Because they have understanding husbands and grown children, childhood friends Philippa and Virginia can go and play together again, and now traveling is their favourite game. Initially planning to just stay in a hotel and be tourists, they were persuaded to be more adventurous and find a flat and live like locals for a week. Their first adventure takes them to Venice, and this is their success story. With very little effort and a great deal of fun, they slot into their neighbourhood; they find out-of-the way restaurants, shops, museums, galleries and bars. They visit all the main attractions and then disappear down their calle and home to their little flat, away from the crowds of tourists. Full of useful observations and amusing and informative anecdotes, they show just how fun and easy it is to be a local in a strange land, if only for a week.