If you watch House Hunters International you have seen a lot of people who decide to retire to a place that they visited in the past. They have an idealized picture of what it will be like to live in this paradise. After three months they visit the happy couple who are enjoying their new lives. This book is like one of those stories but with a little more truth in it I think! Polly Coles and her husband leave England behind to move to Venice. And they also have four young children. Venice is a beautiful city with so much history. But reading about their arrival to their new home was a nightmare. One of their children had hurt her leg. So Polly is trying to wrangle all the children and luggage - and remember you can't drive to Venice!! This memoir is a great look into what people face when they change cultures. It reminds people that no place is ideal on a permanent basis.
So it was entertaining to read about all of their challenges. But it was sad to read about Venice. Venice is a city of tourists. Living there is not like visiting there. The tourists can be quite annoying. And the true fabric of Venice is fading away because of the new economic realities.
A quick read that I believe anyone would enjoy. If you have ever visited Venice or plan to I highly recommend it.
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