The thing I love about Venice is the perfect mixture of soft peach and faded blue, as if it was colored directly from an instagram image. My time there in my backpacking 20′s was glorious, warm nights and freedom, wandering without direction and returning to the hostel on a ferry late at night drinking it all in. I have returned since and still find that gentle beauty, it is a city that easily holds my heart.
A long time dream for me is to be able to explore the interiors of Venice, and it was images taken by Carla Coulson that gave me a little glimpse. She reminded me of the boxes of photos, postcards and memento’s I collected from my travels in my 20′s, these are some of my favorites. I thought I’d share them with you.
Some further reading ~ on the art of arranging photographs
French Essence ~ Vicki Archer
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, Lisa.
I love your photos…but of course I would. I showed my husband the shot of Massimo Memo rowing and the one taken of the gondoliers in St. Mark’s Square at the Traghetto Molo; we’ve identified the gondolier standing on the far left, and my husband thinks he might be one of the men sitting on the bench. I don’t think so
Could you send me the photo through a message on FB? Would love to see a clearer shot of their faces! Thanks for sharing…seems you need another trip to Venice, too. Ciao e a presto, Marie
Wow Marie I am astonished that you know the rower on the traghetto, these were taken approx 1989 when I was backpacking through Europe. I’ll see if I can get a clearer image of the gondoliers. Wouldn’t that be funny if it is your husband in the photo! I went back with my husband and our children in 2006 as well, we took my inlaws on a trip through Europe. Such a small world, do you still know Massimo Memo and the gondalier you recognized?
ciao lisa x
Hi Marie, just sent you three images to your hotmail account. Would love to hear about the men in these photos. Wonderful!
ciao lisa x
Ciao Lisa.
Si! That’s my husband Roberto seated on the right next to his colleague Dino. Gigi Ciampi (now retired) is on the left standing and Matteo has his back to the camera. Each of them are at least second generation gondoliers. If they were taken in 1989 then we had just been married for 2 years! I can’t wait to show him the clearer photo this evening when he gets home, and yes Massimo Memo works in St. Mark’s with Roberto now. He, too comes from a long line of gondoliers. He has 2 brothers who are also gondoliers and his father, now retired, was also a gondolier. Not sure if his grandfather, like my husband’s, was too…I need to ask Roberto.
Thank you for posting the photos. Roberto printed out the one of Massimo and took it to work today to show him.
A presto,
Marie
How beautiful Marie, such a strange coincidence that you happened across these photos. I have seen documentaries about the difficulties of becoming a gondolier. I can only imagine how they will laugh and reminice over these few images. You’ll have to let me know what they all thought of this.
Can’t wait to hear….ciao lisa x
Oh gosh that looks magical – I love the idea of riding the boats, soaking in all that is to Venice – it looks gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing your time!
Cheers
Lisa
It really is the most beautiful city Lisa, I know you would love it! I’m thinking your bus on floaties?
ciao lisa x
Precious and beautiful memories Lisa. You describe the faded colours thing perfectly. Just one more thing to love…What’s your favourite season for Venice? I haven’t been there in so long….Jx
I’d love to see Venice in the Winter, what were your favorite memories? Funny how a place can so capture your heart.
ciao lisa x
I can tell it’s captured yours. I think Autumn moving into winter with a chilly edge to the mornings and evenings walking back from dinner…. I remember having a grand tour style visit with my sister, staying in one of the hotels overlooking the grand canal. We were Italy newbies and really didn’t know what we were doing but what a place to learn! The next year I was back with my parents and younger brother. A fish lunch in a tiny locale filled with local fishermen and the odd French tourist is still the stuff of legend in our family!
Hi Janine, I love Autumn it is a very special season to me. I’d love to just stand at one of those windows overlooking the Grand Canal, and watch life pass by. Funny how the simplest experiences whilst traveling remain so vividly in our memories! For us it was a meal sitting next to a magician who kept us mesmerized with his tricks. ciao lisa
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Venice
Lisa –Ah, magical, romantic, dreamy Venice. Thank you for this lovely post. It is indeed such a enchanted place. I have been there a number of times for work over the years to cover news stories — the Venice Film Festival, the Carnevale, High water in Venice etc. Since everyone is discussing seasons, I guess i would say spring or fall. I found February (Carnevale) was two damp and cold (although the Carnevale costumes and festivities were out of this world). The summer is lovely but there are lots of tourists. I think my most fabulous visit was in 2009 with my mother and daughter Caterina in April. We had a wonderful gondola ride with a charming Gondolier whose name was Dino. He must be the same Dino that is mentioned in the comment above. I think I remember him saying he was married to an Australian woman who taught Italian cooking lessons to foreigners. My mother has a great photo of him that I can send on if there is any interest. Ciao, Trisha
Trisha Thomas recently posted..Leo in the Sandbox, Nico in the Tree
Hi Trisha, how wonderful to be able to experience a city in all it’s seasons. I would love to see Carnevale one day. We once covered the Mardi Gras in Sydney when we were both studying photography, we were clueless but I rang up to see if I could get press passes and by some miracle we were sent two. We got to go behind the scenes and to walk amongst the parade trying to look professional! Nobody else had thought to ask.
A gondola ride must just be magical, how funny if this is the same one mentioned. I’d love to see the photo your Mum has I am still amazed that a few photos taken many years ago would find a way back to the subject! Talk about magical….
ciao lisa
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Venice
Lisa thanks for the mention and so glad I reignited wonderful memories for you, makes me so happy to read this x.
Great pics from 20 odd years ago how cool is “Gondola Boy” ??? Very groovy
Carla xx
Carla Coulson recently posted..Christian Lacroix – From My Archives
Most welcome Carla, I found out that Gondola Boy is still a Gondolier as are the men in the other photo (one of my readers just happens to be married to one). Who’d have thought that 20+ years later this photo finds it’s way back home. It’s a small world, ciao lisa x