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GONDOLA DOG |
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 Rialto Bridge has lots of little shops. © David Muenker |
The window displayed fancy jewelry. Another store had trinkets and masks for Carnival, a popular Venetian festival.
They peered over the side of the bridge to the Grand Canal below. Boatmen unloaded crates of colorful fruits and vegetables to sell at the street market. Water buses and water taxis sped by.
"The canal area is a bustling place," Lorenzo remarked. "My grandparents live in a quiet neighborhood along a narrow waterway that connects to the Grand Canal."
"Can we go there now?" Sonya asked.
"Let's see what time it is. They always take a nap after lunch." Lorenzo looked around. A clock on a tall tower showed 3 o'clock. "This should be a good time to visit. Follow me."
They walked down narrow streets paved with stone. Bed sheets dried on clothes lines outside upstairs windows. Men pulled carts through the street filled with supplies for stores and restaurants.
Sonya and Lorenzo didn't need to watch out for cars because vehicles are not permitted in Venice.
 Gondolas are a primary means of transportation in Venice. © David Muenker |
"That's because there are no trees," Lorenzo replied. "Venice is an island of plazas, canals, streets and houses connected to each other."
"There's my grandfather. He's talking to his neighbor, Giovanni."
Lorenzo gave his grandfather a big hug and kiss. He shook Giovanni's hand.
"This is my friend Sonya." Sonya put out her paw to greet each man.
"So I hear you want to go on a gondola ride," Giovanni said as he shook her paw.
"Yes, sir!"
"Well, you are very lucky because I'm taking my gondola out today and I need two helpers," he said grinning.
"Wow, that's great!" Sonya spun in circles. "I mean, thank you, sir!"
They walked to the dock outside Giovanni's house. "Step aboard."
Sonya leaped onto the long, shiny black boat. "Sonya, sit at the front where you can see all the sights." She sat exactly where Giovanni told her. "Lorenzo, sit in the middle seat."
Giovanni stood at the back of the boat. "We need to spread out our weight evenly so the gondola will glide through the water easily."
"And so it won't tip over!" Lorenzo added.
Giovanni propelled the gondola with the longest oars Sonya had ever seen. "Are those difficult to use?" she asked.
"Yes, at first. It takes practice."
They rode down narrow canals between beautiful homes painted shades of pink, brown and yellow. Giovanni ducked his head when they went under low pedestrian bridges.
"You always need to pay attention when you are steering," the gondolier advised them.
Sonya watched every move he made.
 Sonya steers the gondola! © 2006 Ravay Snow |
"Are you ready to learn how to steer?" Giovanni asked Sonya.
"Me? Really?" Sonya woofed. "I didn't think you would let me."
"I'm very picky about who I let steer. You showed respect for the gondola from the time you got on board . You have followed all my instructions correctly. And you have been watching everything I do very closely. I can trust you to handle the gondola properly."
Sonya straightened her shoulders and held her head erect. "Thank you, sir."
"Lorenzo, move to the front. Sonya, come to the back." They changed their places in the boat.
"Now watch and listen closely, Sonya." Giovanni showed her how to pull the oars through the water. Then he told her step by step how to steer the long gondola down the canal.
Sonya obeyed each of his orders. "You're a natural," Giovanni laughed. Sonya's eye's sparkled.
"You're doing so well that I think we should sing!" Giovanni burst into song and Lorenzo joined in. Sonya didn't know the words so she accompanied them by barking and woofing with joy. Their happy voices bounced off the walls of the houses and water.
A group of tourists waved at them and asked if they could take a ride. Giovanni helped them aboard and told Sonya, "Now it's for real." They took the tourists as far as Rialto Bridge.
At twilight, they headed home. Lorenzo's grandfather waited for them at the dock. When they got off the boat, Giovanni turned to Sonya and spoke in a serious voice. "You've done a great job."
He lifted a long, skinny oar from the gondola. Then like a king naming a knight, he tapped Sonya on the shoulder with the tip of the oar.
"I proudly name you an honorary gondolier!" Sonya blushed with pride. Lorenzo clapped and whistled.
"Let's celebrate!" Lorenzo's grandfather shouted. "I'm buying gelato for everyone!"
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights of this World Heritage Site.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
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Photographs ©2005-2010 David Muenker. Text ©2005-2010 Rose Muenker. Illustrations ©2005-2010 Ravay Snow Any use without express written permission is illegal and punishable by law. All rights reserved. Site designed and developed by Josh Bergman. |
