Venice presents a maze of lanes and canals lending itself to tourists being permanently disoriented. Being an island I felt confident we couldn’t actually walk off and eventually our path to the hotel would become clear.
Hubby and I only managed to survive the adventure with sustenance from a ‘gelateria’ here and an outdoor ‘bar’ there. Some four hours later, many Murano glass and Italian leather stores explored we arrived back at the hotel. As the crow flies we had traveled all of 1500 meters.
While Venice overflows in romantic atmosphere, wonderful food, centuries of history and marvelous architecture, open space hides elusively. Outings, particularly by boat, require a most cooperative effort for watercraft to squeeze between the confines of said romantic settings.
Watching this traffic jam we believed there would at the least be some loud Italian discussion between drivers. I suspected we might witness the utilization of the gondoliers wooden paddles on the head of Mr Motorboat driver.
To the soothing sound of the gondoliers belting out their Italian melodies, the aquatic jigsaw puzzle pieces floated into place. No head smacking required.
If you would like to see other examples from around the world of what ‘between’ looks like click here.
Would you like to be part of this rush hour in Venice?
It hadn’t occurred to me traffic jams don’t happen. What was I thinking? They have only one or two gondolas?
Looks a little dicey for my comfort zone. 😀 Wonderful pictures though.
It totally surprised me Tess. I had imagined them just paddling about one at a time. ( Because of course there would only be a tourist or two Venice). I really thought one of those gondolas was going to tip. It’s actually why I kept snapping like mad because I thought I was going to catch everyone falling in. 🙂 Not that it would have been funny of course.
OMG. Did you just read what I sent you in response to your last comment and now you send this? I’m living in the Twilight Zone.
I believe we have been spending too much time together when we are thinking the same thing and writing it on each others blogs at the same time. Wouldn’t you say? 🙂
It must be a gift, wouldn’t you say. On both sides. 😀 😀
Absolutely 🙂
😀 😀 😀
I was fine until I saw the boat in the captures – Really – Wow!!! Happy Weekend 🙂
I take it you are not one for boats, particularly on crowded waterways? It looked tenuous at best.
Happy weekend to you as well Renee. 🙂
I do not deal well on boats when they are lulling back and forth – just get into motion I am much better off – ha!
Oh I am afraid I suffer the same issue. I can be found clinging to the side hoping not to feed the fish. 🙂
EXACTLY 🙂
I have found for most motion filled activities a wee bit of anti nausea medication makes all the difference.
How silly and naive of me to think it would all be gondolas or gondola-sized and no large boats. Hmm, reminds of freeway traffic in Dallas at Christmas time! 😛
Linda I was as surprised as you! Especially in such a little canal. Don’t you think that one gondola looks like there will be a big spill?
Remind me not to arrive in Dallas for the holidays! 🙂
Yep, I, too, thought for sure that one gondola was going to go over! 🙂
My husband reminders that they worked cooperatively with the leaning to get the boat through. Likely not the first time it happened. 🙂
ha, that’s a “fresh” insight into How to Spend a Day in Venice 🙂
Wandering about the maze like streets and bridges really was wonderful. Add some delicious gelato and what more could one want….well other than a gondola traffic jam 🙂
Exactly! 🙂
Folks tend to forget that the canals, large and small are like our streets and highways. And, there’s rush hour, and as you said, the odd tourist or 2 wanting to take that gondola ride.
You are exactly right! It looks so different to us but not so unlike a road rush hour scene.
I hadn’t realised it was all so squashed up.
I guess it’s just traffic patterns. I have lots of photos of completely empty canals as well. This scene stopped us in our tracks 🙂
Amazing. I had no idea. I would love be standing on one of the bridges and photograph the chaos all day. Now I have adventure envy 😉
I imagine we would have to drag you away from the action. Your stunning photos would tell quite a story. For every chaotic scene like this there were canals completely still with parked gondolas.
I know a good cure for adventure envy. You find it at the airport 🙂
wow.too kewl 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Wow….now that’s some rush hour traffic. Sure doesn’t seem romantic to me. BTW….what kind of camera do you use? Your photos are always stunning.
Yes this scene does not scream intimate moment does it? 🙂 trust me when I say there are many other photos that show the beautiful romance that Venice is known for.
