Italy is about as far from New Zealand as you can get – both geographically and culturally. We’ve experienced wonderful holidays in Italy for the last decade and the nagging question has always been – what would it be like to live there?
The only way to answer that question was to step out of our comfortable lives in New Zealand and into whatever a life in Italy has to offer. We did that on Wednesday April 6, 2011.
It sounds easy if you say it quickly. But it meant leaving behind family and jobs, renting out our house, storing our precious things and, most importantly, bringing our girls Poppie and Daisy along for the trip.
Poppie and Daisy are our dogs. Small, furry, white Bichon Frise. And they are definitely part of our family.
We lived la dolce vita for just under a year – made great friends, ate great food, drank great wine and got a taste for what living in Italy is all about. But in March 2012 we returned to New Zealand, to our home and our lives.
This blog, which began as a record of our trip for friends and family, now relates the funs and games of living in New Zealand, at our place in Wellington – or wherever we end up.
We’re no longer in Italy but we are still living la dolce vita.
toscanakiwi 
So pleased that the girls,……. oh…… and you and Jean, have arrived safely. The ‘dollhouse’ looks cute – still trying to work out how a bedroom for the four of you fits in. Can’t be alot of room for the crates of wine !!!
Wow, left NZ for beautiful Italy! I wish to do the same one day (I’m from Australia).
Excellent choice!
We bought our house in Bagni di Lucca 8 years ago. It is the best thing we ever did. I spend about 6 months a year in Italy and it has opened up a whole new life. Are you planning to live permanently in Italy? If you go back to NZ do you have to put the dogs in quarantine as you would have to do in Australia?
Hi there – I’ve enjoyed panning through your beautiful images and words of la bella Italia.. I’m a half Italian, half Kiwi, with most of my family still in Italy. I’ve just arrived back in New Zealand after three incredible months in Italy, and have hit a bit of culture shock (how I have found myself to be reading your blog in the first place!)
I’d really like to integrate Italy into my New Zealand life and work more and somehow bridge the cultural and physical gap between the two countries, and was wondering if you have found a way to do so? Do you have any plans to return?
Kindest,
Alexandra
Hi there, apologies for an out of the blue question but I am currently building a mcrae 550 spyder and looking for as much info as possible. Is your example a mcrae build by chance?looks great!