The Early Developers of Naples Islands would be smiling today!
Gondolas today near where the Hotel was…. The Canals and Gondolas today! Over 110 years later…. Naples, California — Naples History-Circa 1906 shows Hotel Napoli, a beach resort where guests could arrive by the electric “red car” and stay at the beach some 35 miles from Los Angeles. The image shows a boater in the bay…
Two boats, Three Islands and about 1,000 years of history.
A little History of two locally world famous boats, As I write this I am looking over the bay at the perfect October “Adult” Summer. Air temp Still in the 80’s, Water temp still in the 70’s and the waterways wide open! I could literally sail my “Double Sabot” blindfolded from LBYC to ABYC to The Gondola Getaway without a worry of crossing another boat… The only way I know summer is winding down is glimpses of Orange Gourds on porches and the occasional witch flying by. Even a Christmas décor and parade theme was called for and found. “A star- spangled Christmas!” If you live on the Island then pull out your fourth of July stuff and mix it with the holiday lights. The perfect So Cal winter/summer/holiday mix. I am going to take a tack onto a little…
Behind the Scenes of the Naples Island Boat Parade
This was our 72nd year of the Naples Improvement association organizing an incredible boat parade here in our own Alamitos Bay and the Canals of Naples Islands. I have personally participated in about 50 of them, 36 of them in a Gondola. It was EPIC once again! We certainly have had the random years of wind,…
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS UNIFORMS IN THE WORLD
Stripes of the
Day 4 USA VOGALONGA 2019
At last we got in the boat for 2 days in a row. The wind gods said no yesterday but by Friday, all had calmed down. After a big pasta dinner on Thursday, Friday morning turned into a sausage, mozz and gorgonzola Frittata at the House. We had some espresso on the way to the…
Day 3 USA VOGALONGA 2019
Standard 3 espresso start this morning in the house. Raided the Fridge and a made a frittata from the scraps from last night’s dinner. Sausage, pasta, tomato, gorgonzola and mozzarella. Got the crew together to head to the boat yard to rig our Gondola for racing. Easy Vaporetto to far side of Venezia to the…
Day 2 VOGALONGA 2019
Grand Canal to the Rialto Mercato – Legendary Fish Market This day is always a great day. Its registration day for the Vogalonga team sign up. Because of the amount of years, I have been doing this, I have some pretty old memories of this day. At my beginning of this tradition, there were no…
TEAM USA Vogalonga 2019 Day 1
TEAM USA Vogalonga 2019 Landing in Venezia at Marco Polo always feels like arriving home. It has become my second home in my heart. Though my stay is usually just a week, I have been doing it for more than 35 years, with some years having multiple visits. We just landed, and the old familiar…