I appreciate your generous feedback about the photos Ingrid. We use a Canon Power Shot SX280 HS. These photos were taken with an earlier model. I also do a bit of editing in Picasa but not much as I am just learning about that. I learned about this point and shoot camera from James and Terri at Gallivance. They have a fabulous blog. Here is a link to their post on cameras. http://gallivance.net/2013/03/14/travel-zoom-cameras-the-perfect-compromise/
Thanks so much for the camera info. I do follow gallivance and their photography is beautiful. I’m off to do a little more research now 🙂
Happy gear researching. 🙂
Great shots, Sue! I don’t recall Venice was this crowded 🙂
I think it depends on the time of year and the location. There were many canals that sat silently. As we walked across a bridge we spied this chaos going on. Who could resist capturing the action? 🙂
Hard to resist… 🙂
The surprises while you travel. 🙂
Wow!
Not much cycling to be done in Venice 🙂
Yeah I gathered that… I’d be where the cycling is – boat rides are great but that’s mad!
Venice was at the end of our cycling tour in Piedmont if that helps 🙂
Most of the canals were far calmer although there were scads of people everywhere. Hubby and I hid away in the less jammed spots whenever possible.
I’ve read most of your posts on the trip and the photography was excellent. I’m glad you had a good time.
The great news is we are headed back to Italy this fall for more cycling. this time in Tuscany! Now if I was as fit as you that would be great! 🙂
Truly kind words, thanks Sue. Enjoy the trip.
I must tell you one more thing. You did a post where you talked about pedaling harder if you want to go faster. Of course there was more than that but i want you to know that mantra stuck with me. Often it rolls over and over in my brain…just pedal harder. Thanks for that!
I don’t know what to say… You made my night Sue, thanks. Nothing is better in life than this.
You are most welcome. 🙂 it has really helped.
Thanks for showing me the other side of romance…haha…never would have occurred to me traffic jams occur even in canals! Definitely not the romantic scenes of Venice that I had in mind…:)
Sha another time I will show some of the romance of Venice and oh my there is lots of it. This little scene was so captivating I couldn’t resist. I guess it makes sense that when these canals were built many centuries ago the place wasn’t over run with tourists wanting gondola rides 🙂
Haha…good to know that romance is alive elsewhere…haha…:)
If one cant find it in Venice then things are really tough. 🙂
Boy, that was bumper to bumper.
That made me chuckle. Gives a whole new meaning to the bumper boat rides at amusement parks. 🙂
LOL yeah it does.
🙂
Wow! That just looks like something I’d want to see from shore (with a cocktail)… Certainly not in one of the boats. Great shots!!
I am thinking the folks who are in the boat that looks like it is about to tip were thinking the same thing! We definitely found some spots to sip lovely wine in Venice and take photos. 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration. I still haven’t been, and can’t wait to go.
Definitely a spot to have on the bucket list. I hope you get to go sometime soon. 🙂
That is my kind of traffic jam…
Definitely makes one smile. Thanks so much for commenting.
When were you there? I am dreaming of going back one day.
We were there four years ago after our first cycling trip in Italy. So may fabulous spots to go in this world aren’t there? 🙂
Yes too many places to go and not enough money or time 😉 I was there a long time ago. Hoping to get back one day. We have been living in China for 4 years, so we have had the opportunity to travel a lot more than usual. Also being here it is cheaper and easier to see places that are normally half way ’round the world.
What a wonderful opportunity! Having china as the starting point opens up a whole new world of traveling. As I write I’m doing my best to control my travel envy symptoms.:) Enjoy!
It has been good… and to go places we would have never other wise. I have loved Vietnam and Cambodia the most for the people and places. The Philippines for the beaches and beauty. It has been a great opportunity. We haven’t traveled every holiday, so we haven’t been able to reach every destination. This will be our last year, so we need to carefully plan our Must SEE list. If you want to travel through my eyes I have blogged about them all. OR maybe that will just be too much 😉
We have been talking about Vietnam and Cambodia recently and I have long wanted to go to Thailand. What an opportunity for you!. I will definitely check some of your posts out. Thanks!
Thanks Sue. Cambodia was great -we just stayed in Siem Reap. I have a great driver contact if you go. Vietnam we booked a driver since we missed the bus. There were lots of agencies all over. We stayed in Ho Chi Min for 1 night then went to the beach at a nice resort. We did a cooking class there and that was fantastic. We hope to get to Thailand this coming year. It has been really expensive, so we haven’t gone yet.
We are considering a guided cycling trip in Cambodia and Vietnam and perhaps Thailand following. Likely not next year but always fun to dream. I appreciate your contacts and will keep that in mind. Thank you!!
