Against all clichés, they weren't ogling a woman. And they weren't transfixed by some accident on the heavily trafficked Gran Canal either.

What were they talking about? Why did they appear so serious?
What could so deeply engross two gondolieri that they became oblivious of the many tourists around them (and the earning potential they represented)?
Perhaps they were just wondering were they, themselves, could go on holiday after the Carnival rush?

Or perhaps they where simply sharing one more story about their magical city on water.
«'Scolta che te conto...» («Hear, I'll tell you...»)