Just the Photo - Cruising in Texas

photo by Chris Wilson

Another Perfect Moment

photo by Isabella Mohr

 Robert Moe rows his passengers out on shimmering waters in Newport.

Lunch with Eddie

Earlier in the week, Eddie rowed a lucky couple out for a lunch cruise 
on an absolutely perfect day in Newport.

Here's a pair of photos from that excursion.

Two Fresh Launches at the GSVVM

video by Nereo Zane

The folks at the Gruppo Sportivo Voga Veneta in Mestre have a fleet of beautiful boats - Venetian vessels of all types.  
They love them all, and take great care of each one.  
Recently they had the occasion to launch not one, 
but two boats for the first time:
a mascareta and a caorlina.

Here's a nice video by Nereo Zane of the two boats being hoisted into the water and then rowed around along with a few other boats.  
Looks like it was a bit chilly that day, but nobody seemed to notice.  
They must have been having a great time.

Always Try to Row Towards a Great View

There are many disciplines we try to maintain while rowing gondolas.
Things like: 
Don't fall in the water
Don't let your passengers fall in the water
Avoid crashing into things.

But beyond the safety aspects of our unusual business,
We do our best to make sure that the people in the boat have the most enjoyable ride possible.

With this in mind, we try to maximize their view throughout the cruise.
Tonight I was on the water and followed my standard route - one that gives my passengers the best view of the post-sunset sky.

As usual, it did not disappoint.

My friend Kyle came rowing in our direction and I thought 
"Wow, too bad his passengers are missing this great view".

And then he passed me and I looked the other way...  

At that point I realized that Kyle had a different idea - a way better idea - as the big bright moon rose from the horizon.

Next time I'm heading out, I'm gonna take a good look at what the moon is predicted to do, and I might just change my plans.

Two Rings

Here's a new one.
I was rowing a cruise last week and the gentleman proposed.
(not new)

She said "yes".
(also not new)

He pulled out a ring and put it on her finger.
(Pretty much happens every time)

But then he pulled out another one.
She got all excited, saying "You remembered!"

He said that it was a fake and went on to explain that this ring could be worn at times when they might be worried about losing the real one.
Turned out they had actually talked about it long ago and she was so happy that he remembered.
Smart guy.

After 26 years on the back of a gondola, I thought I'd seen it all 
(but then again, I know better than to say such a thing).

 Proposal in action.

 TWO rings.

There were subtle differences so they could keep track of 

which one was the decoy, but it's hard to tell at first glance.

My hat's off to a guy who goes the extra mile on things.
In this case the gentleman had the two rings made by the same jeweler side-by-side. Very clever.

Big congrats to Jerry and Amanda.
I wish you all the best, 
and I hope you take that fake ring to some amazing places.

The Photo

We are often asked to snap a photo or two of our passengers once they're on the gondola. I've been at this since '93 and the only thing that's changed is the thing I've been handed to take that photo.

First it was a film camera, then it was a small digital camera, 
and then it was one of a series of smartphones.
Whatever the case, to be a good gondolier - you've got to be able to take a good photo, no matter what they hand you to take that photo with.

Tonight I snapped this one of Mike O. snapping that ubiquitous shot with a phone, as Kyle rowed his passengers off towards that slowly setting sun.
It might seem like an unimportant photo 
(because we do this every day) 
but to that couple on the boat...it's a memory of a lifetime.
We take that very seriously.
(and we never take this amazing job for granted).