This fellow was very easy going, and fit to our wants and needs. He came highly recommended from another work colleague. Happy to share 🙂
I would like to be be part of it but as a passenger only. Gorgeous photos, Sue
It looks like quite the job being a gondolier in rush hour. I will admit we did not pay the astronomical price to ride in one. Less chance of being dumped in the canal in rush hour. 🙂
Enjoy. Envious here. 🙂 And part of the Venice mystique *is* embracing the disorientation.
Eric this trip was several years ago but we did enjoy it very much. I agree the wandering uncertain of where one was became our favorite part. When did you visit?
I’ve never visited Venice, nor properly understood how it all works – do individuals own gondolas like we own cars or are they all basically commercial? And can you only get about by canal in a lot of the places or are there streets too? And do people fall in much? My only experience is The Venetian casino in Vegas and I have a feeling that might be SLIGHTLY different to the real thing.
Well I am no expert Vanessa but here goes. There are no cars in Venice. So there are walkways and many little bridges and canals. The gondolas seems mainly for hire by tourists and they are very expensive. There are also water taxis but most people travel by vaporettos. Think a bus system on the water. It seemed that on occasion you would see little boats tied up by people’s apartments but it didn’t seem common. The place seems under constant renovation and reinforcement. Understandable as really everything should just sink I to the sea.
I’ve been to the Venetian in Vegas and actually they do a pretty good job of mimicking the real thing 🙂
Looks like some of the traffic I’ve seen in Korea. Somehow they just seem to be able to sort out the craziest mazes. I love the Venetian architecture. Great photos of the canals!
Thank you Rosh. It would be fun to have a collage of snapshots of rush hours from countries around the world. So different and yet so similar. Venice is the kind of place where one walks around a lot in open mouthed awe. Amazing buildings and infrastructure.
@”Would you like to be part of this rush hour in Venice?” – nope… 🙂 We visited this amazing city à pied = by foot… it seems that most North-Americans who come to Europe for the 1st time choose to visit: London, Paris and Venezia! 🙂
I think I am out of the norm Melanie save for Venice. I made it to London this year for the first time. Paris I have not seen. So many wonderful spots to visit. Yes I will need to live to be a very old and healthy woman. 🙂
Great shots and original theme “traffic jam” for that beautiful city! I like it! Bye. Kamila
I appreciate you visiting Kamila. Yes that could be a poster for a theme of traffic jam for sure. Have a great day. 🙂
Love your pictures – I thought the whole gondolo thing looked a bit dicey, but then again, I wasn’t feeling well the day we spent in Venice. I can’t say I really enjoyed Venice because of it and would really like the opportunity to go back some day for a do-over. A gondolo ride is one of those things I’d actually like to do this time 🙂
Joanne it is too bad you weren’t feeling well. I would also recommend if you could stay overnight in Venice and be up early in the morning or late in the evening the place has a very different feel. Very quiet and romantic. During the day we escaped into the back streets and canals to get out of the crush of people.
We did not do a gondola ride either but perhaps if we are ever back we too would consider it.
Sue, that is quite a traffic jam! Pretty gutsy of that motor boat to bull its way through – and amazing restraint on the part of the gondoliers. 🙂 ~Terri
Dave thinks that they actually all work cooperatively. If you look at the last photo the two gondolas on the right of the photo are both tilted. It seems maybe they are doing it to make room? Either that or they are both ready to go in the canal. 🙂
[…] For a little humor […]
Obviously they’re very used to it! I imagine there’s a whole unspoken code of conduct surrounding the river traffic (on top of, probably, actual laws). I would have been expecting some raised voices as well!
I just mentioned to Terri that Dave thinks the last photo shows the two gondolas on the right leaning cooperatively so as to make room. Not sure about the legal aspect in those small canals. It looked like a bit of a free for all to me. 🙂
You think it’s more code of conduct? (The leaning is a good indication.)
There must be some rules about who’s at fault if such and such happens.
You’ve got me thinking now.
Out on the more major waterways ( a trip to Burano or Murano) there definitely seems to be laws about where boats can be and I think I recall some signage. Now how can we find out about those little canals? Hmmm….
