Long Beach/Venezia sistercity

Well, after 10 years it is now official. Actually it has been official since last May upon the signing of the documents at the Mayors office on the Grand Canal in Venezia. I have been traveling to Venezia now for over 35 years to learn the art of building and rowing Venetian Gondolas. Many close ties have been built and through the years we formed an unofficial Sistercity relationship. It was time to put a stamp on it and begin a serious exchange program. so I was there for my 31st Vogalonga and had the pleasure of meeting the mayor and Vice Mayor of Tourism. We sat for an hour or so discussing the reasons that Long Beach and Venezia were such a perfect match to share this "Sisterhood" relationship. To "Twin" two cities, those cities must carry many similarities, so Gondolas, could not be the sole reason for the bond. We are both Port cites, Cruise ship destinations,beach cities and tourist destinations. We both share unique waterways including Sea, Lagoon, Bays and canals. We both boast Universities that study the effects of Man on the surrounding Ocean. Environmental similarities were the main topic of discussion. We have already begun to plan both educational and sport exchange through the Universities and Aquatic organizations. The T's have officially been crossed and a couple of I's have been dotted! This new bond that we share will soon become an important badge of honor for both Long Beach and Venezia! We hope to create a tremendous flow of people, sport, information and education between the two Cities. A website is being formed as we speak that will allow you all to stay tuned of what is going on and how you can get involved if you like!

This a picture of a couple of Commune staff and the Vice Mayor celebrating America and Gondola's.

Spritz

My first Campari spritz was in Venezia of course, in 1984. I was hanging out with a couple of gondoliers after the Regata Storica. It was a hot and humid sunny day in September and the boys had a short break in the "taxi" line. Lino grabbed me and we headed down a small calle to a tiny little bar and ordered up a some spritz or "spriss." In fact, the bar was loaded with a good 15 gondoliers all standing behind a clear glass with the most luscious looking red drink I had seen. Chin chin and down it went! It was god-awfully bitter. I almost thought it a joke on the young American gondolier, like a frat prank on a new pledge. They didn't giggle though for this was their Gatorade, their rite of passion. Since then I have called it "the gondolier.". I have now been officially addicted to the Campari spritz for almost 30 years. The intoxicating refreshing oh so satisfying mixture was this, but now has a few options. One part Campari, one part vino bianco and one part soda. Add a twist of lemon and an olive to step it up. I like Select which was born on the Giudecca. Campari is of course quite nice but Aperol has made a huge rush over the past 12 years or so. White wine is sometimes substituted with Prosecco which allows for the elimination of the soda but it takes a bit of the bitter away which is what I crave, it's the addictive part. I have spent so many hours in the alleys, canals and lagoon of Venezia that the warm summer wind has brushed the back of my neck from every direction,at every sun level and color a Venetian sunset has to offer. A spritz to me is the color of the perfect sunset. A "spriss" IS the lagoon, the campo, the church bells,the chit chat and chicchetti. So now i can be any where in the world, and not unlike Pavlovs dogs, a certain warm wind on my neck, or a sparkle on the water or the color of a sunset can cause instant salivation that can only be satiated by a Perfect Spritz. Hard to find but not impossible! I always keep a bottle of Select or Campari in the freezer. So here I sit, on a beached Gondola in Alamitos Bay, Long Beach. I just finished painting and varnishing the gondola and a warm breeze lifted off the shimmering bay at sunset. My mouth became moist, i knew it was happening and i knew what to do. I am now half way through a perfect "spriss." Viva Venezia!! Otolini And guess what? It's DECEMBER! So grab a spriss or maybe a big bottle of Red and come on down for a cruise of Lights. Or how about the ultimate gift of Venezia, a bottle of Campari, some soda and white wine and a Gondola gift certificate. Who wouldn't want that for Christmas! IMG_0002.JPG

 

 

