rosalynn p. walter.porate funding is provided by mutual of america designing customized, individual, and group retirement products. that's why we're you're retirement company. additional support is provide by -- and by the corporation for public broadcasting, and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. steves: venice's sleek and graceful gondolas are a symbol of the city. from the start, boats were the way to get around among the island communities of the lagoon. to navigate over shifting sandbars, the boats were flat-bottomed, and the captains stood up to see. today's boats still come with gondoliers standing up and no rudder or keel. they're built with a slight curve so that a single oar on the side propels them in a straight line. the art of the gondola survives in the quiet back canals. in this shop, the workmen, who needed to be good with wood, were traditionally from italy's mountains. that's why they maintain a refreshing alpine feel in this delightful little corner