Ooh, you may be blogging about a fading occurrence:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10268403/Venice-to-control-boat-traffic-on-crowded-canals.html
http://www.thelocal.it/20131105/venice-imposes-new-canal-rules-after-crash
Oh my goodness Bronwyn how terrible that someone was killed in a gondola and with his young family! I was thinking that the worst that would happen would be a swim. I knew there were a lot of boats but 3000 per day?! Thank you for sharing this.Hopefully these new rules keep those on the water in Venice safe.
I guess we’ll see how it plays out. The gondoliers weren’t too happy about it, and neither were the commuters waiting for ferries, by the sounds!
Yes change is difficult for all. Still tourists perishing in the canals can’t be overlooked. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Especially not when the city seems to rely so much on tourism economically. Deaths aside (tragic enough) – they can’t be scaring future visitors off those waterways!
Exactly. Obviously something was required to reassure the throngs that it would be safe to bring their families to Venice. I am thinking the economy revolves around visitors.
It seems to. And now we just have to wait to see if those laws translate to effective changes on the ground. As it were.
Yes. Time will tell I suppose.
Oh, and your photos are stunning! 🙂 Thanks so much for the very kind link to our blog, Sue. We sure do appreciate it. ~Terri
My pleasure Terri. I am so grateful for the help from you and James. The camera has been wonderful and we are so happy to have more zoom but still be able to carry it in our pocket.
Wow! Like all the other crowd scenes you’ve posted, this doesn’t make me eager to ever experience it… but you had me at “gelateria”! 😉
That’s it exactly Diane. You could soothe your ragged nerves at wee cafe bars and gelaterias tucked in the back mazes of Venice. As I mentioned to someone else the best time in Venice is early morning or late at night. The day time tourists have gone and the city turns magical.
What a perfect submission for between. I have yet to visit Venice, so high in my list.
Thank you Mani. I hope you get to visit this amazing city soon. How are you finding your new home?
Good, slowly we are making it feel like home. I like the calm it gives out, very different from the city. The weather is better here too. 🙂
Good weather is always a bonus. So happy the new location feels right for you.
It’s certainly not what one pictures of Venice! But doesn’t deter me from wanting to explore such a beautiful city. Thanks for sharing!!
Imagine the photos you could take their Kirt! Especially in the early morning or late at night the place is much calmer. One can visualize what it might have been like many centuries earlier.During the day it is best to head for the maze of back lanes and canals and away from the throngs.
Venice is on my “To Do” list and I see it as a photographers nirvana!! 🙂
Yes I think you have described it perfectly Kirt. If you do go be sure to also go to the island of Burano with all of it’s colorful buildings. More nirvana for those behind the lens. 🙂
🙂
Not much space between those boats, but no-one seemed overly bothered, just kept snapping away with their cameras 😉 I’d like to re-visit Venice in winter.
Jude I think going in the off season would be a wonderful thing. I believe it would have a very different atmosphere. Yes no one seemed flustered by all of the traffic.
Great shot, but not my image of a relaxing day in Venice, fighting crowd for an available gondola. I’ll walk, thank you!
We are of like minds Emilio. Besdies the chaos in this series the price of a gondola ride is extreme. We did take the vaporetto (water bus) from time to time for longer distances. Thanks so much for your kind comment.
We had relatives in town last weekend and they wanted to take the gondola ride at the Venetian (Las Vegas). The cost? $80. And that’s before a tip!
Yikes! Might as well head over to Venice. In Venice it ranges form 80-100 Euros! Gulp. But at least you get the real thing. Did you do the ride in Vegas?
Actually I wasn’t here. I was in Encinitas. My father told me the story and no, they did not go on! What is the exchange rate for euros?
Currently about 1.45 to our dollar. So $120-$135? More than we were willing to drop. Imagine how much lovely Italian wine that can buy. 🙂
Yes, drink that much and you’ll have the added benefit of swaying from side to side just like in a gondola!
One will just have to be sure not to fall in the canal 🙂
Love it. I had never imagined that it would be so congested traffic wise. I think I would feel a little nervous facing that.
That particular scene surprised us too Jo and thus my snapping away at the scene. Most canals were much calmer. I had not thought of this as a safety issue but Bronwyn shared a link of a death caused by a collision between similar boats.Apparently Venice is now changing the rules about the use o their canals.
Sounds like that might be a good idea after seeing your images.
Yes and particularly in canals that are larger where the water taxis and vaporettos ( water buses ) can get going at quite a speed.
You have to stop telling me such things…my vision of Venice is being tarnished…oh no !
