Mary

In Venice? <BR>Another question:<BR>If you are in a little gondola on the Grand Canal and the big boats and taxis are all around, won't you capsize?<BR>I am afraid of being on water, but want to experience a gondola ride. Am I being silly? <BR>

uncle sam

Mary,<BR><BR>Not certain of the depth of the canals. However the water taxis and other craft do not create enough wake to tip over the gondolas. <BR><BR>Remember also that the water cannot be too deep as the gondolas are moved forward with poles held by the gondolier.<BR><BR>Even in the Grand Canal, unless right in the large area in front of the Piazza San Marcos,you are very close to the edge in the unlikely event of a tip over.<BR><BR>IMHO, while you are afraid of the water, there really is little to be concernd with.<BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>US

rar

Um I've watched the gondoliers, and they don't use the poles to push, they use them to paddle. They are oars. Unless I'm both crazy and blind hehe, that's what I saw.<BR><BR>And there are strict speed limit laws (so as to prevent wakes that can damage the building/island foundations). No worries about getting tipped over. You'll see when you get there, the water is very calm.

Walter

A &quot;google&quot; search said that the &quot;mean depth&quot; (average) was 2.7m.<BR>Regards, Walter

xxx

<BR><BR>The website below, &quot;History of Gondolas&quot;, says that the average depth of the canals in Venice is 12 feet and that the Grand Canal has an average depth of 9 feet.<BR><BR>http://www.gondolaservizio.com/infor...y/gondola2.htm

Mary

What an interesting site, thanks!

xxx

<BR><BR>Prego.

bill

The Grand Canal is not the best for a gondola ride. Too much traffic, too choppy. The best routes for a gondola are the smaller, less travelled canals where the vaporettos don't or can't go. Use a vaporetto to tour the Grand Canal. Use the gondola to see parts of Venice you cannot see any other way.

Norma

Has anyone heard of a gondola tipping over?<BR><BR> I would think of another thing, don't drunks fall into the canals if there are no railings? <BR><BR>I assume the edge of the canals are right off the walkways, right?<BR><BR>Just asking.

xxxx

I am sure they dont tip over.

Mr

Norma, if you and your significant other are built like the average American, I'd be more concerned about the &quot;wheelie&quot; that your boat will pop when you and Earl put your double-cheeseburger, suprsized behinds in the seat.

Norma

That is a funny image you brought up, thanks for the laugh, Mr. Simmons.

Dick

When I was there a couple years ago they were working on one of the canals and had dewatered a section of it. The depth looked to be about ten feet, as others have indicated. The exposed mud had quite an aroma, to say the least.<BR><BR>Classy response to the boor, Norma.

SeaUrchin

Topping for the lawyer.

dflawyer

thanks sea urchin