Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

As part of a two and a half month solo exploration through Europe, I found myself in Venice and decided to splurge and share a gondola ride with two girls I had met at the hostel. Our gondolier took us on a tour complete with singing. Leonardo was a fourth generation gondolier and had been steering his starry-eyed guests through the city for over 15 years. When we reached a small alleyway, he asked if I'd like to have a lesson. Soon, I was standing at the back of the gondola wearing his hat and learning the different stroke movements of the paddle. He held me close and gently hummed in my ear as we worked our way through the tiny canals. At the end of the ride, he helped me out of the gondola and told me I was more beautiful than his wife. What a pick up line!