1 00:00:08,009 --> 00:00:12,305 [Eugene Levy] A great philosopher once said, "The world is a book, 2 00:00:13,098 --> 00:00:18,478 and those who don't travel read only one page." 3 00:00:26,903 --> 00:00:28,363 [Levy] Well, I've gotta say, 4 00:00:28,363 --> 00:00:32,616 I've read a few pages, and I'm not crazy about the book. 5 00:00:33,535 --> 00:00:36,621 I don't look forward to traveling for a number of reasons. 6 00:00:37,205 --> 00:00:38,582 - When it's too cold... - Whoo. 7 00:00:38,582 --> 00:00:39,666 ...I'm not comfortable. 8 00:00:39,666 --> 00:00:41,501 Ice swimming, naked? 9 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:44,379 - Yes. - Well, that's a terrific invitation. 10 00:00:45,005 --> 00:00:46,256 Whoa. 11 00:00:46,756 --> 00:00:49,801 When it's too warm, guess what? I'm not comfortable. 12 00:00:49,801 --> 00:00:52,387 - [Levy] I can't move that fast. - [Mylo chuckles] 13 00:00:52,387 --> 00:00:55,223 - [Levy] But I'm 75. - [friend] You need some help? 14 00:00:55,223 --> 00:00:56,433 No, I got it. 15 00:00:57,142 --> 00:01:01,062 And maybe it's time to expand my horizons. 16 00:01:06,818 --> 00:01:08,194 [Levy] Oh, my God. 17 00:01:08,194 --> 00:01:09,321 [grunts] 18 00:01:09,321 --> 00:01:11,823 First time I've had my hand up an elephant's ass. 19 00:01:12,407 --> 00:01:13,658 [Levy] On the plus side, 20 00:01:14,659 --> 00:01:17,954 I'm staying at some unbelievable hotels. 21 00:01:17,954 --> 00:01:21,583 [Levy] Oh, my. This is spectacular. 22 00:01:26,504 --> 00:01:31,468 [Levy] The catch is, I've also agreed to explore what lies outside. 23 00:01:31,468 --> 00:01:33,553 - [Tony] Watch your step. - [Levy] No kidding. 24 00:01:33,553 --> 00:01:35,639 - [Levy] Beautiful mountain. - [Jairo] That's a volcano. 25 00:01:35,639 --> 00:01:36,640 That's a volcano? 26 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,435 [Levy] A world I've spent my whole life avoiding. 27 00:01:40,435 --> 00:01:41,978 Whoa. Whoa, whoa. Sadie. 28 00:01:42,729 --> 00:01:45,315 Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. 29 00:01:45,315 --> 00:01:48,526 Just surviving would be great. 30 00:01:48,526 --> 00:01:51,655 [Levy] This is the last time I have five vodkas with a Finn. 31 00:01:52,197 --> 00:01:53,782 [laughing] 32 00:02:02,666 --> 00:02:03,708 [whistles] 33 00:02:04,918 --> 00:02:07,045 I'm actually very excited about seeing Venice, 34 00:02:07,045 --> 00:02:13,343 because I've been told everyone should see Venice before they leave this Earth. 35 00:02:14,553 --> 00:02:16,388 That's a cheery thought, isn't it? 36 00:02:16,388 --> 00:02:19,516 So, here I am. 37 00:02:21,977 --> 00:02:25,564 [Levy] Venice, bursting with culture and history 38 00:02:25,564 --> 00:02:29,025 and regularly ranked as the most beautiful city on Earth. 39 00:02:30,318 --> 00:02:33,905 This is a destination crying out to be explored. 40 00:02:35,907 --> 00:02:39,077 But exploring is something I rarely do when I'm traveling, 41 00:02:39,077 --> 00:02:41,496 so I might be ill-equipped. 42 00:02:42,581 --> 00:02:44,374 [clicks tongue] How do I get into town? 43 00:02:44,374 --> 00:02:47,002 [boat horn honks] 44 00:02:47,002 --> 00:02:50,130 - [boat driver] Buongiorno, Eugene! - Buongiorno! 45 00:02:50,714 --> 00:02:52,132 [chuckles] 46 00:02:53,133 --> 00:02:54,134 Ah. 47 00:02:56,094 --> 00:02:57,095 [driver] Come stai? 48 00:02:57,846 --> 00:02:59,264 [Levy] Come stai? 49 00:02:59,264 --> 00:03:02,434 [Levy] This vintage vessel is a Venetian water taxi... 50 00:03:03,018 --> 00:03:04,477 [Levy] Ah, thank you. 51 00:03:04,477 --> 00:03:10,025 [Levy] ...and accompanied by local guide and part-time sweater model Enrico, 52 00:03:10,025 --> 00:03:11,818 it's taking me to my hotel. 53 00:03:14,571 --> 00:03:18,283 Venice sits on a cluster of over 100 tiny islands 54 00:03:18,283 --> 00:03:21,912 {\an8}in a lagoon so spectacular, it's a World Heritage Site. 55 00:03:22,954 --> 00:03:27,876 This is Venice. How beautiful is this? 56 00:03:27,876 --> 00:03:30,837 [Enrico] This goes back to the beginning of the ninth century. 57 00:03:31,338 --> 00:03:32,756 Ninth century? 58 00:03:34,174 --> 00:03:36,092 [Levy] Over a thousand years old, 59 00:03:36,092 --> 00:03:39,804 this city was once the bustling center of a mighty trading empire, 60 00:03:40,388 --> 00:03:42,766 the richest metropolis in Europe. 61 00:03:42,766 --> 00:03:46,061 Now, it attracts up to five million tourists a year. 62 00:03:47,062 --> 00:03:50,732 Could this be a destination where I have nothing to worry about? 63 00:03:51,483 --> 00:03:53,485 Venice is built on stilts, basically. 64 00:03:53,485 --> 00:03:55,779 It's a city built on stilts? 65 00:03:55,779 --> 00:03:56,863 Yes, sir. 66 00:03:56,863 --> 00:03:57,989 [Levy] Maybe not. 67 00:03:58,823 --> 00:04:05,664 How much weight can these stilts take? 68 00:04:05,664 --> 00:04:09,376 There's a little bit of subsidence, which is more like a regional problem. 69 00:04:11,127 --> 00:04:13,463 But, Eugene, an interesting thing is the city, 70 00:04:13,463 --> 00:04:14,548 when it was made, 71 00:04:15,131 --> 00:04:20,178 the sea level was something like one and half to two meters lower than now. 72 00:04:21,388 --> 00:04:22,597 Okay. 73 00:04:22,597 --> 00:04:26,518 [Levy] So, we have shaky foundations and the sea level's rising. 74 00:04:26,518 --> 00:04:29,729 Good to know I can just sit back, relax, and-- 75 00:04:29,729 --> 00:04:31,606 Heads. Whoa. 76 00:04:32,148 --> 00:04:34,192 [Levy] Prepare to be decapitated. 77 00:04:34,192 --> 00:04:36,903 These bridges scare me. Uh-oh, another one. 78 00:04:37,529 --> 00:04:39,656 You've gotta be watching every second... 