Memoirs of a Gondolier: Where Do People Find Love?

By Jack W. McCoy, Jr

This memoir is a collection of true stories and events experienced by a Las Vegas gondolier named Umberto, whom I have formed a close friendship with over the years. Having worked as a gondolier for over ten years, Umberto has been made privy to countless stories from real life couples about where they first met and how they found love. He has also given me a glimpse into the fascinating life of a gondolier. His remarkable experiences and the captivating stories he tells of the people he meets from all over the world have inspired me to write this book. Included among the chapters are stories of how people find love, marriage proposals, celebrity encounters, Q&A sections, gondolier characteristics, the top ten ways people meet, and more! Essentially, I hope to shed some light on many issues of love and inspire and entertain you along the way! Many people are curious about the gondoliers in Las Vegas, and some even wonder if the gondoliers are real people or just a bunch of actors. All I have to say about that is--Umberto is as real as I am!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jack W. McCoy, Jr
• Release date: Jul 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476274195

Jack W. McCoy, Jr

About the Author Jack McCoy is a singer/songwriter originally from Washington State. He attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where he majored in Voice and Music Composition. He also took every class available in English Literature and Composition and began writing editorials and restaurant reviews for a tabloid magazine. In 1979 he began writing lyrics and parodies for a singing telegram business, which he founded. Jack recorded an album of original compositions and songs entitled Journey to the Heart (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jmccoy) and hopes to someday complete an American opera based in New Orleans at the turn of the 19th century.

Book preview

Memoirs of a Gondolier:

Where Do People Find Love?

by Jack McCoy

Copyright 2012 Jack McCoy

Smashwords Edition

****

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

****

Author’s Notes

This work is based on a recollection of stories and events experienced by the main character over a period of many years. While based on truth and actual events, the dialogue and responses of passengers throughout the story have been recreated from memory and may not represent the word for word dialogue and responses given at the time of the actual event. Specific names of most passengers are not given in order to protect privacy and due to the impracticality of collecting such information in the context of the events.

****

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - In Cahoots with Cupid

Chapter 2 - Q&A with Couples: The Common (and Not So Common) Ways They Meet

Chapter 3 - The Top Ten Ways People Meet

Chapter 4 - Umberto’s Noteworthy Encounters

Chapter 5 - His Fellow Gondoliers

Chapter 6 - Characteristics of a Gondolier

Chapter 7 - Q&A with Umberto

Chapter 8 - Wisdom of a Gondolier

A Few Words in Closing

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Dedication

Introduction

This book is based on a series of interviews and conversations with a singing gondolier by the name of Giacomo Umberto Mariani, known simply as Umberto. I have also noticed he seems quite delighted when children and grown-ups call him Umby. I first met Umberto when he began working as a gondolier in Las Vegas, in August 2001. His father’s family hails from just outside a small town in Northern Umbria called Assisi, home of the Basilica of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals.

Umberto stands about six feet tall and is slightly darker skinned than most Caucasians. His face looks like it was chiseled out of stone; "Facia brute, Umberto calls himself. He is one of the more mature gondoliers and has a deep, rich speaking and singing voice. He wears his hat slightly askew because, he says, That’s how European men wear their cappelli." He was educated in the United States but still retains a slight accent reminiscent of his native country.

Umberto and I have formed a close friendship over the years, and I feel like his experiences and the stories he tells of the people he meets from all over the world have become a part of me somehow. Some people wonder if the gondoliers are real people or just a bunch of actors. All I have to say about that is—Umberto is as real as I am.