René Seindal there is no excuse for this gondolier’s behavior; late last night when I read and referred the news to my husband, who is a third generation gondolier and loves his job and his city, we both sighed deeply and said ‘mancava solo questo’–‘that’s all that was missing’. But, please don’t judge 400+ gondoliers based on a few who behave inexcusably. I’m certain there are professional kayakers or other professions around the globe and in Venice with members that don’t always behave according to the law. But their behavior often goes without comment. Certainly, Venice’s gondoliers are always in the ‘spot-light’ and make for good giornalistic ‘copy’–though the positive is rarely written about. This is not to say that certain members of this category don’t pull deserved criticism their way, it just should be given to the individual, not as a blanket that suffocates those who have nothing to do with these unforgiveable deeds.