Esther's photos with the keyword: waterway

I enjoyed lunch at this restaurant in Venice, Italy that overlooked the Rialto Bridge. AIMG_4507

Gondolas are not the only boats in Venice, Italy that are rowed standing up. AIMG_4827

Houses in Venice, Italy are noted for their elegant facades facing the water. In this city without roads, guests usually entered by boat. The Gothic style was popular in the 13th to mid 15th centuries. Houses of this period are noted for their pointed arches, carved window heads and ornate capitals. AIMG_4825

The ravages of time have taken their toll on this door in Venice, Italy AIMG_4545

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. The gondola is propelled like punting, except an oar is used instead of a pole. Their primary role today, however, is to carry tourists on rides at fixed rates. . . . Gondolas are handmade using 8 different types of wood (fir, oak, cherry, walnut, elm, mahogany, larch and lime) and are composed of 280 pieces. The oars are made of beech wood. The left side of the gondola is made longer than the right side. This asymmetry causes the gondola to resist the tendency to turn toward the left at the forward stroke. It is a common misconception that the gondola is a paddled vessel when the correct term is rowed i.e. "I rowed my gondola to work". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola AIMG_4510

Bridges in Venice, Italy are often built at an angle as buildings block a direct passage across the canals. AIMG_4543