Marie, I know well that there are many honest and hard working gondoliers around. I also know that there are a good deal of hustlers and persons who should in no way be allowed to “represent” Venice in any way. Those who rip off Russian tourists €400 for a 30 minute tour, those filmed by Striscia la Notizia charging exorbitant and illegal prices, and the “expert oarsman” involved in the Rialto accident (at 25 years, having taken cocaine and hashish, what an expert). I hear the young gondoliers on the canals of the city talking. “Oh, its been a good day, I’ve made at least €5000”. I do understand what they’re saying. Again, there are lots and lots of decent, honest, hard working gondoliers but there are way too many rotten apples in the basket, and way way too little is done to clean it up.