If you’re looking for a unique Valentines Day gift this year, why not woo your special someone with a little slice of La Dolce Vita? You may not be able to afford a trip to Italy, but you can drive down to Long Beach for the next best thing – a romantic gondola ride through the canals of Naples, California.
If you didn?t know that Long Beach had canals, you?re not alone.? Though just off the PCH, Naples is not visible to passers by from any major streets in the area and thus has remained a hidden gem.? Naples consists of three separate islands with canals running into Alamitos Bay. The streets on the island all have Italian names and are lined with beautiful homes and palm trees.
Last weekend my husband and I went for an early Valentine?s celebration. Driving into Naples on sunny day in February was like driving into summer.? The bay was so full of surfers, boaters and beach-goers, you never would have guessed it was the middle of winter.? But somehow, we managed to have the canals all to ourselves.
Our gondolier, Jeremy, popped the cork of our wine and set up a basket of bread, salami and cheese for us to nibble on. Soon Nat King Cole was crooning softly from the rear of the gondola and we were off like a? well, not a speeding bullet that?s for sure. The gondola is a slow moving vehicle, hence the opportunity for snacking, drinking and of course, romance.
We passed by kids in yellow kayaks who shouted out ?It?s the Black Pearl!? and surfers standing upright on their boards, paddling through the calm waters. Across the bay we turned down the canals and everything fell silent.? We were the only ones around as water reflected on the sides of yachts and?flags flapped gently in the breeze.? Canals tend to have a reputation for refuse but not these– the water we cruised through was surprisingly clean. We sipped our wine and basked in the sun.
You don?t have to take a gondola ride with a loved one, in fact some?businesses in the area hold their Christmas parties aboard the larger vessels, but?a twosome is?definitely recommended. Since public displays of affection were frowned upon in?ancient Venice, lovers would take gondola rides for the privacy that coasting under bridges afforded them. Nowadays you can be as public as you want with you affection, but it is still tradition to kiss under each bridge.
As we passed under our third bridge Jeremy pulled the gondola to a stop and patiently waited for us to finish our mandatory smooch.? He then offered us four songs to choose from. We picked ?Fly me to the Moon?, and were treated to an A cappella performance. Jeremy it turns out is a voice performance major at Cal State Long Beach, as are several of the gondoliers. It was a pretty great perk that added nicely to the ambiance.
Jeremy abided by the ?speak when spoken to? rule, but when spoken to he was happy to chat with us. He told us that December is a popular time for the gondola rides as the homes lining the canals are all bedecked with Christmas lights.?
It struck me as great place?for a proposal?and in fact, other people have thought the same thing.?Jeremy had recently witnessed his first proposal since becoming a gondolier just a week before. He?d been rowing and the couple was?so?discreet about it he didn?t even realize what had happened until the boat was docked and the woman was showing off her new ring.? Some have gone to more elaborate lengths to pop the question. One man arranged for his girlfriend to find a message in a bottle floating alongside their gondola.
Authentic Venetian Gondolas cruise the canals of Naples from 11 am to 11 pm seven days a week.? Gondoliers in Venetian clothing propel the boats, which were used for centuries as the chief means of transportation within Venice, Italy, through the water with a single oar. Valentines Day is, understandably, prime time, but if you can?t book a space you can always present your loved one with a gift certificate.
A one hour cruise on your own private gondola costs $75 for two people.? This includes a basket of French bread, cheese and salami. Also provided are glasses, an ice bucket, blankets and music. You can bring any beverage you?d like, such as wine, champagne or beer. What a way to say I Love you!
For bookings and gift certificates, call 562-433-9595.? For more information see the Gondola Getaways website: www.gondolagetawayinc.com