79 00:04:39,656 --> 00:04:42,325 Watch your heads right now. Down, down, down. 80 00:04:42,951 --> 00:04:46,871 ...because trip to Venice could be over in a big way. 81 00:04:46,871 --> 00:04:48,123 [imitates explosion] 82 00:04:51,084 --> 00:04:54,379 Head still attached to my body? Good. 83 00:04:54,379 --> 00:04:56,256 And we finally arrived. 84 00:04:56,256 --> 00:04:58,258 Here you are, Eugene. The Gritti Palace. 85 00:04:58,258 --> 00:04:59,342 [Levy] It's beautiful. 86 00:04:59,843 --> 00:05:02,512 [Levy] One of Venice's most exclusive hotels, 87 00:05:02,512 --> 00:05:05,432 the Gritti Palace is a home away from home 88 00:05:05,432 --> 00:05:08,935 for royalty, billionaires, Hollywood icons... 89 00:05:08,935 --> 00:05:12,689 [Levy] There's a cappuccino waiting to happen on that terrace. 90 00:05:12,689 --> 00:05:13,815 [Levy] ...and now me. 91 00:05:14,524 --> 00:05:15,609 Thank you. 92 00:05:17,402 --> 00:05:19,779 [Levy] Ah, the luxury I have to endure. 93 00:05:19,779 --> 00:05:20,947 Good morning, Mr. Levy. 94 00:05:20,947 --> 00:05:22,657 - Welcome to the Gritti. - Thank you. 95 00:05:22,657 --> 00:05:24,326 - Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you. 96 00:05:24,326 --> 00:05:27,120 I'm the general manager, Paolo Lorenzoni, and Carlotta. 97 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:28,997 Welcome, Mr. Levy. Welcome to the Gritti Palace. 98 00:05:28,997 --> 00:05:31,249 Ah, well, this is quite, quite beautiful. 99 00:05:31,249 --> 00:05:34,419 You know you're not in Kansas anymore when you walk in here. 100 00:05:34,419 --> 00:05:35,629 [Carlotta] Yes. Beautiful. 101 00:05:35,629 --> 00:05:37,964 [Paolo] The Gritti's the oldest palace in Venice. 102 00:05:37,964 --> 00:05:41,176 The Gritti names come from the Doge Andrea Gritti. 103 00:05:41,176 --> 00:05:45,472 - [Levy] The Doge was in Venice? - Yes. The Doge was-- was like a king. 104 00:05:45,472 --> 00:05:46,431 Wow. 105 00:05:46,431 --> 00:05:49,809 [Levy] Though not a very happy king, by the looks of things. 106 00:05:50,852 --> 00:05:53,647 [Levy] That's, uh, what I call a "sour puss." 107 00:05:54,814 --> 00:05:57,984 When you're getting your portrait taken, put a little smile on your face. 108 00:05:57,984 --> 00:06:00,820 Just, like, you know, lighten up a little bit. 109 00:06:02,530 --> 00:06:05,408 Let me show you our, uh-- our library. 110 00:06:07,077 --> 00:06:08,912 [Levy] Under the eye of the grumpy Doge, 111 00:06:08,912 --> 00:06:12,207 the Gritti's VIP guests are asked to sign in. 112 00:06:12,207 --> 00:06:15,585 This is a precious book. It's-- We'd call it the "gold book." 113 00:06:15,585 --> 00:06:20,799 And you see, immediately, the-- the Ernest Hemingway signature here. 114 00:06:20,799 --> 00:06:21,883 "Ernest... 115 00:06:21,883 --> 00:06:23,760 - [Paolo] Hemingway. - [Levy] ...Hemingway." 116 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,720 - [Paolo] And then we got the-- - [Levy] Wow. 117 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,139 - "Liberace." - Nineteenth of July. 118 00:06:28,139 --> 00:06:30,183 [Levy] Who drew a little candelabra on his-- 119 00:06:30,183 --> 00:06:31,434 Yes, on the piano. 120 00:06:31,935 --> 00:06:35,772 {\an8}[Levy] In case people didn't know if it was that Liberace. 121 00:06:35,772 --> 00:06:38,358 {\an8}[Levy] This book is a veritable who's who of... 122 00:06:38,358 --> 00:06:40,193 {\an8}[Paolo] This is Charlie Chaplin. 123 00:06:40,193 --> 00:06:42,070 {\an8}[Levy] ...anyone who is anyone. 124 00:06:43,196 --> 00:06:47,200 "Princess Margaret." Right, and she just wrote, "Margaret"? 125 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,119 - "Margaret", yes. - Yes. 126 00:06:50,078 --> 00:06:51,871 And you're sure it's Princess Margaret? 127 00:06:53,373 --> 00:06:54,958 - I hope so. - Okay. [chuckles] 128 00:06:54,958 --> 00:06:57,377 - [chuckles] - Well, I hope by allowing me to stay here, 129 00:06:57,377 --> 00:06:59,421 you're not lowering the bar. 130 00:06:59,421 --> 00:07:00,505 [chuckles] 131 00:07:00,505 --> 00:07:03,341 [Levy] Though the fact I haven't been asked to sign it yet 132 00:07:03,341 --> 00:07:05,302 probably speaks volumes. 133 00:07:05,802 --> 00:07:10,181 [Levy] So, I'm noticing, Mr. Lorenzoni, the smudging on some of these pages 134 00:07:10,181 --> 00:07:13,518 like somebody spilled a Bellini on them or something. 135 00:07:13,518 --> 00:07:16,730 No, no. If there is damage to the book, it was when under the water. 136 00:07:17,314 --> 00:07:19,608 Somebody dropped this book in the water? 137 00:07:19,608 --> 00:07:23,695 No, it was high tide. And then some water went and get in. 138 00:07:23,695 --> 00:07:26,948 Wow. This is, like-- 139 00:07:27,532 --> 00:07:30,452 So, the high tide comes in the hotel. 140 00:07:31,036 --> 00:07:31,912 - Yes, correct. - Yes. 141 00:07:31,912 --> 00:07:36,666 Do-- Did clients get a-- any kind of discount here, when they-- when they, uh-- 142 00:07:36,666 --> 00:07:39,211 - Not at all. They pay more-- - First floor of the hotel flooded-- 143 00:07:39,211 --> 00:07:40,295 They pay more for it? 144 00:07:40,295 --> 00:07:42,589 Yeah, it's an experience. It's a new experience. 145 00:07:42,589 --> 00:07:46,134 That's an experience you don't get in-- in other hotels. 146 00:07:46,134 --> 00:07:47,260 [chuckles] 147 00:07:49,471 --> 00:07:52,390 [Levy] Thankfully, my hotel suite is on the first floor, 148 00:07:52,974 --> 00:07:54,351 {\an8}so fingers crossed... 149 00:07:54,351 --> 00:07:58,188 {\an8}...I won't be waking up to find my socks floating down the canal. 150 00:08:00,023 --> 00:08:01,608 Oh, my. 151 00:08:03,109 --> 00:08:05,862 [Carlotta] So, Mr. Levy, what do you think about the room? 152 00:08:05,862 --> 00:08:07,572 It's beautiful. 153 00:08:07,572 --> 00:08:12,244 This is a room that is full of history and art. 154 00:08:12,244 --> 00:08:19,209 Everything that you see here, the stuccos, the frescoes, are completely original. 