Comments on: gondoliera http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/ Dialogue with the readers of the newsletter Buongiorno Venezia Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:22:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Bimbadoro http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-2 Bimbadoro Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:12:17 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-2 Hi, I am a subscriber, and would like to receive any articles from you about her. Would you let me know how much it would cost for the translations. Hi, I am a subscriber, and would like to receive any articles from you about her. Would you let me know how much it would cost for the translations.

]]> By: Lucky Luciano http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-3 Lucky Luciano Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:34:51 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-3 congratulations. i remember reading your news, she was trying to become a gondolier but failed the exams twice (or more?). hard headed :) congratulations. i remember reading your news, she was trying to become a gondolier but failed the exams twice (or more?). hard headed :)

]]> By: danielle http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-6 danielle Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:49:52 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-6 i'll look for her when i come to venice, i want her to ride us around in the gondola :-) i’ll look for her when i come to venice, i want her to ride us around in the gondola :-)

]]> By: buongiornovenezia http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-7 buongiornovenezia Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:56:33 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-7 i don't know if this means something, probably not: she is German. i'm not, but i'd have tried to do the same :D i don’t know if this means something, probably not: she is German. i’m not, but i’d have tried to do the same :D

]]> By: Suzanne http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-13 Suzanne Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:45:53 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-13 Well on Thursday morning I will be back in Venice with my husband. So, where can we find Alexandria to wish her well? Well on Thursday morning I will be back in Venice with my husband. So, where can we find Alexandria to wish her well?

]]> By: matz2004 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-14 matz2004 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:55:20 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-14 cheers! she risks to make a big money, doesn she ;) cheers! she risks to make a big money, doesn she ;)

]]> By: Clodia http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-17 Clodia Wed, 04 Apr 2007 01:17:30 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-17 I don't like the idea of a 'gondoliera' that look like a man, parading herself on the lagoon or Grand Canal or wherever in Venice. I have enough looking a Miss Piggy during the Carnevale. As they say in Spanish: zapatero a tus zapatos. I don’t like the idea of a ‘gondoliera’ that look like a man, parading herself on the lagoon or Grand Canal or wherever in Venice. I have enough looking a Miss Piggy during the Carnevale. As they say in Spanish: zapatero a tus zapatos.

]]> By: buongiornovenezia http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-21 buongiornovenezia Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:39:49 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-21 Suzanne, Alexandra Hai has been hired by hotel is Locanda Art Déco (the same which supported her fight angainst the Comune di Venezia). Clodia, i respond to you editing the first post about the topic, so that it can be seen more easily. Suzanne, Alexandra Hai has been hired by hotel is Locanda Art Déco (the same which supported her fight angainst the Comune di Venezia).
Clodia, i respond to you editing the first post about the topic, so that it can be seen more easily.

]]> By: Clodia http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-23 Clodia Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:05:48 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-23 Thanks for your reply BV. I may be a little bit old fashioned, but this business about women's liberation is going too far, we are becoming the unisex world. And talking about women being victims... have you any idea of how many men are out there that are abused by their wives or female partners and they keep quiet because is not manly to complain...? I wonder who's is going to play the role of women in the future... wait a minute... I know who... it's happening already... Oops! Thanks for your reply BV. I may be a little bit old fashioned, but this business about women’s liberation is going too far, we are becoming the unisex world. And talking about women being victims… have you any idea of how many men are out there that are abused by their wives or female partners and they keep quiet because is not manly to complain…? I wonder who’s is going to play the role of women in the future… wait a minute… I know who… it’s happening already… Oops!

