After a lot of communication, I finally wore Gianluca down, and he agreed to an out-of-season topa tour. Thank you to Peter and Lou, who told us about this on a travel forum.
A topa is a working boat in Venice, the type you’ll see doing the hard stuff, transporting goods of all descriptions around the canals that are the streets and alleys of Venice.
Here are some images of Gianluca.
This Carabiniere featured in our trip, but I’m sworn to silence about the details, to protect the innocent!
This is the basic route we followed, during the 2 hours (plus) trip.
Here are some photos of the views we would never have seen when exploring the city on foot.
And, then, the lovely surprise of the trip. The tide level co-operated and we went right under Chiesa San Stefano. Gianluca and I hadn’t said anything, just in case we couldn’t do it. Now, the boatload of adults really transformed into happy, laughing school kids. (Except for one, who was a tad claustrophobic.)
To my intrepid companions Karen and Mike, Susie and Mark, Christy, Linda and Mary, thanks for being such enthusiastic travellers. Here’s to the next topa trip!
To Gianluca, thank you for being such a good-natured, patient, helpful boat pilot.
We truly enjoyed this excursion to the hilt, and we’re grateful that our parents signed the permission slip!
http://www.vivivenezia.org/vivivenezia.org/Home.html
Very cool! I am so envious!
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It was such fun, Son, with a great bunch of people.
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What a magnificent thing to have done. Back now from Venice ( we only overlapped a day or so with you) we really wish we could have been there in that party. It looks like a wonderful route through those waterways, and a splendid thing to have done. We’ve always had a soft spot for those little workboats going around. Yvonne: why didn’t we know about trips like that? (probably because we’d not read any earlier posts by you on the subject) We are really sad we missed out on such a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing the photos with us, it’s nearly as good as being there. Perhaps next time we get there we might be able to do something like that.
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I first read about this trip on TripAdvisor, then Peter wrote about it and that sealed the deal. You would have been welcome in the party, but Gianluca would have towed you behind in a dinghy, perhaps!
When are you coming back?
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We did this in September (after reading the recommendation in Peter’s blog!) and loved it too. The tide was high and we had to crouch on the floor at the front of the boat to be able to get under one of the bridges. Great fun! I am enjoying your photos and stories- love Venice and can’t wait to return one day.
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That Peter has lead the way to lots of adventures! Aren’t his trip reports wonderful?
I hope you get back here again, Gail.
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Oh wow! I was just re-reading Secret Venice and wondering how to get under the church. I am so glad for you that you had the chance, and that the tides played ball! And thank you for sharing such great photos…I am gobbling up Venice vicariously through your blog…! A presto!
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I had tried before to do this topa trip, so this was my lucky time, in lots of ways, Karen.
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What a wonderful trip You offered to us thru Your beautiful photos.
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Thank you, Sartenada!
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Wow, that looks so incredible! We are exceedingly jealous.
Is that Karen wrapped up like a pre-revolutionary Russian princess?
Rob
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Don’t be jealous, do it next time you’re here! Yes, that’s Crown Princessa Karen. 🙂
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Hi Yvonne 😀 What a lovely boat trip post. I did enjoy the ride with you.
Uh oh !! Carabiniere !! What did you do ? Pull out the plug and all the canals drained or you were caught water skiing at 5kph ? Tell me !! 😀 hehe
Have a lovely weekend. Ralph xox 😀
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Never you mind what happened. It was everyone else, not me. Honest! 😀 oxo
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😆 I believe you. I really do !! 😀
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Phew that’s good, my reputation remains semi-intact. Have a good day, Ralph and cats. oxo
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Hi, Liz I think some folks have been having problems with WordPress, for some reason.
How’s the weather in your part of the world? It’s been foggy, but not too cool here.
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Dear Yvonne,
Thanks for your reply!
The weather is really mild here, which is good (for me, that is) because I don’t think I could handle snow, cold and the other usual features of January weather. But as we all know, the weather has been doing strange things worldwide, these past 12 months: they even had snow on Table Mountain (first time in living memory) instead of the usual cloud cover, called “the tablecloth” by local residents..
Regarding the earlier post, I think someone else may have been posting something at the same time, which could have caused it but am not completely sure of that.
Woke up in the early hours, so time to say good night (or good morning?)
Ciao, Liz
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I thought I had posted but it didn’t work.
It must have been a really amazing boatride.
It’s always good to hear about things that are a bit different — and the two hours must have given you a really different perspective of the city’s waterways. Some of those bridges looked very low … It reminded me a little of the trips you did not long ago back in Australia.
First day back at work, so am off for an early night.
Wish you a nice weekend and look forward to hearing what you are up to in Venice..
Ciao from Vienna,
Liz
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fantastic tour you had. Shall I be envy a bit? I hardly wait to return and participate such a tour.
CIao Carissima, Livia
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Ciao, Livia. It was something so different! Baci a te. xx
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I’ll be doing that again, for sure!
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That would be fantastic!
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I’ve heard unconfirmed rumors, Yvonne, that the carabinieri were responding to complaints by people who’d been “mooned” by a rowdy water-borne group, but I trust you didn’t carry the class trip atmosphere that far. It must have been an especially atmospheric trip with the fog! What a great thing to do (and photograph)!
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No, no, no. That must have been another boatload, Steven.
It’s something very special to do, and you’re right, the fog added to the experience.
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Speak for yourself Yvonne…
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WOW! What a cool experience!!!
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It truly was, Darlene. Now, what’s next?
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What a great thing to be able to do I would have loved it. Lucky you.
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I just know you would have gotten a lot from it, Joanne!
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It was a truly memorable thing to do! Thanks Yvonne for herding us so beautifully.
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You guys herded very easily, Mary. Wasn’t it wonderful!
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The photos were great! What an experience…
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Thanks, Pat. It surely was fun, and a wonderful way to see more of Veniice.
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What an incredible trip that must have been – your photos are amazing!
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Thanks, Lynda. I reckon you would have been right in there with the school kid crowd. 🙂
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What a fun thing to do!
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I had no idea how much fun it was going to be. I loved it!
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Thanks Y for organizing this! I loved every moment of it!
Grazie Cara (while sitting in Zurich airport)
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Hi, Susie. Now you’ll be sitting on an airplane, heading west. We’ll eat fritelle for you, and drink spritz. Does that feel better? xx
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Sob, yes…being the true, caring friend that I am…
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What a fantastic trip Yvonne, loved the photos, specially going under San Stefano Church, reminded me of a fairground ride. When does he start the in season tours ?
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I’m not sure when they official season starts, Julie. Gianluca is good at evading my questions! 🙂
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