155 00:08:19,209 --> 00:08:21,545 Everything is-- is pure Venetian. 156 00:08:21,545 --> 00:08:25,382 Here, you can see this is real gold. 157 00:08:25,382 --> 00:08:28,385 - This is real gold? - The gold leaf. Absolutely, yes. 158 00:08:28,385 --> 00:08:30,303 [Levy] This is done right here in Venice, you don't-- 159 00:08:30,303 --> 00:08:32,264 - [Carlotta] It's done in Venice. - These chairs aren't imported? 160 00:08:32,264 --> 00:08:33,974 No, no, no, no. Absolutely not. 161 00:08:33,974 --> 00:08:35,058 [Levy] Wow. 162 00:08:35,058 --> 00:08:38,061 - Well, this must be an expensive chair. - [Carlotta] Yes, of course. 163 00:08:38,061 --> 00:08:40,397 - Right? 'Cause-- Mmm. - [Carlotta] Yes, it is. 164 00:08:40,397 --> 00:08:43,775 I may come in here with a little nail file and just start, mmm, 165 00:08:43,775 --> 00:08:46,236 - doing some scrapings, you know. - [chuckles] 166 00:08:47,571 --> 00:08:50,865 I'm a little out of my element here. 167 00:08:50,865 --> 00:08:54,703 You know, real gold leaf on the furniture? 168 00:08:55,579 --> 00:08:58,081 It's kind of the Old World preserved. 169 00:08:59,541 --> 00:09:02,627 [Carlotta] This is from the 17th century. 170 00:09:02,627 --> 00:09:03,753 - No! - Oh, yes. 171 00:09:04,671 --> 00:09:05,839 [Carlotta] It's priceless. 172 00:09:06,756 --> 00:09:11,344 [Levy] Yep, that's right. The furniture is older than the United States. 173 00:09:12,304 --> 00:09:14,639 Could I get used to this kind of opulence? 174 00:09:14,639 --> 00:09:19,853 Um, I-- Um... [clicks tongue, sighs] ...Maybe. 175 00:09:21,730 --> 00:09:24,316 [Levy] Now, normally, I'd be spending the rest of the day, 176 00:09:24,316 --> 00:09:27,903 and probably most of my stay, in this suite. 177 00:09:29,362 --> 00:09:30,363 [sighs] 178 00:09:30,363 --> 00:09:33,658 [Levy] And not just because I love my creature comforts. 179 00:09:34,409 --> 00:09:37,162 I know there's a lot to see in the world... 180 00:09:40,206 --> 00:09:42,459 but leaving the hotel and exploring 181 00:09:42,459 --> 00:09:46,338 a foreign place where I don't know where I am, 182 00:09:46,338 --> 00:09:51,134 there's a certain amount of anxiety? Um, I think. Yes. 183 00:09:52,177 --> 00:09:56,514 [Levy] Yet, deep down, I know there's more to sample here than the hotel menu. 184 00:09:58,225 --> 00:10:01,186 [Levy] I really have to overcome my butterflies, 185 00:10:01,186 --> 00:10:06,524 take the road less traveled, and venture out into Venice. 186 00:10:08,526 --> 00:10:10,111 - Monica? - [Monica] Yes. 187 00:10:10,695 --> 00:10:12,739 - Pleased to meet you. - Nice to meet you. 188 00:10:12,739 --> 00:10:14,449 Are you gonna have something to drink? 189 00:10:14,449 --> 00:10:17,118 Uh, absolutely will have something to drink. 190 00:10:17,118 --> 00:10:19,162 [Levy] Local food writer, Monica, 191 00:10:19,162 --> 00:10:23,583 has agreed to help me and thinks we should start by getting some lunch. 192 00:10:25,502 --> 00:10:28,922 I always think that the best thing about a city when you discover it, 193 00:10:28,922 --> 00:10:30,966 you should always discover it through food. 194 00:10:30,966 --> 00:10:36,429 This is more-than-a-thousand-year-old republic that had so many, uh, 195 00:10:36,429 --> 00:10:39,474 influences from all over the known world. 196 00:10:39,474 --> 00:10:43,520 So, it's the food that is very different from the rest of, uh, Italy. 197 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,772 When tourists come to Venice, 198 00:10:45,772 --> 00:10:48,316 are they expecting the best pizza they've ever had? 199 00:10:48,316 --> 00:10:49,401 [Monica] Yeah, probably. 200 00:10:49,401 --> 00:10:52,612 And they get disappointed because it's got nothing to do with Venice. 201 00:10:52,612 --> 00:10:53,989 Pizza comes from Naples. 202 00:10:53,989 --> 00:10:59,411 In Venice, you go for risotto, you go for fish dishes, you go for pasta dishes. 203 00:10:59,411 --> 00:11:01,580 That's what the Venetian cuisine is all about. 204 00:11:06,877 --> 00:11:08,044 Busy, busy. 205 00:11:08,044 --> 00:11:11,756 [Monica] Yeah. [stammers] I told you I was gonna show you the life of Venice. 206 00:11:11,756 --> 00:11:13,592 This is a local fishmonger, 207 00:11:13,592 --> 00:11:19,097 and we got some of the best fish in Italy because it's fresh every day. 208 00:11:19,097 --> 00:11:24,227 You go from the fish, the vegetables, the cakes. It's all about food in Venice. 209 00:11:25,145 --> 00:11:27,480 [Levy] Mmm. Now that's music to my ears. 210 00:11:29,816 --> 00:11:34,154 So, this is a bacaro, an osteria. 211 00:11:34,154 --> 00:11:38,158 The typical place where Venetians eat and drink. 212 00:11:38,158 --> 00:11:42,037 This is actually one of the oldest wine places in the city. 213 00:11:42,037 --> 00:11:44,706 [Levy] Ah, I like where this is heading. 214 00:11:45,498 --> 00:11:49,961 And I'm gonna get you to try the famous cicchetti that you can see here now. 215 00:11:49,961 --> 00:11:51,421 [Levy] Cicchetti. 216 00:11:51,421 --> 00:11:55,967 They come from the word "ciccus" in Latin. That means "small". 217 00:11:57,052 --> 00:11:58,053 Okay. 218 00:11:58,053 --> 00:12:01,723 [Levy] "Small" is not the word I was hoping would describe our lunch. 219 00:12:02,849 --> 00:12:04,935 - Yes? How hungry are you? - I'm-- I'm-- 220 00:12:04,935 --> 00:12:09,940 Well-- [chuckles] "I'm pretty-- pretty damn hungry," as they say. 221 00:12:10,857 --> 00:12:13,610 [Levy] Fortunately, cicchetti refers to not one 222 00:12:13,610 --> 00:12:15,946 but many different types of finger food. 223 00:12:17,113 --> 00:12:19,241 You have a couple of cicchetti. 224 00:12:19,241 --> 00:12:22,035 [Levy] And it's tradition to serve it with wine. 225 00:12:22,535 --> 00:12:24,162 [Monica] This is Raboso wine. 226 00:12:24,162 --> 00:12:27,624 [Levy] A tradition it would seem churlish to ignore. 