We had arrived at night and only saw a few standard gondolas on our way to the apartment that would be our home for the next week. I woke up early the next morning, made some coffee, stepped out on the balcony...and saw this boat.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera handy, and by the time I found it, the boat was gone.
I've seen many similar boats since then, but this one was easily recognizable, even six years later.
When I stumbled upon her in 2006 at the edge of Campo Santo Stefano near the Accademia Bridge...I had my camera, and took these shots.


If one of my readers would like to offer a more accurate name - please, post a comment. Until then, I'm calling her a "fully varnished gondola". Maintaining a boat with paint is one thing, keeping a boat up in varnish is much more difficult. Any wood discoloration is completely visible.
There's no forgiveness, no hiding stuff.
All the varnish in the world won't cover up a rotting corner or other imperfection. If you look at the stern of the boat, you'll see a few dark spots. Take another look, specifically at the caenelo (that vertical piece next to the carpet), and you'll see "1971" carved in the wood. If this boat was built in 1971, I'd say the owner has maintained her well, even with a few dark spots.


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