]]> By: buongiornovenezia http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-25 buongiornovenezia Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:08:30 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-25 ha ha Clodia...! as long as nobody hurts nobody, any role is ok. Oops! :D ha ha Clodia…! as long as nobody hurts nobody, any role is ok. Oops! :D

]]> By: Bob Fusillo http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-232 Bob Fusillo Tue, 22 May 2007 15:59:43 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-232 When our friend Ljubica Gunj became the first woman front in Piazza S. Marco, we all thought it would open the gates for more women. But the Aurora is still the only one there with women. In fact, I can't think of any other cafes in town with women waitresses in outdoor positions. If the Aurora is representative, the tourists don't seem to mind. The pressures are from elsewhere. But gondolas seem to be different -- tourists I talk to think that a woman gondolier is "OK. Good for her!"-- but they want a man. " A man gondolier," they say, "is part of the Gondola in Venice experience." Thought -- Rosalba wants a man gondolier -- college boys might prefer women Tourists want the "real" Venetian experience, which seems to mean pigeons, acqua alta, and men gondoliers. And Neopolitan pizza. rjf When our friend Ljubica Gunj became the first woman front in Piazza S. Marco, we all thought it would open the gates for more women. But the Aurora is still the only one there with women. In fact, I can’t think of any other cafes in town with women waitresses in outdoor positions.
If the Aurora is representative, the tourists don’t seem to mind. The pressures are from elsewhere.
But gondolas seem to be different — tourists I talk to think that a woman gondolier is “OK. Good for her!”– but they want a man. ” A man gondolier,” they say, “is part of the Gondola in Venice experience.” Thought — Rosalba wants a man gondolier — college boys might prefer women
Tourists want the “real” Venetian experience, which seems to mean pigeons, acqua alta, and men gondoliers. And Neopolitan pizza.
rjf

]]> By: Lisetta Olivier http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-234 Lisetta Olivier Wed, 23 May 2007 09:28:47 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-234 If you still wonder what the point is: Alexandra Hai is a FOREIGNER who plays the gondolier, AND a woman: what's worse than that? Venetians feel this outrageous, and tourists feel somehow betrayed or embarassed. If you still wonder what the point is: Alexandra Hai is a FOREIGNER who plays the gondolier, AND a woman: what’s worse than that? Venetians feel this outrageous, and tourists feel somehow betrayed or embarassed.

]]> By: Marine http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-318 Marine Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:42:17 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-318 Do you really think that IS the point? Read the news and get your own opinion! After 10 years hard work for becoming a Gondolier - why do YOU think gondoliers have not accepted her? City hall privileges, maschilism, power of money, discrimination? Take a wild guess....maybe you are playing dumb!? Foreigners that live in Venice today are the REAL Venetians. They love the city heart open and get involved every day to preserve it and show the best of it. Ask a Venetian what he thinks about tourists and see what happens. Money is all that counts in poor merchants head my dear... Do you really think that IS the point?
Read the news and get your own opinion! After 10 years hard work for becoming a Gondolier - why do YOU think gondoliers have not accepted her? City hall privileges, maschilism, power of money, discrimination? Take a wild guess….maybe you are playing dumb!?
Foreigners that live in Venice today are the REAL Venetians. They love the city heart open and get involved every day to preserve it and show the best of it. Ask a Venetian what he thinks about tourists and see what happens. Money is all that counts in poor merchants head my dear…

]]> By: Cyn Burton http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-349 Cyn Burton Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:52:14 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-349 Marine, Venice took the English poet Byron on as one of its own. Maria Callas, a big ol' American born vocalist blew through and had ALL Italians wishing they could gulp her up like gelati from a spoon. Venice and her Venetians for sure, get a faceful of tourists, stupid questions and a double doseful of inconsideration everyday...It's the same in all big cities, in all historical places. So, do we stop coming altogether? Maybe we could draw lots or have a raffle? Venice has been welcoming tourists, artisans, dreamers, lovers all for hundreds of years and occasionally, begrudgingly, takes the odd one of us to her heart. I'm odd enough for 10 tourists and twice as likeable. Open up Vennie, press me to that gorgeous bosom! Keep your chin up Alex. I'm rooting for ya! Still waiting to hear if Clodia had visited my site yet.... Cyn Burton Marine,
Venice took the English poet Byron on as one of its own. Maria Callas, a big ol’ American born vocalist blew through and had ALL Italians wishing they could gulp her up like gelati from a spoon. Venice and her Venetians for sure, get a faceful of tourists, stupid questions and a double doseful of inconsideration everyday…It’s the same in all big cities, in all historical places. So, do we stop coming altogether? Maybe we could draw lots or have a raffle? Venice has been welcoming tourists, artisans, dreamers, lovers all for hundreds of years and occasionally, begrudgingly, takes the odd one of us to her heart. I’m odd enough for 10 tourists and twice as likeable. Open up Vennie, press me to that gorgeous bosom! Keep your chin up Alex. I’m rooting for ya! Still waiting to hear if Clodia had visited my site yet….

