. It was a first visit for the whole family to the city that floats on water – a city which, for me, had been a collage of clichéd postcard images and corny ice-cream ads. Yet, in reality, there is little that is clichéd about Venice, and catching a glimpse

AFTER NINE HOURS of movies, food and a few snoozes, we landed in the Sunshine State, where – right on cue – the sun was blazing. But we were about to embark on our wettest holiday ever… Our hotel, the Renaissance Resort, was situated a stone’s throw

and seafront splendour, soon fell into disrepair and became better known for its depressing boarding houses, decrepit architectural gems and rowdy pier arcades. Today, while the seaside town retains its fan club of hen weekenders, the city has also become