Venice is a beautiful, romantic spot. In the height of tourist season and particularly during the day it is crowded. I would suggest the shoulder season at least and getting off the beaten path to discover hidden gems in back lanes and canals. Early morning and evening wandering the more known areas is amazing.
I will keep that in mind.
🙂
Please do. 🙂
Fabulous captures, Sue! You made me smile with your head smacking scenario 🙂 If only!
Now that really would have made a blog post interesting wouldn’t it Jo? It seemed like no big deal to any of them, likely an occurrence that happens many times a day. Glad you enjoyed the visual. 🙂
Hmm. . .now that I think about it, I guess that my answer would be no. It looks too crowded with gondoliers to be relaxing. Many of the places you’ve visited, I’d love to visit someday–but somehow Venice isn’t very high on my list of places I want to go.
Sheryl another time I will do a post to show some of the more tranquil parts of the city. As I have said to other early morning or late evening were te magical times as far as we were concerned.
Venice is starting to sound much better. . It’s good to know that there are more tranquil spots and magical times.
Absolutely! I would suggest avoiding high season and middle of the day 🙂
Rush hour in Venice took on a whole new meaning when we were there. It was the regatta. A huge to do with many viewing platforms set up all round the city. There was traffic not only on the water but a crush of people as well. It’s hard getting around those tiny corners or up the stairs of the Rialto bridge with hundreds of peoe moving in every different direction.
I did enjoy catching the water taxis though. You get such a different view of the magnificent city.
Wow I thought it was crowded just on a usual day. I can’t imagine how much more it would be with a regatta. We did use the vaporettos to go to Burano and I agree a very different look from the water. Did you get to any of the nearby islands such ca as Murano or Burano?
I had hoped to visit Burano but it didn’t pan out. It was the biennial as well, so I immersed myself in art while there. Seems I’ll just have to go back.
Excellent idea! I didn’t get to Murano so perhaps another visit at some point. Meet you there.:)
Sounds like a plan.
🙂
[…] Travel Tales of LifeVenice – Rush Hour of the Gondolas […]
What a great series of images! I would have been nervous seeing that big boat coming through.
Thank you. I thought something more than cooperation was about to unfold. However the drivers seemed to treat it pretty nonchalantly. 🙂
Oh my goodness! Doesn’t look at all like when we’ve been there. I never imagined it could get so busy. 😀
Clearly you did some research about traveling at the best times to Venice. 🙂 not every canal looked like this by any means. This traffic jam just caught our attention.
I hadn’t given a thought to how chaotic the canals of Venice must be. You have captured the mood wonderfully.
Thank you so much LuAnn. There are some spots that can get quite busy. Bronwyn linked some articles in the comments that Venice has cracked down on traffic after a tragic loss of life from a water taxi and gondola accident.
this was such a realistic post and I love the humor you integrated “the gondoliers wooden paddles on the head…” ha! but seriously – even though I look forward to further posts that maybe show some of the romantic side (as you noted to another reader) I think it is extra cool when we get to feel things like this – and with each photo I could feel the tightness. 🙂 great take on the challenge – <3
I appreciate you generous and specific feedback Y. As I mentioned to someone else I kept snapping as I felt certain some passengers were going to end up in the water. As you say it is very cool when one happens upon something so unusual. Still makes me laugh. Thank you. 🙂
venice has its unique charm! though it looks like rush hour rides seem less romantic 🙂 Sue, your photos are stunning as always!
You are so kind. Thank you for your generous compliment. There are many romantic settings in Venice. This clearly is not one of them. 🙂
You’re making me impatient for my trip next month, Sue.
What fun you will have. Looking forward to the posts!
Hey Sue, what a coincidence we just came back from our trip to IItaly and we went back to Venice for the second time. Yesterday we saw this post so we really like this. This time we made a gondola tour, it was amazing! But luckily not in rush hour time haha..around 2 pm. The gondoliers just came back from their break. Lovely rush hour photos!
How wonderful that you have had the time in beautiful Italy. We are headed back this fall although not Venice this time. Glad to hear your gondola experience was far calmer than this! Appreciate your visit and comment.
[…] whether it’s a tale of a ghost in the lobby of the Banff Springs Hotel, getting stuck in the rush hour of gondolas in Venice or being chased by dogs while cycling in Turkey. […]
No, I wouldn’t, and being stuck in a gondola would have frightened me. Amazing shots, Sue 🙂 🙂
Thank you sincerely Paula. I really appreciate your visit and comment. 🙂