The gondola is said to have been born back in the year 1094 as an ideal way of weaving through Venice’s intricate network of shallow, intersecting canals. Composed of eight different woods, cherry and mahogany among them, its 36 foot length, flat underside and asymmetrical hull weigh a hand-crafted 1100 pounds. Not unlike some Americans today with cars, Venetians of old competed with each other to see who could have the most eye-catching (expensive) gondola. The highly practical Republic of Venice realized that vast sums were being poured into decoration instead of more worthwhile commercial and national pursuits. In 1562 it ended the gondola competitions in an abrupt manner by passing a law ordering all gondolas to be painted black. Equality then reigned since all black gondolas looked exactly like one another. But the ever wily Venetians saw advantages to this situation. Soon they invented the prototype of Venetian blinds, which when placed inside the felze, or carriage top enclosing a passenger compartment within the gondola, rendered that person invisible to the outside world. Since most Venetian homes at the time had a secondary entrance by water, the gondola greatly facilitated incognito amorous assignations on land or in gondola, as well as nefarious deeds. The gondolier was trusted not to report what he saw and this secrecy was strictly enforced by his fellow gondoliers.