Hi Dimpz,

I'll keep my eyes open to see if "Francesco's Italy" is broadcast here. Thanks for the info!

Hi Jewel, good to know!

Hi dragons, What a lovely story, it illustrates the saying that good things happen when you least expect it. And in a gondola no less What a story for this couple to tell in the years ahead.

best wishes,
travellor

Hi dragons~ What a lovely story

An addendum to the story is that later that evening, after dinner, the TD took us all down to St Mark’s Square and sat us down at one of the outdoor restaurants in a circle of tables where he had arranged a table for 2 for the newly engaged couple in front of the musicians and he had also arranged for the musicians to play Italian love songs to them.

Well, Dragons, I'd be hysterical with laughter had I been there with the corniness and the theatricality of it all. Gotta love those Italians, though, romantic and stylish to a fault . Bet everyone was cooing and in tears, eh?

Ahhh, Brenda...I think you are going to have to spend a day or so with me in Venice, I'll show you a basketful of things to touch your spirit and make you question if, in fact, you are actually wearing rose coloured glasses ...You never know...I might be there in September

best wishes,
travellor

Travellor: I do love Venice, as you know. It's just that occasionally, I feel as if I'm on a movie set and that everything disappears under the sea when visitors are gone. Could anything be more theatrical and magnificent than San Marco and the piazza but even how Venice appropriated/stole/made off with St Mark's remains in order to have a patron saint is a funny story, no? But what I like best is the tradition of the Doge "marrying" the sea.

Venice is something very special in its history, customs, people, architecture etc. However, I hate the cheesiness of so many things to which tourists are witness--for the sake of the money they bring to it. I must admit however that being proposed to in a gondola would be special if only the rest of the tour group weren't whistling and cheering . I want a gondola with a closed compartment for a wicked assignation--never mind proposals.

Hi Brenda,

I'm with you in the thought of the gondola and a closed compartment (called a felze)...well, not with you literally but with you figuratively in regard to that special person and the "wicked assignation"

Ok...too much info for the BB

best wishes,
travellor

I always knew you had a few wicked bones in your gorgeous body, Travellor . It's in that closed compartment where champagne should be served or Prosecco. Next time, I'm going to borrow the Doge's gondola--just sitting there after all.

Now that made me laugh out loud...

But about the Doge's gondola, just make sure it is his, and not a funeral gondola, which is also beautifully embellished with gold and has a felze

best wishes,
travellor

Oh heavens, Travellor, is that the one that's just sitting there at the palace. They don't say it's a funeral one but it's pretty embellished with gold come to think of it. I'm not into necrophilia at all, you know. I'll be very careful when making assignations about the health of my partner and booking the gondola.

Hi Brenda,

You make me laugh again

It has been quite a while since I've seen the gondola in the Doge's Palace, so it may well have been his private, pleasure craft you saw. I was thinking more along the lines of what is available for hire nowadays, and a glorious gondola used for funerals came to mind. The one I saw has huge winged Angels on it...I did a quick google to see if I could find a photo, but nothing came up in the first few pages and I didn't search further.

I hope the health of you and your partner necessitates only the use of the "regular" "gondolas for hire" that can be found along the canals of Venice. And walking, of course

best wishes,
travellor

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I must admit however that being proposed to in a gondola would be special if only the rest of the tour group weren't whistling and cheering .

Just for clarification Brenda, the Gondola proposal I referred to earlier was not witnessed by any of the group.

The chap involved, and his lady, did not do the gondola trip with the group but hired a private gondola just for the 2 of them around dusk. He proposed on the gondola ride and they arrived at the group dinner a little late with the lady in question excitedly showing everyone the ring and telling the story

quote:

Originally posted by dragons:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I must admit however that being proposed to in a gondola would be special if only the rest of the tour group weren't whistling and cheering .

Just for clarification Brenda, the Gondola proposal I referred to earlier was not witnessed by any of the group.

The chap involved, and his lady, did not do the gondola trip with the group but hired a private gondola just for the 2 of them around dusk. He proposed on the gondola ride and they arrived at the group dinner a little late with the lady in question excitedly showing everyone the ring and telling the story

Ahh Dragons ~ I still think it is a very romantic story. Brings to mind my son's trip to Europe last year. He proposed to his (then)girlfriend in Sorrento (a place she loves) and the wedding is next April!!

quote:

Originally posted by dragons:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I must admit however that being proposed to in a gondola would be special if only the rest of the tour group weren't whistling and cheering .

Just for clarification Brenda, the Gondola proposal I referred to earlier was not witnessed by any of the group.


The chap involved, and his lady, did not do the gondola trip with the group but hired a private gondola just for the 2 of them around dusk. He proposed on the gondola ride and they arrived at the group dinner a little late with the lady in question excitedly showing everyone the ring and telling the story

OK, all is forgiven. So long as it was a genuine ly intimate proposal. You know how I hate kitch, Dragons.

quote:

Originally posted by jewel:

quote:

Originally posted by dragons:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I must admit however that being proposed to in a gondola would be special if only the rest of the tour group weren't whistling and cheering .

Just for clarification Brenda, the Gondola proposal I referred to earlier was not witnessed by any of the group.

The chap involved, and his lady, did not do the gondola trip with the group but hired a private gondola just for the 2 of them around dusk. He proposed on the gondola ride and they arrived at the group dinner a little late with the lady in question excitedly showing everyone the ring and telling the story

Ahh Dragons ~ I still think it is a very romantic story. Brings to mind my son's trip to Europe last year. He proposed to his (then)girlfriend in Sorrento (a place she loves) and the wedding is next April!!

Now that's lovely, Jewel. Many good wishes to all of you on your son's wedding.