Gondola ride
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What it is:
Photo measuring a bit less than 6 x 4.25 inches.
What I know about it:
Written on the back is: Venice Italy July 25th – 1970 / Riding in the Gondola on Sat. evening with a couple from R.I. Time about 10:00 PM. Couple with us are students – not married. Cost for Heimbigners + Lanes ₤ 3000 or 1500 couple Couple with us had to pay ₤ 3000.
Comments:
This photo isn’t so terribly old, but the message on the back conveys a somewhat vintage situation. I’m assuming the four older people are the Heimbigners and the Lanes, and the two younger people are the students from Rhode Island. I’m assuming the handwriting on the back is from one of the older women (though I’ve seen men’s handwriting like that, too). The information here implies that the gondola ride costs ₤3000 per couple as long as you are married; otherwise it’s ₤3000 per person. There’s a faintly judgmental tone to what’s written on the back, and to the way these facts were written down at all, though I assume it’s less critical of the students’ unmarried status than of the apparent price disparity, since they all seem to be getting along just fine. Also, it’s interesting to me that the gondolier isn’t dressed in what we consider to be a stereotypical gondolier uniform today.
Pics of Then 
Don’t you wish every photo had a story like this on the back?!
Sometimes a description can turn a photo from beautifully enigmatic to prosaic, but generally, yes, I like information.