We are planning a trip to Venice, and my husband is concerned about riding in boats without life jackets. He can't swim. <BR> <BR>Do they have life jackets in: <BR>Gondolas <BR>Water Taxis <BR>Water Buses <BR> <BR>

I believe that the answer is yes to all three. I can quite specifically remember them on water taxis, and it seems certain that the vaporetto system would require them to operate on a waterway carrying the general public. I couldn't tell you where specifically they are. <BR> <BR>and I wouldn't be surprised if gondolas have them discretely tucked away somewhere - - just don't remember seeing them. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

vaporetti (buses) have them, I remember seeing them.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the larger boats. If I didn't swim a lick, however, there is no way I'd set food in a gondola. They look a little unregulated to me, and even if they show you a flotation device, there is no guarantee that it would actually float.

Punts in Oxford and Cambridge have no life jakets. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London

Inor, I don't recall seeing any life jackets in any gondola in the German or Austrian alps. Gondola goes down, you go down, that about sums it up. <BR> <BR>Having life jackets on an airplane and particularly a jet, is a feel-good measure at best. They most often never get used.

Yes there were some on the gondola I was on. I looked for them because of the water being rough on the Grand Canal. I got to thinking how easy that thing could tip over. Not very romantic, am I?

that's okay Pam <BR>Drowning isn't very romantic either!

I can swim, but my camera can't, is what I was thinking watching a show on Venice the other night.

I can't swim a lick, and I'm generally afraid of water, but when I was in Venice earlier this year I didn't even think about life jackets in our gondola (though I'm sure I should have)!

Glub, glub. glub.

How far do you get from shore in a Gondola? I only ever see pictures of the m jammed together near the Rialto bridge, usually so close you could step into the next one if you started going down.

Look at the poles (though not from Poland) they use to push the Gondola, they are not that long... I'm guessing that the water can't be too deep, but since you can't see the bottom... <BR> <BR>Who knows?

Maybe your husband should take a basic swimming class anyway.

From what I heard, that water is polluted enough that if you go overboard you're dead anyway!

Maybe it is so thick with pollution that you won't sink anyway. <BR>I hope inor's husband isn't reading all this.

Mor, just wear a thin blouse and you husband can pole vault to shore. <BR>

What has gotten into you, Art? <BR>New undies?

Dan, <BR> <BR>What show were you watching? <BR> <BR>I'm trying to stay focused on our upcoming trip (5 weeks, 6 days & 8 hours & 40 min to go - I'll get on the woohoo thread soon enough) and reviewing everything I can (within reason - eg. light reading, good movie w/great scenery, news articles, PBS shows, etc.). <BR> <BR>DFW 8/30/01

Unless he's a midget he'll be able to walk thru most of the canals. worry about the big stuff...willthe food be good, will the bed be comfy..you know the important things.. Get him water wings2