227 00:12:28,124 --> 00:12:30,585 [Monica] And notice that it's served cold. It's chilled. 228 00:12:30,585 --> 00:12:34,256 It's very, very refreshing. 229 00:12:34,256 --> 00:12:39,344 It is. But don't be fooled, this is 13%. That's why you need-- 230 00:12:39,344 --> 00:12:42,347 So you need a lot of sandwiches with this baby, don't ya? 231 00:12:42,347 --> 00:12:44,140 That's why you need a lot of cicchetti. 232 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:47,894 [Levy] Monica's choice of wine has certainly eased me into this lunch. 233 00:12:48,562 --> 00:12:51,856 I wish I could say the same about her choice of cicchetti. 234 00:12:51,856 --> 00:12:54,651 And we definitely going for baccalá. 235 00:12:54,651 --> 00:12:58,321 - It's actually dried cod. Okay? - Dried cod? 236 00:12:58,321 --> 00:13:03,952 Dried cod that has been rehydrated by soaking it in fresh water, 237 00:13:03,952 --> 00:13:06,746 changing it frequently for 72 hours. 238 00:13:06,746 --> 00:13:09,708 - Uh-huh. Yeah. - And then it's been boiled, and then-- 239 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:11,251 - And then boiled? - Then. 240 00:13:11,251 --> 00:13:13,962 You're not making this sound appetizing, Monica. 241 00:13:13,962 --> 00:13:15,130 You're gonna love it. 242 00:13:15,130 --> 00:13:17,674 - I'm sure. Let me try. - I'm pretty sure you're gonna like it. 243 00:13:19,134 --> 00:13:21,303 [Monica] It's not as strong as people think it is. 244 00:13:24,180 --> 00:13:25,765 [smacks lips] No, it's very good. 245 00:13:25,765 --> 00:13:27,642 [Monica] Did you expect something like this? 246 00:13:27,642 --> 00:13:30,228 No. I-- I was expecting cat food... 247 00:13:30,228 --> 00:13:32,105 - [laughing] - ...but it's actually-- 248 00:13:32,814 --> 00:13:34,733 It's actually delicious. 249 00:13:35,483 --> 00:13:39,070 This is my idea of good eating... 250 00:13:39,070 --> 00:13:40,196 - Yes. - ...you know? 251 00:13:40,196 --> 00:13:44,117 Tasty little tidbits, delicious wine, 252 00:13:44,117 --> 00:13:47,871 and, uh, nothing particular on the agenda. 253 00:13:47,871 --> 00:13:49,956 - That's the Venetian way. [chuckles] - Yeah. 254 00:13:49,956 --> 00:13:51,333 I'd be putting on so much weight. 255 00:13:51,333 --> 00:13:55,337 I'd be 270 pounds right now, you know? And drunk. 256 00:13:55,337 --> 00:13:56,546 [chuckling] 257 00:13:57,756 --> 00:13:59,466 [Levy] There are six districts in Venice. 258 00:13:59,466 --> 00:14:03,345 All offering a smorgasbord of culinary sites and flavors. 259 00:14:04,304 --> 00:14:09,309 Monica's leading me further off the beaten track in the Cannaregio district. 260 00:14:09,935 --> 00:14:15,315 This particular place, it's the only kosher bakery 261 00:14:15,315 --> 00:14:19,361 in the province of Venice. And the province of Venice is quite big. 262 00:14:19,361 --> 00:14:21,029 Well, even though we're in Italy... 263 00:14:21,029 --> 00:14:22,906 - Yep. - ...you can't beat a Jewish deli. 264 00:14:22,906 --> 00:14:24,366 Oh, yeah. 265 00:14:24,366 --> 00:14:28,078 - [Levy] Wow. - [Monica] And many things on display 266 00:14:28,078 --> 00:14:31,706 you only find here and nowhere else in the world. 267 00:14:31,706 --> 00:14:35,210 "Bisse" is a typical cookie from the city. 268 00:14:35,210 --> 00:14:37,045 - I love this already. - I know you do. 269 00:14:37,045 --> 00:14:38,171 [Levy] All right. Go ahead. 270 00:14:38,171 --> 00:14:41,716 [Monica] So, "impada" is a pastry stuffed with onions. 271 00:14:41,716 --> 00:14:44,844 We think it probably comes from the Spanish Jewish community. 272 00:14:46,555 --> 00:14:50,100 {\an8}[Levy] Jewish people from all over Europe started settling in Venice 273 00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:52,686 as far back as the 13th century. 274 00:14:53,645 --> 00:14:59,234 This is one of the most important part of the history of the world 275 00:14:59,234 --> 00:15:05,865 {\an8}because this is a Jewish ghetto, and this was the first ever ghetto in the world. 276 00:15:05,865 --> 00:15:10,161 {\an8}[Levy] How did a Jewish ghetto come to be in Venice? 277 00:15:10,161 --> 00:15:13,623 [Monica] In 1516, the city of Venice decided 278 00:15:13,623 --> 00:15:18,336 it made sense for the community to live all together in the same place. 279 00:15:18,336 --> 00:15:23,258 As the years went by, they literally segregated, for the first time in history, 280 00:15:23,258 --> 00:15:25,844 the Jewish people from the other communities, 281 00:15:25,844 --> 00:15:31,766 and that's why slowly, slowly the term "ghetto" has become a terrible word. 282 00:15:33,351 --> 00:15:36,771 [Levy] This segregation lasted over two and a half centuries... 283 00:15:37,606 --> 00:15:39,524 This is one of the gates. 284 00:15:39,524 --> 00:15:44,613 This was shut when the curfew came. Nobody was allowed in or out. 285 00:15:45,447 --> 00:15:48,950 [Levy] ...until the French invaded in 1797. 286 00:15:50,285 --> 00:15:55,624 Napoleon decided to open the gates, not because he was fond of Jewish people, 287 00:15:55,624 --> 00:15:58,418 but because, obviously, he was fond of their money. 288 00:15:58,418 --> 00:16:00,045 So, 289 00:16:00,045 --> 00:16:06,968 Napoleon was one of the better anti-Semites, I guess. 290 00:16:08,637 --> 00:16:13,016 Well, it has personal resonance for me being Jewish. 291 00:16:13,016 --> 00:16:17,854 Uh, it was off the beaten track, no question about it, 292 00:16:17,854 --> 00:16:22,025 and would I have gone there if I wasn't doing this? 293 00:16:22,025 --> 00:16:23,944 I-- I would say probably not. 294 00:16:24,945 --> 00:16:28,907 Because it's not... [sighs] ...what I do when I travel. 295 00:16:28,907 --> 00:16:31,618 So, it's leaving a bit of an imprint. 