Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Umbrella Guys

Gondoliers in Venice often work out of a traghetto - with it's casotto, tables and chairs, a cooler full of beer and cold drinks - heck, some even have locker-room facilities.

But other guys just set up shop somewhere and wait for customers.
You may have seen them "camping out" on or near busy bridges.

This guy and his buddy staked a claim along the fondamenta near the Pescheria in San Polo. They grabbed two careghini from a gondola, strapped a big yellow unbrella to one of those little chairs, and they were ready for customers.

Job title: gondolier.
Opinion: nice work if you can get it!
at

2 comments:

  1. Tamas Feher from HungaryAugust 29, 2009 at 10:32 AM

    Hello! Both boats feature flying metal birds on the foredeck. Is there a particular significance to that? I haven't seen such a decor yet, only angles, vases, lamps, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gondola GregAugust 29, 2009 at 12:21 PM

    Hi Tamas.
    I've been noticing those birds too.
    To my knowledge, there isn't any deep meaning - the gondoliers probably just choose them because they like the design.

    ReplyDelete