The Venice Experiment

The Venice Experiment: A Year of Trial and Error Living Abroad is the story of a really adventurous guy (Barry Frangipane) and the very interesting account of how he met his wife and subsequently decided to drop everything and move to Venice for a year. "Trial and error" is probably a very good way of describing their experience, but sometimes this is how we best learn. Barry and Debbie made their share of mistakes, but they came to know Venice in a way that few Americans will ever experience.

There is life in the neighborhoods, literally just around the corner from the crowded streets where tourists are milling about. The Venice Experiment offers a hint of what's there, waiting to be discovered. Worth the price of the book is a very short list of useful addresses (just nine entries). It includes Barry's favorite Gelateria in Venice, along with several pastry shops and trattorias and a recommended bar and cafe. A short list is exactly what you need for your few days in Venice, the net result of a full year's worth of trials and errors.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Barry on the phone - he's one of the most outgoing and enthusiastic people I've ever met. I was especially interested in Barry and Debbie's fledgling new enterprise, Savory Adventures, offering luxury culinary and touring experiences in Italy — not only Venice but in Piedmont and on the Amalfi Coast. Debbie is a CIA-trained chef (and you'll read about her culinary adventures in their tiny kitchen). Couldn't resist including this YouTube video of her outrageous Tiramisu French Toast recipe.




The Venice Experiment (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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