Traveling With A Venice Gondolier

A Venice gondolier is boatman who propels a gondola. A gondola is a lightweight boat that curves up into a point at the end. Gondolas are typically towed with one oar, and they are typically flat-bottomed. Gondolas are they main form of transportation for people in Venice. Though some riverboats have been slowly replacing the gondola tradition, they are still by far a functional symbol of the unique water-bound city. The gondolas are required by the city to be painted black, and they often have a cabin in the middle that protects the passengers from the weather. Venice gondoliers are a lot like Venetian taxi drivers in the sense that they are responsible for the transportation of the public. Because Venice is mostly waterways, they are take people from place to place much like buses or subways would in other cities. Taking a gondola ride, however, is a lot more expensive than taking a taxi, even in New York City. You pay the gondolier according to the amount of time you would like in the gondola. These rides typically run in increments of twenty-five minutes. Though a gondolier may advertise on price, he may choose to up the rates for different reasons during the ride. For instance, if he sings to you, the rate he charges will be higher. It is important to negotiate and to agree upon a set price with your Venice Gondolier before you get into the boat. That way you know exactly how much you will be paying, and you will be able to enjoy your sightseeing adventure without being worried about the price. You can find gondolas all along the main tourist areas of Venice. Often times, gondoliers will offer their services to tourists as they walk past parked boats. Negotiating a ride price can take some haggling, so if you do not know Italian very well, that can be an experience in and of itself.

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