The last time I counted, there were over three dozen Venice-built gondolas taking passengers in the U.S., and a handful of them doing other things (usually out of the water).
And while I love the genuine article, I can also appreciate the pragmatism behind the decision of building one at home.
We have a lot of gondolas in this country.
In fact it seems that for every gondola built in a Venetian squero,
there's another one that was built in California, Florida, or Massachusetts.
Here are a few photos I took in Alamitos Bay of a California-built boat, rowed in an unorthodox but effective way.
I guess in some ways that's who we are:
Americans recognize tradition and orthodoxy,
but in the end it's all about getting the job done.
I would prefer a single-oar approach, but this method has a long history there, and I understand that many of the guys who start with two, eventually make the jump to one after they've spent some time on the water.
4 comments:
Someone just sent this blog to me and thought I would respond. Two oared history in Alamitos bay was the modern day rebirth of Gondolas in So Cal and America! We were College students with a historical desire to bring Our passion of rowing and Venezia to life. There were no Venetian trained rowers to be found but we all rowed life guard dory's growing up so it was easy to create the "Neapolitan step," unique to the world! Most So Cal gondola company owners were originally trained on one of these classics. In Venezia, 99% of boats driven on the Grand Canal are driven by professionals, while 99% of boaters here are recreational so the control of the two oared gondola has proven a wonderful insurance policy over the years for those most recently trained Gondoliers. We have a very distinct training process to bring our Gondoliers up the ladder to ultimately be the Poppa on a 14 passenger Caorlina. the two oared Gondolas have a very special place in my heart for they have spawned some of the greatest local Gondoliers I know. I am just as entranced to see the Eagle like wingspan of the Two oar as I am the traditional sight of the Voga Veneta because of the deep History of traditions of "raw creation."
the Gondola Getaway is celebrating her 30th year and we have been rowing voga veneta for 27 of those 30. Our history of growth has not been born of naivety but one of perfect adaption to environment by always using the formula of blending Tradition, respect and ingenuity. Exactly the formula the the Venetian
Gondola has evolved We are most proud of this.
For more please visit the history page at www.gondolagetwayinc.com.
Sorry. Link was incorrect
Www.gondolagetawayinc.com
Someone just sent this blog to me and thought I would respond. Two oared history in Alamitos bay was the modern day rebirth of Gondolas in So Cal and America! We were College students with a historical desire to bring Our passion of rowing and Venezia to life. There were no Venetian trained rowers to be found but we all rowed life guard dory's growing up so it was easy to create the "Neapolitan step," unique to the world! Most So Cal gondola company owners were originally trained on one of these classics. In Venezia, 99% of boats driven on the Grand Canal are driven by professionals, while 99% of boaters here are recreational so the control of the two oared gondola has proven a wonderful insurance policy over the years for those most recently trained Gondoliers. We have a very distinct training process to bring our Gondoliers up the ladder to ultimately be the Poppa on a 14 passenger Caorlina. the two oared Gondolas have a very special place in my heart for they have spawned some of the greatest local Gondoliers I know. I am just as entranced to see the Eagle like wingspan of the Two oar as I am the traditional sight of the Voga Veneta because of the deep History of traditions of "raw creation."
the Gondola Getaway is celebrating her 30th year and we have been rowing voga veneta for 27 of those 30. Our history of growth has not been born of naivety but one of perfect adaption to environment by always using the formula of blending Tradition, respect and ingenuity. Exactly the formula the the Venetian
Gondola has evolved We are most proud of this.
For more please visit the history page at www.gondolagetwayinc.com.
Make the oars a little longer and it could qualify as genuine venetian voga alla valesana.
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