Since my mother was here to hang out with the children (and they often have more fun without me to censor their activities) I went to Zurich for the weekend to hang out with Byron.
He was there on one of his work junkets. His normal schedule during these trips (and at home) involves writing papers all day, taking a dinner break, going back to work until four in the morning, crashing, then going back to work at seven.
I do not understand the concept of leisure travel, though I do make a diligent effort to engage in the designated activities. I wandered around the city, found the Lindenhof, had hot chocolate at an enchanted cafe, visited the church where Felix and Regula are buried, stared at the statue of Charlemagne.
I picked up some enlightening facts about the Zwingli aspect of the Reformation, and the fact that Swiss catholicism is a splinter that does not recognize the doctrine of infallibility. I was sickened by some incredibly sinister facts about the Swiss eugenics program. I remembered too late that one of the contributors to the new anthology lives in Zurich, and wished I had arranged to meet her.
But inevitably I spent most of my time in medical museums, doing research, taking notes.
My favorite part of the whole trip was the public transportation: the funicular system is gorgeous, the trams are punctual and pleasant, and the ferry around the lake reminded me of home.