As I stood on the dock of the bay at the Gondola Getaway last night,  I was like a fly on the wall watching my world in action.  As I was helping load a fleet cruise of 42 onto the Gondolas that had just arrived by a Big Red Bus double-decker waterfront light tour, another Double Decker pulled into one of our favorite bus stops, right on the beach.  The bus rested as the musician on board sang Christmas carols to the passengers as they gazed across the inky still bay at the lights of the homes on Naples Islands and the Gondolas as they glided across the bay.  I planned on heading out to check on some other parts of the businesses but could not pull myself away from the moment, the hour, the evening on the bay.  The fleet cruise was back in an hour with a full set up of Hot Chocolate and Cookies on the dock.  After an hour with Andretti and Suave the Gondoliers,  they were in the Holiday spirit, singing, dancing and then loading onto the Double Decker with Tyson the kilted conductor for one last view of the enchanting" lit up" Bay.  All in all, between Cable Car, Double Decker Busses and Gondolas, we moved over 600 people through and around this Waterfront I call home, Alamitos Bay and Naples Islands.  There is not another place in the world where this experience can be had with all this beauty and unique transportation.  Gondolas, Puparin, Sandoli, Caorlina's, Double Deckers, Cable car, all within arms reach right here in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Dead calm, moon lit, lights Galore and a Southern California Christmas "Crisp" in the air.  Guess what?  I and 600 other lucky people get to do it again tonight and every night until the new year!

 

Buon Natale

Well here we go!  Just kinda kick'n the tires for now.  Learning a bit on how to present and download things.  These pictures tell a story of bringing a Gondola from Venezia to Alamitos bay in Long Beach.  The video is me rowing the "Erla Farnea" just after purchase in Venezia on the Isle of
Giudecca!  The picture on the beach is at the Gondola Getaway in Long Beach, Ca just a month later.
We bring her up at high tide then let the tide drop to give us a "dry dock" situation.  Not at all unlike the way they do it in Venezia 

Michael 

Holiday cruise of lights

Although the enchanting Canals of Naples islands show beauty in every changing season! the Holidays are especially unique.  The canals become a winter wonderland of lights and a Gondola cruise through the islands waterways is by far the best way to experience this special atmosphere.  Be sure to make this Holiday tradition beginning this year..... Just call 562-433-9595 and we will help make it happen this Season,


Buon Natalie

Otolini

Mothers Day on the Caorlina

Wow,  what a day.  We took the 32ft. Caorlina out with the mothers, sisters, sons and daughters and actually anchored at the split in the Naples and Rivo Alto canal on the Isle of Naples.   The Gondola was set up with its floating kitchen with the Table set for 8.  I started the meal with an antipasto platter followed by the locally famous gondolinos and summer salad.  Next on the grill came 2 huge trout fresh from Mammoth lakes where I grilled them "Riviera" style along with some sweet and some spicy homemade Italian sausage.  The spicy was of course the "deathbed" recipe, one I cannot divulge.  As the smoke and steam rose above the Gondola we were surrounded by kayaks, duffy's, swimmers and residents on their docks.  What a scene, maybe nowhere else in the world.  Only in So Cal, only in the canals of Naples, only at the Gondola Getaway.  www.gondo.net  Oh ya,  plenty of Prosecco, Chianti and the superb white from Cinque Terre.  A bit of Moretti along the way too.

Michael

Vogalonga number 24

Bona Sera Gondoliere,

We are prepping for our 24th Vogalonga in Venezia, Italia.  As the first Americans to row in this event and the only continuing American entry we are most excited to participate once again.  Since the start up of our operation over 28 years ago, we have been blessed with the ability to participate in such an amazing event each year.  Our reasons for going every year are two fold.  First and foremost we have enjoyed taking our gondoliers to Venezia each year to share the history of Gondolas in their natural setting.  We have learned so much in our 25 years of traveling to Venezia that it is a blessing to share with our local gondoliers.  We have trained over 300 gondoliers how to row the Venetian style and taken over 75 to Venezia to participate in the event.

Our heart of authenticity is unrivaled and the canals and lagoons of our operation are unmatched.  Come down to the our enchanting canals in Naples, Long Beach and see why this is the premier location for a romantic interlude on a gondola.  We have the largest fleet of Gondolas in America with the ability to produce romantic cruises, weddings, dinner cruises, pizza cruises and wine tastings.  We are well connected with the best in Italian catering and even have access to London Double-Decker buses for amazing "Orient Express" packages.

Please return to this blog often for this is only the introduction of this Gondola informational site