296 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,580 Could be the Raboso. [chuckles] 297 00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:39,793 But, no, I think-- I think it's-- I think it's just me. 298 00:16:49,594 --> 00:16:52,222 [Levy] Following an afternoon rich in history, 299 00:16:52,222 --> 00:16:55,517 it's time for an evening rich in calories. 300 00:16:56,059 --> 00:16:58,770 I've learned how Venice's locals eat. 301 00:16:58,770 --> 00:17:03,733 Now it's time to discover how to dine like Venetian royalty. 302 00:17:04,985 --> 00:17:09,656 Well, I'm gonna eat like a doge with a smile on his face. 303 00:17:10,864 --> 00:17:14,369 [Levy] And to ensure I get the best out of my experience, 304 00:17:14,369 --> 00:17:18,998 the Gritti has assigned one of their A-list staff to look after me. 305 00:17:19,623 --> 00:17:23,295 Maurizio, you look like a Hollywood movie star. 306 00:17:23,295 --> 00:17:26,171 - [Maurizio] Wow. - If I had those looks when I started out, 307 00:17:26,171 --> 00:17:29,092 my career would have had a whole different way to go. 308 00:17:29,092 --> 00:17:30,468 - [chuckles] - Uh... 309 00:17:33,805 --> 00:17:37,434 [Levy] Tonight's menu has a distinctly Venetian theme: 310 00:17:37,434 --> 00:17:40,312 ravioli in the shape of gondolas. 311 00:17:40,979 --> 00:17:42,522 Oh, boy, is that good. 312 00:17:43,899 --> 00:17:44,858 Wow. 313 00:17:45,567 --> 00:17:48,778 [Levy] Codfish with cannellini cream and black truffle. 314 00:17:50,071 --> 00:17:54,784 This gets me excited because this is outstanding food. 315 00:17:54,784 --> 00:17:58,914 [Levy] And to finish it off, a dessert shaped like a cigar. 316 00:17:59,414 --> 00:18:02,542 The cigar, it's because of our friend Hemingway, uh, 317 00:18:02,542 --> 00:18:04,502 smoking a cigar here on this table. 318 00:18:04,502 --> 00:18:07,380 - This is Ernest Hemingway's table? - Yeah. 319 00:18:07,380 --> 00:18:10,425 Wow, I'm suddenly getting an urge to write. 320 00:18:11,051 --> 00:18:14,346 [Levy] Garnished with something for a very rich palate. 321 00:18:15,096 --> 00:18:17,933 [stammers] That's, uh, gold leaves. Eatable. 322 00:18:18,475 --> 00:18:19,684 - Eatable? - [Maurizio] Yeah. 323 00:18:20,435 --> 00:18:22,979 [Levy] Well, I can understand eating 24 carrots, 324 00:18:22,979 --> 00:18:26,107 - but eating gold is a whole other thing. - [chuckles] 325 00:18:29,027 --> 00:18:30,028 [Levy] Wow. 326 00:18:30,612 --> 00:18:32,697 This is insanely good. 327 00:18:33,406 --> 00:18:34,866 [Levy] So, so good. 328 00:18:35,492 --> 00:18:37,077 [Levy] Can you believe it? 329 00:18:37,077 --> 00:18:39,412 One night in the luxury of this place 330 00:18:39,412 --> 00:18:42,290 and I've already acquired a taste for gold. 331 00:18:42,290 --> 00:18:45,085 Am I gonna have trouble getting through a metal detector at the airport... 332 00:18:45,085 --> 00:18:46,336 - Don't worry about-- - ...because I've eat... 333 00:18:46,336 --> 00:18:47,796 - Don't worry about it. That's not-- - ...because I've eaten this? 334 00:18:47,796 --> 00:18:48,755 [Levy imitates alarm] 335 00:18:48,755 --> 00:18:50,006 [chuckles] 336 00:18:56,137 --> 00:18:57,222 [birds squawking] 337 00:18:57,222 --> 00:18:59,808 [water lapping] 338 00:19:04,354 --> 00:19:07,899 [Levy] I've woken up to a stunning Venetian sunrise. 339 00:19:08,483 --> 00:19:11,528 And I'm pleased to say the water is still where I left it: 340 00:19:12,237 --> 00:19:14,239 firmly outside the hotel. 341 00:19:15,824 --> 00:19:21,329 [Levy] So, it's time to get up, get dressed, and order room service. 342 00:19:23,957 --> 00:19:26,084 Good morning, Mr. Levy. How are you this morning? 343 00:19:26,084 --> 00:19:28,128 I'm good, Maurizio. 344 00:19:28,128 --> 00:19:32,632 This is why I travel. To stay in hotels like this. 345 00:19:32,632 --> 00:19:34,217 So, what's your plan for today? 346 00:19:34,926 --> 00:19:37,137 Well, I-- I don't know. 347 00:19:37,137 --> 00:19:39,264 I think, uh, if it was up to me, 348 00:19:39,264 --> 00:19:41,850 I'd just be kinda sitting here for a few hours... 349 00:19:41,850 --> 00:19:42,934 [chuckles] 350 00:19:42,934 --> 00:19:44,603 - and taking it in... - [Maurizio] Whole day off. 351 00:19:44,603 --> 00:19:47,105 ...and perhaps having a coffee or two. 352 00:19:47,105 --> 00:19:50,442 But what-- what would you suggest? 353 00:19:50,442 --> 00:19:55,697 I think you should get lost in the real places of Venice. 354 00:19:55,697 --> 00:19:58,366 - "Get lost in the real places of Venice"? - [Maurizio] Get lost. 355 00:19:58,366 --> 00:20:00,118 - [Levy] Yeah. - Just go around and get lost on it. 356 00:20:00,118 --> 00:20:01,828 That is so not me. 357 00:20:01,828 --> 00:20:03,455 [Maurizio chuckles] 358 00:20:03,455 --> 00:20:06,416 [Levy] And what's the best way to get lost in Venice? 359 00:20:06,416 --> 00:20:08,460 Well, apparently, it's to take a trip 360 00:20:08,460 --> 00:20:10,879 on the city's most famous form of transport: 361 00:20:11,463 --> 00:20:12,464 a gondola. 362 00:20:13,006 --> 00:20:16,218 They first arrived here over 900 years ago. 363 00:20:16,218 --> 00:20:19,971 When I imagine the waterways looked a little different than they do now. 364 00:20:21,306 --> 00:20:23,892 I'm noticing there are buses... 365 00:20:23,892 --> 00:20:24,809 [boat horn honks] 366 00:20:24,809 --> 00:20:28,939 ...delivery boats, taxis. 367 00:20:28,939 --> 00:20:34,402 I mean, it's busy. It's very active on the water. 368 00:20:34,402 --> 00:20:37,239 [Levy] But nothing ventured, nothing gained. 369 00:20:39,407 --> 00:20:41,117 - Hello. - Hello. 370 00:20:41,117 --> 00:20:42,244 Take your seat. 371 00:20:43,036 --> 00:20:44,412 Okay, let's go. 372 00:20:44,955 --> 00:20:46,039 [boat horn honks] 373 00:20:46,706 --> 00:20:48,792 [Levy] And to be fair, this gondolier... 374 00:20:48,792 --> 00:20:50,377 - What's your name? - Alessandro. 