Two hundred years ago, there were 10,000 gondolas in Venice. Today, there are about 400 gondolas in service, used only by tourists. These sleek yet ornate boats typically are about 35 feet long and five feet wide, and weigh about 1,100 pounds. They travel about three miles an hour (same as walking) and take the same energy to row as it does to walk. They're always painted black (six coats). Every 40 days, the boat's hull must be treated with a new coat of varnish to protect against a lagoon-dwelling creature that eats into wood. A gondola lasts about 15 years, after which it can be refinished (once) to last another 10 years. - Gene Openshaw

While walking around Guidecca, I stumbled upon a funeral down one of the canals. There was a brief moment as the casket was being loaded that the boat started drifting away from the dock. It looked like the casket was going in the water. All this time there were many boats passing by carrying on their daily business. The contrast of funeral etiquette amongst the family members mixed with the onlookers caught me in a weird way with camera in hand. Fortunately the undertakers were able to maneuver the dolly to get back on track. I felt at odds over whether I should continue photographing…

Venetian masks have been worn in Venice, Italy, since antiquity. Masks served an important social purpose of keeping every citizen on an equal playing field. Masked, a servant could be mistaken for a nobleman—or vice versa. State inquisitors and spies could question citizens without fear of their true identity being discovered (and citizens could answer without fear of retribution). The morale of the people was maintained through the use of masks—for with no faces, everyone had voices.

Leave it to the Italians to make a taxi look sexy...