A rowing lesson

For something different on our last full day in Venice, we booked a lesson with Row Venice.  We were lucky to have not only our instructor Regina, but also an interpreter named Sebastian, who spoke excellent English.

The wooden boats were flat bottom "shrimp tail" ones that ordinary people would have used, in Venice of old.  We started off learning the basics while still tied to the side of a small canal.

We watched our instructor arrive

Brad has the first lesson

We set off up the small canal, with Brad rowing at the front and Regina doing the power steering at the back.  Soon we went out into the lagoon, which was a bit choppy because of boat traffic.  Once across the "lanes" of traffic and into calmer water, I had a turn.  Then Brad learned how to paddle at the back, which is harder and requires a different type of stroke.  Then, ACK... I tried it.

Notice how beginners have their paddle tied to the oarlock!