I can imagine no less romantic job than being a gondolier. All sorts of weather, all sorts of passengers, same old routine every day. Sometimes, money isn't all that it's cracked up to be!
I agree, Yvonne, and yet, as you know, it's such a hard job to come by--especially, alas, if you're a woman.
I have a friend, one of the "lucky" ones who was allowed to become a gondolier (as his family has been in Venice a long time), who couldn't stand the job, in spite of the money, and for the reasons you say. But also because he wasn't really thrilled by the kinds of things his fellow gondoliers devoted themselves to and talked about--things probably best left unsaid (though, of course, not all gondoliers are like this). In any case, he stuck it out for a year, I think, then became a fireman, where his many abilities are of much greater use to the public.
I can imagine no less romantic job than being a gondolier. All sorts of weather, all sorts of passengers, same old routine every day. Sometimes, money isn't all that it's cracked up to be!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Yvonne, and yet, as you know, it's such a hard job to come by--especially, alas, if you're a woman.
DeleteI have a friend, one of the "lucky" ones who was allowed to become a gondolier (as his family has been in Venice a long time), who couldn't stand the job, in spite of the money, and for the reasons you say. But also because he wasn't really thrilled by the kinds of things his fellow gondoliers devoted themselves to and talked about--things probably best left unsaid (though, of course, not all gondoliers are like this). In any case, he stuck it out for a year, I think, then became a fireman, where his many abilities are of much greater use to the public.