375 00:20:50,377 --> 00:20:54,047 [Levy] ...Alessandro, not only has the best hair in the city... 376 00:20:54,673 --> 00:20:56,841 This is the main channel. Canale Grande. 377 00:20:56,841 --> 00:20:59,302 - Like rush hour. - [Alessandro] Yeah. [chuckles] 378 00:20:59,302 --> 00:21:02,514 [Levy] ...but also seems skilled at dodging the traffic. 379 00:21:02,514 --> 00:21:04,099 How long have you been doing this? 380 00:21:04,099 --> 00:21:05,016 Thirty years. 381 00:21:05,016 --> 00:21:10,397 I started with my father when I was 12 years old, 13 years old. 382 00:21:10,397 --> 00:21:12,524 - Your father was a gondolier? - [Alessandro] Yes. 383 00:21:12,524 --> 00:21:17,487 My father, my grand-grandfather, and my grandfather-- Yes. 384 00:21:17,487 --> 00:21:22,742 And, um, my son is-- is trying to learn to be gondolier. 385 00:21:22,742 --> 00:21:23,827 Wow. 386 00:21:23,827 --> 00:21:26,788 It's a really f-family tradition. 387 00:21:26,788 --> 00:21:28,456 - Yes. - I'm very proud of that. 388 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:30,333 Incredible. 389 00:21:30,959 --> 00:21:34,129 [Levy] As we move further from Venice's Grand Canal... 390 00:21:36,006 --> 00:21:37,090 Well, that's better. 391 00:21:37,757 --> 00:21:41,511 - Now, you're a real gondolier now. - [chuckles] Yeah. 392 00:21:42,178 --> 00:21:44,264 [Levy] ...I'm starting to experience the city 393 00:21:44,264 --> 00:21:47,851 as Alessandro's ancestors would have years ago. 394 00:21:49,311 --> 00:21:52,063 It's awfully quiet when you're down these streets. 395 00:21:52,063 --> 00:21:53,899 - Yes. - Just listen. 396 00:21:57,235 --> 00:21:58,904 [Levy] It's quiet. 397 00:21:58,904 --> 00:22:00,238 It's smooth. 398 00:22:01,448 --> 00:22:02,824 There's history. 399 00:22:03,450 --> 00:22:05,243 It's actually quite lovely. 400 00:22:05,994 --> 00:22:08,121 [Levy] In this labyrinth of waterways, 401 00:22:08,121 --> 00:22:12,042 I'm completely lost and loving it. 402 00:22:12,042 --> 00:22:14,085 Maurizio would be proud. 403 00:22:14,085 --> 00:22:15,170 Watch your head. 404 00:22:15,170 --> 00:22:16,254 Watch my hat? [chuckling] 405 00:22:16,254 --> 00:22:18,089 No, no. Wa-- Well, and your hat. [chuckles] 406 00:22:18,089 --> 00:22:19,883 [both chuckling] 407 00:22:21,426 --> 00:22:24,095 [Levy] It's incredible to think how long gondoliering 408 00:22:24,095 --> 00:22:27,224 has been passed down through Venice's generations. 409 00:22:27,224 --> 00:22:30,393 Yet, Alessandro tells me there's even older 410 00:22:30,393 --> 00:22:32,896 and rarer family businesses in town. 411 00:22:33,980 --> 00:22:37,817 And as I'm trying to explore like a real traveler... 412 00:22:37,817 --> 00:22:39,486 - Hello. - Hi. 413 00:22:39,486 --> 00:22:41,780 - May I come in? - Yeah, you're welcome. 414 00:22:42,447 --> 00:22:46,326 [Levy] ...I'm taking up his tip and meeting craftswoman, Eleonora. 415 00:22:46,326 --> 00:22:48,578 Eugene, my twin sister Sara... 416 00:22:48,578 --> 00:22:50,747 - Nice to meet you. - [Eleonora] ...and my mother Sabrina. 417 00:22:50,747 --> 00:22:52,290 - Nice to meet you. - [speaks indistinctly] 418 00:22:53,667 --> 00:22:58,713 [Levy] This family produces the gold leaf used by Venice's finest artisans 419 00:22:58,713 --> 00:23:01,091 and the odd hotel chef. 420 00:23:01,091 --> 00:23:06,054 Each sheet is thinner than a human hair and made entirely by hand... 421 00:23:06,054 --> 00:23:07,597 - [blows] - ...and breath. 422 00:23:08,431 --> 00:23:10,016 You know, I could be good at this. 423 00:23:10,016 --> 00:23:12,185 I've been breathing my whole life. 424 00:23:12,185 --> 00:23:13,270 There. Breathe in the center. 425 00:23:14,271 --> 00:23:15,981 - [blows] - [Eleonora gasps] Whoa. 426 00:23:17,148 --> 00:23:18,733 - [Eleonora] Breathe, breathe. - [Levy blows] 427 00:23:18,733 --> 00:23:21,194 - Oh, too much. Too much. - [Sabrina chuckles] 428 00:23:21,194 --> 00:23:23,488 Well, there's something wrong with this foil, I think. 429 00:23:23,488 --> 00:23:25,865 Could be the little table here. Is this the same as your table? 430 00:23:25,865 --> 00:23:27,492 - [chuckles] - [Eleonora] Yeah. Look, look. Look. 431 00:23:27,492 --> 00:23:31,496 [Levy] Creating this delicate precision-engineered product 432 00:23:31,496 --> 00:23:34,457 - is the job of master craftsman Marino. - [machine whirling] 433 00:23:34,457 --> 00:23:35,792 Ciao, papà. 434 00:23:35,792 --> 00:23:37,210 - Buongiorno. - Buongiorno. 435 00:23:37,210 --> 00:23:39,129 - [hammering] - [Levy] Eleonora's dad. 436 00:23:39,129 --> 00:23:40,630 [hammering continues] 437 00:23:42,841 --> 00:23:46,428 So, what is happening in here? 438 00:23:47,012 --> 00:23:52,601 My father, Marino, is the last gold-beater in Italy and in Europe. 439 00:23:53,476 --> 00:23:54,686 Okay. 440 00:23:54,686 --> 00:23:57,814 When I first walked into the shop, I didn't know what to think. 441 00:23:57,814 --> 00:24:01,192 [Levy] Well, I see that he's got-- th-th-there's padding. 442 00:24:01,192 --> 00:24:04,529 The gold inside between the plastic. Look. 443 00:24:04,529 --> 00:24:06,489 [Levy] Yeah, sheets of gold inside the plastic. 444 00:24:06,489 --> 00:24:10,619 Because I just saw somebody hitting this thing with a sledgehammer, 445 00:24:10,619 --> 00:24:12,996 - just kinda staring out the window. - [hammering] 446 00:24:14,789 --> 00:24:17,125 Why isn't he looking at what he's hitting? 447 00:24:17,125 --> 00:24:20,045 Because his fingers are very close to the hammer. 448 00:24:20,045 --> 00:24:24,758 - Yeah. Five times. Five times. - Five times he's smashed his finger? 449 00:24:25,467 --> 00:24:27,552 Once would be enough to make me say, 450 00:24:27,552 --> 00:24:29,763 "You know what? Maybe-- Maybe s-selling-- 451 00:24:29,763 --> 00:24:32,432 - selling shoes might be good." - [chuckles] 452 00:24:33,808 --> 00:24:36,519 Now, how many times does he kind of-- 453 00:24:36,519 --> 00:24:39,272 I mean, uh, does he beat it a hundred times? 