When Michael Raffino first stepped onto a gondola in Southern California, he thought rowing would be easy. Within minutes he was spinning in circles, fighting an oar that seemed to have a mind of its own. The craft looked effortless from shore, but on the water it demanded rhythm, patience, and strength. He stuck with it, practicing until the boat finally glided straight. What began as trial and error slowly grew into a way of life.
Over the years Raffino has become more than a rower. He has been a witness to private moments few others ever see. He has carried couples through quiet canals, watched proposals unfold from only a few feet away, and seen joy and nerves play out in real time. From the back of the boat, he has learned that a gondola ride is never just about scenery. It is about presence, memory, and the intimacy of being part of someone’s story.
Raffino has also discovered another side to the tradition: competition. In cities across the country, gondoliers gather to test themselves in long-distance races modeled on Venetian contests. The challenge is not speed but endurance, holding steady when every muscle begs to quit. For Raffino, the training has deepened his respect for the craft. Rowing is no longer only about guiding passengers. It is about discipline, resilience, and carrying forward a skill that has survived for centuries.
Ask him what it means to be a gondolier today and he will tell you it is a mix of art and effort, history and modern life. Whether guiding a couple celebrating an anniversary or pushing himself through a forty-minute race, Raffino sees each stroke as part of a tradition larger than himself.
