I am so glad you had the gondola ride of your dreams. It really is such a special thing. I took a detour today to a busy corner where I was sure to catch the gondoliers shouting òe! The call to let others in the rio know they are coming. Traditionally gondoliers don’t sing (& certainly not O’Sole Mio, a Neapolitan, not Venetian song) & they do have strictly defined routes & stations.
Ah I didn't realise they wouldn't sing traditionally, it seems like such a cliche! But yes, it made sense when I realised, but it really just hadn't occurred to me they'd have specific patches. I think I'd naively assumed them to be a much chic-er version of a London cabbie.
Ah things takes me back to last December and our own trip to Venice! We didn't get the chance to experience a gondola ride and now I wonder if we should have done!
Smart of you to avoid all the gondoliers who unfairly try to up the price. Ours said he would take us for a longer ride for just 15 euros more – and then the ride ended when it was supposed to, or even a bit sooner! Live and learn... Sorry to hear about the food poisoning but at least the Bridge of Sighs was a success!
I have a question for you, Tom! Or rather, an interlinked set of questions. I'm trying to manage my expectations for our trip to the Bay of Naples (yes, I *will* be disappointed if I don't see a baby with a lollipop on a scooter!) and it got me thinking about holiday expectations in general. So, have you been somewhere you'd always wanted to go and found it disappointing? Have you been somewhere unexpected that was never on your list of places to visit? And is there anywhere you haven't been but you've daydreamed about it so much that you probably won't go there, because the daydreams are enough?
Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to Venice for the first time next month. I'm not even going to try to find a gondolier to take us under the Bridge of Sighs.
I'm glad the dream came true in the end! Did Elvis sing traditional gondolier songs, the Cornetto song, or Elvis songs? When I visited Venice it was mainly foggy, not great for singing, although one afternoon I saw a tiny Chinese woman stand up during her gondola ride and she absolutely belted out a Puccini aria in a fantastic soprano voice.
Oh that sounds fantastic! I'd have loved to see that! I actually have no idea what he was singing, I think I just assumed something traditionally Italian.
Very funny Tom. Particularly the “Force and passion” part. Actually have been to Venice a few times but never did the Gondola thing. Yours sounds like fun though.
I am so glad you had the gondola ride of your dreams. It really is such a special thing. I took a detour today to a busy corner where I was sure to catch the gondoliers shouting òe! The call to let others in the rio know they are coming. Traditionally gondoliers don’t sing (& certainly not O’Sole Mio, a Neapolitan, not Venetian song) & they do have strictly defined routes & stations.
Ah I didn't realise they wouldn't sing traditionally, it seems like such a cliche! But yes, it made sense when I realised, but it really just hadn't occurred to me they'd have specific patches. I think I'd naively assumed them to be a much chic-er version of a London cabbie.
A hot Italian gondolier? Throw in some pizza and pasta and wine and life couldn't get much better!
Right?! Jackpot.
Ah things takes me back to last December and our own trip to Venice! We didn't get the chance to experience a gondola ride and now I wonder if we should have done!
It's worth doing but not essential I don't think! I think if you spent time on the water in general that was what I liked the most about it.
Smart of you to avoid all the gondoliers who unfairly try to up the price. Ours said he would take us for a longer ride for just 15 euros more – and then the ride ended when it was supposed to, or even a bit sooner! Live and learn... Sorry to hear about the food poisoning but at least the Bridge of Sighs was a success!
Thanks Anna! Ah I know exactly where you'll have found that particular gondolier!
I have a question for you, Tom! Or rather, an interlinked set of questions. I'm trying to manage my expectations for our trip to the Bay of Naples (yes, I *will* be disappointed if I don't see a baby with a lollipop on a scooter!) and it got me thinking about holiday expectations in general. So, have you been somewhere you'd always wanted to go and found it disappointing? Have you been somewhere unexpected that was never on your list of places to visit? And is there anywhere you haven't been but you've daydreamed about it so much that you probably won't go there, because the daydreams are enough?
Thanks so much for these questions Sian! I'll answer these in next week's post!
These gondoliers, honestly. It's just lucky their name is so whimsical. Glad you got there in the end!
Thanks Michael! Got there eventually.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to Venice for the first time next month. I'm not even going to try to find a gondolier to take us under the Bridge of Sighs.
Enjoy! Check out Gillian Longworth McGuire's Substack - lots of Venice recommendations there.
I'm glad the dream came true in the end! Did Elvis sing traditional gondolier songs, the Cornetto song, or Elvis songs? When I visited Venice it was mainly foggy, not great for singing, although one afternoon I saw a tiny Chinese woman stand up during her gondola ride and she absolutely belted out a Puccini aria in a fantastic soprano voice.
Oh that sounds fantastic! I'd have loved to see that! I actually have no idea what he was singing, I think I just assumed something traditionally Italian.
Worth every failed gondolier interaction to reach the Venetian dream 🛶
Very funny Tom. Particularly the “Force and passion” part. Actually have been to Venice a few times but never did the Gondola thing. Yours sounds like fun though.
Thanks Julie! If you ever find yourself back there I'd say it really is worth doing.