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The magic of growing up Swiss

Kindergarteners walk to school alone, use knives and cook over open flames. Are Swiss children being given too much freedom or are the rest of us holding on too tightly? Tourists in Switzerland may find one of the more familiar sights downright shocking – four- and five-year-olds walking around cities without their parents. The groups…
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Normandy: 75 years after D-Day

What I remember most about visiting Gettysburg is the mint chocolate chip ice cream I ate after we’d finished walking aimlessly through the grassy, Civil War battlefields dotted with information plaques. I imagined similarly dull days when my husband last month outlined his grand idea for us to visit the World War II D-Day beaches…
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The best places for people watching this summer

Living in Europe for nearly five years has taught me the art of nursing a minuscule espresso while watching the world pass by on a sunny day. No Starbucks, no iPhone, no book. Just you and a prime spot on the sidewalk. There are few activities as delectable as this. Here are my favorite places…
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Have a peaceful weekend

My son and I are hopping on a train to Zurich this afternoon, where we’ll meet my husband for the weekend. Somehow we’ve lived in Switzerland for nearly five years without ever having visited the country’s largest city! We’re headed to the Zurich zoo tomorrow and hope we can practice our Schweizerdeutsch (Swiss-German). If you…
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Are you going somewhere this year?

I’m not speaking metaphorically about your New Year’s Resolutions, although mine is to meditate more (the ultimate destination, right?). I’m asking if you are literally going somewhere in 2019 because January is the best month to book flights, according to Skyscanner.com. The flight search engine website reported that from January to March of 2018, domestic…
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On visiting Jerusalem

I try to keep my travel writing light and useful — lots of “how to”s and photos of beautiful places. But after visiting Jerusalem last month I was left so speechless, so in awe… I’m still confused how to put my experience into words. Something happened to me in Jerusalem. Some door inside my…
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One reason I’m afraid to move back to the U.S.

This time of year I find myself thinking more and more about stuff. About shoes and gadgets and scarves and face creams. I find myself lured onto websites with the promise of “20% OFF” and Googling “the perfect gift” for family members who would probably be happy to simply spend time together — the…
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Bite-sized Portugal: Within 25 miles of Lisbon

When I began asking friends where we should visit on our family trip to Portugal, their answers ranged from Porto in the north to Faro in the south, from the Douro Valley vineyards to the Algarve coast. And while I would’ve happily spent two weeks zigzagging across the country, I knew one of us would not…
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A quick note from Geneva

Bonjour! Bonjour! How are you? Apologies for an extended blogging break. In short, I’ve been busy. In long, I’ve thrown myself into Geneva life. These days I have French courses, toddler music classes, pre-school and playdates. I went out with different friends last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights! I’m pretty sure I was in…
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Travel rewind: Four Days in Budapest
Four days in Budapest wasn’t nearly enough time to take in all the architectural beauty, incredible cuisine and rich history that this Eastern European city has to offer. I often dream of going back in the winter and taking another dip in their thermal baths. Have you been? What did you think? Read more about what…