After a decade of struggling to become a gondolier, Alexander Hai has won a moral victory. A court recently allowed her to paddle around the canals of Venice - but only for the residents of one of the city's hotels. "Brava gondoliera! Brava!" shouted one man from his third-story balcony on the Rio de la Veste canal as Hai paddled past, shepherding a couple from Utah on their honeymoon. The man on the balcony, clenching a glass of champagne, beckoned his friends to take a look as Hai's boat and passengers slipped by.
This is a male dominated job and they are not happy with Hai. Being a gondolier is usually passed down from father to son. They say she isn't strong enough and cannot pass the test to become a gondolier.
I was lucky enough to go to Italy on two different occasions, but did not get to see Venice, where all this drama is taking place. I was very disappointed--twice! I saw Pisa, Rome, Florence, Naples, and Pompeii, but no Venice. And I absolutely would not have cared who was steering the gondola! You have to give her credit, though, for the abuse she's taken but hasn't backed down!
Cat Belly Trap
1 hour ago
Went to Venice once, in 1987. I never took a gondola ride. We were told you'd see more of the city on a motor boat tour, so that's what we did.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day.........in Las Vegas! heh
ReplyDeleteJust got back from Italy, but like John, didn't do the gondola thing... I just ran across this news clip of this story and thought it was pretty amazing:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thenewsroom.com/details/340103/World?c_id=jlt
Here it is, in case you want to add it to the post!