PVP 4267 Gondola 201014.jpg — Gondola Getaway - A Venetian Holiday in Long Beach

By Educator, Photographer and Storyteller Steve Tabor

Picture in your mind, sitting side by side next to your loved one gliding across the calm waters of an open bay to the smooth waters of the canals surrounding Naples Islands as your gondolier quietly guides his craft along its route. The quietness is only disturbed by the sound of an oar propelling you through the water. Crossing under the bridges you glance over to view the homes that line the canal, and you have a feeling that you are far from the cares of daily life. Gondola Getaway has been providing this experience for nearly 40 years. However, gondolas and the islands comprising the neighborhood of Naples have not always been a part of the Long Beach landscape.

The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago introduced visitors to the gondola. Eventually, gondolas were used as a real estate sales tool to tour prospective buyers to sell residential housing units in the newly developed neighborhood of Naples in the City of Long Beach. In 1903, Arthur Parson built three islands in Bixby Slough in the Alamitos Bay. The Parson’s Naples Land Company outlined a system of islands and canals like the City of Venice, Italy, complete with gondolas and singing gondoliers. The development was completed in the 1920’s, but the gondolas eventually disappeared and became a mere footnote in the history of the City of Long Beach.

Fast forward to the mid-1970’s, Michael O’Toole, needed to create a business plan for one of his classes at the University of Southern California (USC). Being a native of the Naples Islands section of Long Beach, O’Toole, developed a business plan to recreate history and developed a business plan for a gondola business utilizing Alamitos Bay and the canals encircling Naples Islands. After graduating college, O’Toole placed the business plan on the shelf and took time to explore his career options and do a bit of traveling. Eventually, he dusted off the business plan, launched Gondola Getaway and has never looked back.

Initially, it was recreating history, but over time it has become the very part of O’Toole’s being. Calling on his experiences as a lifeguard, O’Toole and a couple of friends created a pair of boats commonly used by lifeguards known as a dory. The designed required two oars and the “gondolier” stood on the lower deck at the back of the boat to propel the craft. Eventually, O’Toole became known in the gondola community and received an invitation to row in the Vogalonga, a rowing regatta, taking place in the canals of Venice celebrating the Venetian style of rowing.

O’Toole and his team began training for the 30-mile regatta. They practiced their Venetian rowing techniques in a boat that they had designed. As a final tune-up, they towed their boat from Long Beach to Catalina. The following day, they rowed it back from Catalina to Long Beach. When they finally arrived in Venice, Italy, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that the regatta was only 30-km, approximately 18.6 miles, but the boat they used for training had some significant structural differences from the caorline, the traditional boat used in the regatta. Although, they knew how to row in the Venetian style, they had difficulties transferring their skills to the structural differences of the caorline. Eventually, well known Venetian rower, Bepi Fongher, adopted the crew and spend time helping them adjust to the caorline. According to O’Toole, “Neither of us spoke the other’s language, and we could not understand one another. Initially, Fongher would be yelling at us and it did not take us long to figure out that we were doing something wrong. We attempted to correct our errors, but he continued his yelling. We realized we had fully adapted our Venetian rowing techniques to the caorline when he stopped yelling at us.”

Since that initial trip, O’Toole has a taken a group of his gondoliers to the Vogalonga every year. His boat always flies a U.S. flag and a California flag. He points out that depending on the current political climate, our team does not always receive an ovation when the crowds see our American flag. But, when the Venetians see an American team rowing Venetian style, the crowds along the canals, always give the boat a loud cheer. O’Toole explains, “Knowing how to row in the Venetian style shows a tremendous amount of respect to the Venetian culture and manifests a great sense of pride in native Venetians.”

O’Toole estimates that he has taken at 45 trips to Italy since creating Gondola Getaway. He is always accompanied by a small group of his gondoliers. O’Toole takes great effort to integrate his gondoliers into the culture of the Venetian gondoliers and Venice. According to O’Toole, “These trips and experiences have created a cultural bridge between Venice and Long Beach. Every time we return home, our gondoliers incorporate their Venetian experiences into their experiences with our guests.” As a result of these cultural exchanges, Venice and Long Beach have reached Friendship City status.

