If you look out from St.Mark's Square in Venice, you can see these Venetian gondolas on any day, bobbing gently on the water. The Basilica di San Marco is behind you, and away across the water you can see San Giorgio Maggiore's orange tower.  As you watch in the searing summer heat you can hear the sound of violins from a nearby quartet, and watch as vaporetto waterbuses emerge from the Canal Grande and make their way to the San Marco landing stages or on to other islands.