have enough for a gelati or the teeniest glass curio! Also walked a lot. Fortunately Father sponsored our food (thanks, Dad!) and probably a whole lot of other stuff, but the highlight was a gondola ride. We initially thought we wouldn't spend 60 euros on a tourist trap, but in reality the experience is not one to be missed.
Gliding silently along those ancient waterways, between crumbling buildings held together with metal staples, wondering about the lives lived inside those damp walls and just soaking up the atmosphere of one of the world's unique cities, is something I will remember well into old age. We slid past stairs long sunken beneath the water, a reminder that either the city is sinking or the water level is rising - it doesn't really matter which, the end result is a disaster for those living on the ground floor. Surprisingly enough, the canals didn't stink as legend would have it.
The gondolier was amazingly skilled as he steered us round corners that we were convinced would snap off the forcola or at the very least, leave him clinging to his gondolier's pole while we drifted off into the distance. There wasn't a single close call as he ducked under quaint bridges, calling out in the melodious tones that are the language of the canals, warning oncoming boats of our presence. He greeted other gondoliers, probably comparing notes on the passengers and whether they were expecting a good tip!
If you go to Venice, don't worry about the cost of a gondola ride - you will forever regret it if you don't succumb to the experience.
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