Cyn Burton

]]> By: Paris http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-1844 Paris Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:10:39 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-1844 Gondoliering in Venice is an old tradition, licenses handed down from father to son. This tiny city, with its unique substance, is being homogenized by the hordes who visit. The small bulwark of original Venetians (small because most decedents can't afford to live here anymore) don't want changes forced upon them. Would you? They have so little left, it’s all gone to the constant invasion. Who the heck are rich foreigners to invade and impose changes. That is the worst sort of tourism. How dare you. Gondoliering in Venice is an old tradition, licenses handed down from father to son. This tiny city, with its unique substance, is being homogenized by the hordes who visit. The small bulwark of original Venetians (small because most decedents can’t afford to live here anymore) don’t want changes forced upon them. Would you? They have so little left, it’s all gone to the constant invasion. Who the heck are rich foreigners to invade and impose changes. That is the worst sort of tourism.
How dare you.

]]> By: MARINE http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-5745 MARINE Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:09:45 +0000 http://blog.buongiornovenezia.com/2007/04/01/gondoliera/#comment-5745 Hi Cyn, My message was to respond to another person, a certain Nelly I do not see the reply anymore. I don't know why my message came up here. No offence to anyone please. I have been reading lots of messages against Alex from people NOT having a clue of what the story is about. I feel sorry for you all. Just look a You tube and type "gondoliere" and see what the nice italian traditional "real" gondoliers say to tourists: makes me throw up. That's the image of Venice? my applause to the "real" ma gondoliers! I am a foreigner living for more than 10 years in Venice. I can tell you foreigners that have decides to live in Venice, love Venice more then the venetian. If you ever decide to live here, Venice chooses who passes the test. Everything is very difficult here. You work 10 times more then any local persons to be accepted in any way. Every day is an exam. Alex has past the last 12 years trying to be part of the group. at the beginning, she was accepted by the gondoliers then something changed. a word from the "bosses" made the behaviours change. From the outside, it all seams a certain way: a horrible foreign woman that wants to do a venetian traditional "man" job. From the inside, that's not how it happened! There has been a LOT of work and passion here, no one can judge that unless he/she has seen and felt it in it's own skin. Hi Cyn,
My message was to respond to another person, a certain Nelly I do not see the reply anymore. I don’t know why my message came up here. No offence to anyone please. I have been reading lots of messages against Alex from people NOT having a clue of what the story is about. I feel sorry for you all. Just look a You tube and type “gondoliere” and see what the nice italian traditional “real” gondoliers say to tourists: makes me throw up. That’s the image of Venice? my applause to the “real” ma gondoliers! I am a foreigner living for more than 10 years in Venice. I can tell you foreigners that have decides to live in Venice, love Venice more then the venetian. If you ever decide to live here, Venice chooses who passes the test. Everything is very difficult here. You work 10 times more then any local persons to be accepted in any way. Every day is an exam. Alex has past the last 12 years trying to be part of the group. at the beginning, she was accepted by the gondoliers then something changed. a word from the “bosses” made the behaviours change. From the outside, it all seams a certain way: a horrible foreign woman that wants to do a venetian traditional “man” job. From the inside, that’s not how it happened! There has been a LOT of work and passion here, no one can judge that unless he/she has seen and felt it in it’s own skin.

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