GONDOUGHLA

At least that's how we used to pronounce it in the Midwest. In Italy, they pronounce it gonedauhla with the accent on gone. Well, actually I don't
really know what the word is in Italian though I speak the language. "Caio", and "andiamos" count as being somewhat fluent in my book. Of course in my book I am multi-lingual.

Just over two weeks ago, my wife and I took a gondola ride in Venice under the stars. Well, actually there were only stars on our return boat ride to the pier because of Summer time lightness in the European sky. But that's how it was advertised.

It was really a good time. We went with a group of 6 gondolas with a singer in boat 3. We brought up the rear but could still hear him pretty well. Not well enough for my wife and not familiar enough for me. There are a lot of great Italian songs, but I couldn't identify any of his. But now I'm nitpicking as I'm wont to do.

Lots of people walking on the narrow streets and standing on the small bridges. People in their houses with shuttered windows painted either brown or green. People taking our pictures, well ours and the others on gondolas. One small boy with his parents leaned over too far and fell into the canal just as we passed. His father pulled his submerged son to safety and coughing began. It continued until we rounded a corner I guess you would call it. A family story for years to come.

A beautiful, a big city with one canal huge enough to harbor a cruise ship, Venice is a favorite of mine. It seems the more I travel, the more favorites I find.