454 00:24:39,272 --> 00:24:41,566 30,000 beatings. 455 00:24:41,566 --> 00:24:44,152 - He hammers that 30,000 times? - [hammering continues] 456 00:24:44,152 --> 00:24:48,365 Yeah. We continue the same production of the 17th century. 457 00:24:48,865 --> 00:24:52,619 - Is he leaving his arm to science? - [Eleonora chuckles] 458 00:24:52,619 --> 00:24:53,536 You? 459 00:24:53,536 --> 00:24:55,872 - Should I give it a try? - [Eleonora] Take it. Yeah. [chuckles] 460 00:24:56,706 --> 00:24:59,209 - [chuckles] - [Eleonora chuckles] 461 00:24:59,876 --> 00:25:01,253 [Levy] You're kidding me. 462 00:25:01,253 --> 00:25:05,173 Oh, my God! This weighs a ton. 463 00:25:05,799 --> 00:25:07,592 I can't do it with one arm. 464 00:25:07,592 --> 00:25:10,554 [Eleonora] It's no muscle. It's all technique. 465 00:25:11,930 --> 00:25:16,351 [Levy] So, there's a profession that has been going on for hundreds of years, 466 00:25:16,351 --> 00:25:20,438 being passed down, you know, from father to son to daughter to son. 467 00:25:20,438 --> 00:25:22,482 [stammers] It's fascinating. 468 00:25:23,233 --> 00:25:24,651 Am I ruining the gold? 469 00:25:25,193 --> 00:25:26,820 - [Eleonora] No, no. - [strains, grunts] 470 00:25:26,820 --> 00:25:29,781 [Levy] Safe to say, I'm not the apprentice Marino needs. 471 00:25:29,781 --> 00:25:30,699 [chuckling] 472 00:25:30,699 --> 00:25:34,452 [Levy] And this is one tradition definitely best kept in the family. 473 00:25:34,452 --> 00:25:37,789 Wow. This is-- This is something. 474 00:25:38,707 --> 00:25:42,168 [people in street chattering] 475 00:25:52,846 --> 00:25:54,764 [Levy] It's another day waking up 476 00:25:54,764 --> 00:25:57,601 in the sumptuous splendor of the Gritti Palace. 477 00:25:58,268 --> 00:26:00,437 And general manager, Mr. Lorenzoni, 478 00:26:00,437 --> 00:26:04,774 has asked me to accompany him to the hotel's most hallowed hall. 479 00:26:06,026 --> 00:26:08,320 I would like-- I would like to show you this, 480 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,948 uh, wall of fame redone with watercolor. 481 00:26:11,948 --> 00:26:15,368 It's something that, uh, was my idea. [sniffs] 482 00:26:15,368 --> 00:26:18,246 Wow. I love the way these look. 483 00:26:18,246 --> 00:26:19,581 I love the way they're done. 484 00:26:20,290 --> 00:26:23,460 [Levy] This wall of fame shows the most distinguished guests 485 00:26:23,460 --> 00:26:25,754 dating back over 70 years. 486 00:26:28,006 --> 00:26:29,883 Uh, we got Greta Garbo, 487 00:26:29,883 --> 00:26:33,470 - Humphrey Bogart, Grace of Monaco. - Right. 488 00:26:34,095 --> 00:26:39,309 [Levy] And as of first thing this morning, a brand-new addition. 489 00:26:40,185 --> 00:26:41,978 Oh, look who it is. 490 00:26:41,978 --> 00:26:44,231 [Levy] It's Eugene Levy. 491 00:26:44,940 --> 00:26:45,941 Wow. 492 00:26:46,441 --> 00:26:48,693 That's-- That's a nice touch. 493 00:26:49,361 --> 00:26:50,946 [Levy] At least, I hope it is. 494 00:26:51,488 --> 00:26:55,367 By the way, these people, uh-- These people, unfortunately, 495 00:26:55,367 --> 00:26:59,537 are not longer-- are no longer, uh, let's say alive. 496 00:26:59,537 --> 00:27:01,998 They're, uh-- Well, that's a good way of putting it. 497 00:27:01,998 --> 00:27:05,335 They're-- They're, um-- They're all dead. 498 00:27:07,754 --> 00:27:10,257 [Levy] Well, this is definitely a lovely gesture. 499 00:27:11,216 --> 00:27:13,218 Lovely and frightening. 500 00:27:13,843 --> 00:27:17,973 This could be an omen that something not good is about to happen. 501 00:27:19,724 --> 00:27:21,685 Well, thank you, Mr. Lorenzoni. 502 00:27:21,685 --> 00:27:23,645 - It was a pleasure. Really. - [Levy] Thank you. Yes. 503 00:27:25,146 --> 00:27:29,734 [Levy] It's unlikely my life insurance covers traveling while under a curse, 504 00:27:29,734 --> 00:27:34,948 but I'm gonna risk it as I've accepted an invitation to meet my gondolier friend, 505 00:27:34,948 --> 00:27:37,450 Alessandro, on the other side of town. 506 00:27:38,493 --> 00:27:41,246 Venice in the sunshine. It's gorgeous. 507 00:27:41,246 --> 00:27:43,582 Traveling down these canals, 508 00:27:43,582 --> 00:27:48,044 it doesn't take that long before you actually feel like a local, you know? 509 00:27:48,044 --> 00:27:49,754 I could be on my way to work. 510 00:27:50,255 --> 00:27:52,674 Could be on my way to get a jug of milk. 511 00:27:53,925 --> 00:27:58,763 [Levy] What is amazing is that Venice is actually a working city. 512 00:27:58,763 --> 00:28:03,018 It's not just about taking tourists around on joyrides. 513 00:28:03,018 --> 00:28:07,856 Business is going on. I mean, people are making a living. 514 00:28:07,856 --> 00:28:10,191 There's-- There's some action happening here. 515 00:28:11,526 --> 00:28:15,405 [Levy] Dating back to the 1600s, this gondola repair yard, 516 00:28:15,405 --> 00:28:19,451 known as a "Squero," is one of the oldest in Venice. 517 00:28:20,118 --> 00:28:21,453 [Levy] Alessandro. 518 00:28:22,203 --> 00:28:23,538 - Buongiorno. - Everything all right? 519 00:28:23,538 --> 00:28:24,497 - Yes. - [Levy] And here 520 00:28:24,497 --> 00:28:28,251 Alessandro's gondola has just had its annual service. 521 00:28:28,251 --> 00:28:29,502 [Alessandro] We are preparing the boat. 522 00:28:30,003 --> 00:28:32,839 - We are ready to launch in few minutes. - Right. 523 00:28:32,839 --> 00:28:35,717 [Levy] He wants to introduce me to someone very special. 