Reflections on a Marine Venus by Lawrence Durrell

Another romantic take on life on a Mediterranean island, in this case Rhodes in the years just following WWII.

Durrell depicts a wistful existence on the island, where he is sent to work by the British government at the end of the war, which he had spent mostly in Egypt.

Although memories probably never quite match up with the real thing, Durrell makes a compelling case for a utopian existence with his band of colleagues on Rhodes.

I'm envious of his ability to speak the language and connect with the locals, both of which happen on every page, virtually every paragraph of his travelogues. 

Regardless, it's motivated me to elevate Rhodes on our list of travel priorities.