O’Toole states that he has never posted a “Help Wanted” notice fill a gondolier vacancy. As is the tradition in Venice, where many gondoliers pass their boats down from generation to generation, at Gondola Getaway, prospective gondoliers are referred by current gondoliers. O’Toole states “Yes, prospective gondoliers must learn the Venetian style of rowing.” O’Toole admits, “It is just as important for the gondolier to have and continue to develop their people skills. It is not only about being personable; each gondolier must quickly assess how much the passengers wish to engage with the Gondolier as well as provide a sense of confidence in the Gondolier’s abilities to confidentially and safely operate their boat so that each guest can sit back and fully enjoy each moment of the cruise. Passengers often become very connected to their gondolier. The gondolier is a key factor in the enjoyment of the overall experience.”

O’Toole points out that there are guests who took their first cruise when they became engaged. The following year, they got married during a cruise or brought their wedding party on a cruise. Every year following, they celebrate their anniversaries with a cruise. O’Toole feels returning guest are a wonderful compliment, and in these situations, he feels Gondola Getaway has become part of the family.

Since opening Gondola Getaway, a few of O’Toole’s former gondoliers have formed their own gondola companies in other sections of the U.S. But, O’Toole proudly discloses, “It is the combination of the canals of Naples Islands, the gondoliers and the infusion of the Venetian cultural experiences that Gondola Getaway offers that set us apart from all the others.”

Currently, Gondola Getaway operates 14 boats, about half of the fleet was crafted in Italy and the other half were built in the U.S. The boats vary in size and can accommodate couples up to groups as large as 14 individuals and larger groups can book multiple crafts. Cruises operate from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Reservations are strongly recommended. There is no corkage fee, so feel free to bring your favorite vino. Gondola Getaway’s website also list several options that can be added to your experience including light snacks, a message in a bottle, flower bouquets and a pizza cruise for a group of 14.

Whether celebrating a special occasion or just needing to safely get out of your house after sheltering in place, Gondola Getaway will provide you with an opportunity experience a bit of old-world charm almost in your own backyard.

Gondola Facts

· Gondolas were used by Venice’s elite in as early as the 11th century.

· Gondoliers were employed by a family in a similar way that chauffeurs are today.

· Gondoliers were considered high on the Venetian social scale and treated with respect.

· At the beginning of the 16th century there were more than 10,000 gondoliers.

· In 1562, Doge Girolamo Priuli decreed that gondolas could only be black because colorful gondolas were only meant to impress.

· Colorful gondolas are only allowed during the Vogalonga.

· The first official gondolier license was issued in 1094. Today, 433 Italian gondolier licenses have been issued. Gondola Getaway has officially licensed 100 gondoliers.

Gondola Anatomy

· Gondolas are built asymmetrically from bow to stern to counteract the weight of gondolier standing at the back of the boat and to assist with steering because of the use of a single oar.

· The Forcola is located adjacent to the gondolier at the rear of the boat. It serves as a cradle for the shaft of the single oar. Looking more like a sculpture than a nautical device, its unusual shape allows the gondolier to place the oar at various points on the Forcola to assist the gondolier with steering the gondola as well as propelling the craft forward and backward.

· Attached to the bow of the boat, the Fero is the gondola’s trademark. Usually made of metal, this additional bow weight counteracts the weight of the gondolier at the rear of the boat. Its shape is dictated by tradition. The top of the Fero is modeled after the King’s helmet. The six forward facing tabs below the helmet represent the six neighborhoods of Venice. The tab facing backwards represents the Isle of Guidecca which sits in the Venice Lagoon just below the Grand Canal. In Italian it is spelled “ferro”, however the Venetian spelling is “Fero”.

· Caorline (CaorlÃ¬ne) is a flat-bottom boat and symmetrically shaped from bow to stern. It was originally built in Caorle, in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Vento. The boats were originally used to transport cargo to the island of Venice. In their working configuration, the boats could be outfitted with oars and sails. The caorline has been used in the Vogalonga since 1951. In its regatta configuration the craft is propelled by 6 oarsmen.

Gondolier’s Uniform

Gondoliers do not row their gondolas for personal use or business without wearing their proper uniform. The uniform consists of a red or dark blue one inch horizontally striped shirt, black or dark blue trousers, a dark jacket, and black shoes. The straw hat with ribbon is considered optional. Legend has it that the striped shirts were introduced to match navigational poles in front of the Palazzo’s on the grand canal. However, research indicates the shirts are modeled after the striped shirts used by the French Navy that made it easier to spot a sailor who had gone overboard.

For more about Gondola Getaway visit: www.gondolagetawayinc.com

Steve Tabor Bio

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.

Watch for Steve Tabor Images on the worldwide web.