The origins of the venetian gondola are lost to history. But by the 1500s,Some 10000 gondolas transported dignitaries,merchants and goods through the city's canals.
Like a modern day taxi system, gondolas were leased to boatmen who made the rounds of the city's ferry stations.
Passengers paid a fare to be carried from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, as well as to other points around the city.
But gondoliers soon developed a bad rap.Historical documents describe numerous infractions involving boatmen, including cruising, gambling ,extorting passengers, even occasional acts of violence.
To minimize the unpredictability of canal travel, venentian citizens who could efford it purchased their own gondolas, just as a celebrity might use a private car and driver today.
These wealthy venetians hired two private gondoliers to ferry them around the city and maintain their boats.
The gondolas soon became a status symbol, much like an expensive car ,with customer fittings carved and gilded ornamentation and seasonal fabrics, like silk and velvet.
dignitary 权贵,显要人物
bad rap 坏名声
extorting 敲诈
unpredictability 不确定性,不可预测性
celebrity 名人
