Things to Expect when you are in the Gondola!

So you're going on a trip in a gondola, what do you expect? First of all, gondola's are beautiful and surprisingly comfortable, like you're sitting in a big comfy chair. There is a lot of room you can sit more than just two people if you wish. For every gondola there is one gondolier and they are dressed in traditional gondolier outfits: striped shirts, little scarf, black pants and hats. The view from the gondola is amazing. As you see here in the picture you get to see these wonderful windows up close and in detail. Riding in the gondola is surprisingly very smooth and very relaxing, that is if you can stop thinking of how much it is costing you! People wave at each other from the bridges and other gondolas, just an amazing experience. The canal: One thing that I did not bargain for is how strong the canal smells. I could smell it from the street, but being on the canal it was a lot more present. It isn't a pleasant smell, but it only bothered us for a few minutes, then we forgot about it. Do the gondoliers sing? When we watch movies made in Venice, the gondolier always has a glorious tenor voice and sings Puccini or neapolitain songs. Is this true? Well, not really. I didn't hear any singing on the water and when I asked the gondolier if he would sing, he shyly said no. This made me sad and I asked again, knowing that italian men love women, I used my batting eyelashes, he finally agreed and proceeded to sing something from "The Barber of Seville" He did not know that opera was my profession, nor did I tell him. He had a lovely voice and it was sweet of him to sing.