524 00:28:36,551 --> 00:28:37,928 This is Samuel, my son. 525 00:28:37,928 --> 00:28:39,304 - Ah. - Hi. 526 00:28:40,513 --> 00:28:43,391 Samuel, you're gonna be a better gondolier than your dad? 527 00:28:43,391 --> 00:28:44,309 Yes. [chuckles] 528 00:28:44,309 --> 00:28:46,353 - Yeah, you think so? - For sure. [chuckles] 529 00:28:46,353 --> 00:28:48,396 [Levy] Huh. Reminds me of my son. 530 00:28:48,897 --> 00:28:50,357 Well, he's got a lot of confidence. 531 00:28:50,357 --> 00:28:52,442 - Yeah. [chuckles, speaks indistinctly] - I like that. 532 00:28:52,442 --> 00:28:55,820 So, Samuel, you will-- you will get this boat 533 00:28:56,446 --> 00:28:58,823 - when your dad retires? - Uh, yes. Yes. 534 00:28:58,823 --> 00:29:00,242 - [Alessandro chuckles] - Wow. 535 00:29:00,242 --> 00:29:02,452 Now, this is a beautiful piece of work. 536 00:29:03,078 --> 00:29:06,331 - This is the name of the boat. Here. - Oh, look. 537 00:29:06,331 --> 00:29:07,582 Roberta is my wife. 538 00:29:08,166 --> 00:29:09,209 There's Alex. 539 00:29:09,918 --> 00:29:11,127 Here's Samuel. 540 00:29:11,670 --> 00:29:14,589 {\an8}And, uh, Nicole, my little daughter. 541 00:29:14,589 --> 00:29:16,716 {\an8}- [Alessandro sniffs] - Are you having more kids, do you think? 542 00:29:16,716 --> 00:29:18,218 No, there are no more places to-- 543 00:29:18,218 --> 00:29:20,428 - You just ran out of places. - [chuckles] Yeah. 544 00:29:21,805 --> 00:29:26,226 [Levy] Making one of these gleaming gondolas is a real labor of love, 545 00:29:26,226 --> 00:29:30,105 taking over 500 hours of Venetian craftsmanship. 546 00:29:30,105 --> 00:29:33,608 The finished product is worth $50,000. 547 00:29:33,608 --> 00:29:37,320 So, when Samuel inherits this boat, it's a big deal. 548 00:29:38,321 --> 00:29:40,490 It's nice to work with your son, isn't it? 549 00:29:40,490 --> 00:29:42,534 - Yes, it's really nice. It's very nice. - Yeah, I know. 550 00:29:42,534 --> 00:29:44,286 - [Alessandro] I agree. - I loved working with my son. 551 00:29:44,286 --> 00:29:45,996 - Yeah? - It's a good experience 552 00:29:45,996 --> 00:29:47,372 because not every father... 553 00:29:47,372 --> 00:29:50,375 - Yeah. - ...gets to work with their kids, you know? 554 00:29:50,375 --> 00:29:52,043 That's true, that's true. Yes. 555 00:29:53,253 --> 00:29:54,296 [Levy] Well, Alessandro, 556 00:29:54,296 --> 00:29:57,215 I'm-I'm-I'm gonna let you put this boat back together, 557 00:29:57,215 --> 00:30:00,802 'cause you've gotta get it back in the water before the sun goes down. 558 00:30:00,802 --> 00:30:02,387 - Yes, of course. Yeah. - Huh? 559 00:30:07,392 --> 00:30:09,394 [Levy] There's a father and son working together 560 00:30:09,394 --> 00:30:12,188 on something they both have a great passion for. 561 00:30:12,188 --> 00:30:14,691 [sucks teeth] That's something special. 562 00:30:14,691 --> 00:30:16,943 [speaks Italian] 563 00:30:17,527 --> 00:30:21,156 [Levy] I mean, I got to work with my son for seven years. 564 00:30:21,156 --> 00:30:25,702 My learning curve was just learning to step back and let him do it. 565 00:30:26,369 --> 00:30:29,748 And I'm sure Alessandro is gonna be going through the same thing 566 00:30:29,748 --> 00:30:30,665 at some point. 567 00:30:30,665 --> 00:30:34,085 "You know what? Don't have to teach him anything anymore. 568 00:30:34,085 --> 00:30:35,212 Just let him do it. 569 00:30:35,212 --> 00:30:39,591 Take a step back and let him take over the family business." 570 00:30:39,591 --> 00:30:42,510 [speaks Italian] 571 00:30:43,261 --> 00:30:46,389 [Levy] The gondola's finally ready to launch again, 572 00:30:46,389 --> 00:30:49,309 and Alessandro's doing his own stepping back 573 00:30:49,309 --> 00:30:52,395 and letting Samuel take his place. 574 00:30:52,395 --> 00:30:53,563 [speaks Italian] 575 00:30:56,399 --> 00:30:58,401 - Isn't it not just gonna go head-on... - Yeah. [chuckles] 576 00:30:58,401 --> 00:31:00,237 ...into the-- [stammers] into the wall? 577 00:31:01,529 --> 00:31:03,990 The canal is 11 meters. [chuckles] 578 00:31:04,741 --> 00:31:06,826 - And so is your boat. [chuckles] - Yeah. [chuckles] 579 00:31:10,664 --> 00:31:13,041 I'm very nervous. [chuckles] 580 00:31:14,584 --> 00:31:17,629 Oh, oh, oh. [groans] 581 00:31:20,715 --> 00:31:24,511 [Levy] I think what I didn't realize before I got here 582 00:31:24,511 --> 00:31:30,600 was while this city is old, it's very, very alive. 583 00:31:32,102 --> 00:31:33,937 Look at that. 584 00:31:35,897 --> 00:31:39,484 'Cause, it's the families that have been keeping this city alive. 585 00:31:39,484 --> 00:31:42,737 It's the families that have been keeping the history alive 586 00:31:42,737 --> 00:31:47,075 by doing the work that they're doing and carrying on the professions 587 00:31:47,075 --> 00:31:50,829 that are handed down from generation to generation. 588 00:31:51,997 --> 00:31:54,624 [Levy] I've been thoroughly seduced by Venice. 589 00:31:55,125 --> 00:31:57,502 Venturing off this city's tourist track, 590 00:31:57,502 --> 00:32:00,213 I've seen it through the eyes of its locals. 591 00:32:00,213 --> 00:32:03,341 Their food, history, and traditions. 592 00:32:04,009 --> 00:32:06,469 And it's truly touched me. 593 00:32:06,469 --> 00:32:09,556 [Levy] This is an entirely new way of traveling for me. 594 00:32:09,556 --> 00:32:14,936 And, uh, th-these are things I probably would not have gone out to see. 595 00:32:16,354 --> 00:32:21,318 You know, when I get to a place, what is the most important thing for me? 596 00:32:21,318 --> 00:32:24,863 Well, it was always the hotel, and that still is important. 597 00:32:24,863 --> 00:32:27,324 I love hanging around the hotel, 598 00:32:27,324 --> 00:32:33,330 but I would not have traveled around and discovered what makes the city tick. 599 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:38,418 I wouldn't have known that, and I think it's important to know it. 600 00:32:39,085 --> 00:32:45,926 So, I'm leaning toward this being a very good thing for me.