As I was growing up in Basel, Switzerland, my grandfather owned a piece of land in the italian speaking part of switzerland. The region is beautiful and famous for it’s romantic and relaxing atmosphere, George Clooney and other famous celebrities own houses in the region. It’s a place where you buy your fresh baked bread from the bakery around the corner, and your milk and eggs from the local farmer. Besides the fact that I had to serve my mandatory swiss military service in this region, I always get a little homesick here in Southern California when I see parts of my country in movies, just like the other day watching the new James Bond “Quantum of Solace.”

The Lugano Tourism Office announced the launch of Discover Lugano. It’s a site designed to immerse the user into the culture, sights, and sounds of the famous swiss region. Using the latest in online technology to deliver an immersive and engaging experience through the web is becoming a growing trend for the travel industry. I love the breathtaking panoramic pictures with the smooth background music and what seems like random generated sound effects, depending if you’re looking at the lake or the swiss alps. The navigation takes a little getting used to, but as a the name of the site suggests, this is “Discover Lugano”, and what would a discovery be without the occasional getting lost part.

Overall, it’s a great experience, using the latest in online technology. I can’t wait to take my familiy to that part of Switzerland the next time we visit my country.