Travel Ideas

It's been a week since we returned to Chicago, and our adjustment back to Central time, traffic congestion and temperatures in the upper 90s has been a relatively smooth one. Max resumed his old sleep schedule just two days after returning home, three full days before Jana and I resumed ours.

Max has taken an immediate liking to Switzerland. And with good reason: Everyone here, old and new acquaintances alike, has been incredibly kind to us. Max's eyes constantly dart about, taking in the impossibly perfect alpine scenery, but tend to linger and crinkle with joy when he sees one of his new friends.

Jana, Max, and I arrived in Interlaken, Switzerland earlier this week. Nestled between (inter) two lakes (laken) – the Thunersee and Brienzersee – Interlaken is the ideal base for a Swiss Alpine getaway. It doesn't hurt that I happen to love Switzerland.

As you ascend the last hill leading to the town square, the first thing you notice is how the 1,000-year old church and castle harmoniously blend into the Tuscan landscape. Panzano is a masterfully painted mural.

Forget language courses, cultural awareness training, and gesturing incessantly with your hands. Want to know the real way to make inroads with Europeans while traveling abroad? Bring a baby.