The majority of the narrative takes place in Lugano, in the south of Switzerland, deep in the foothills of the Alps. The city of Lugano is located around a lake, with two mountains towering over it. Dinnie lives in a villa next to the school with Uncle Max and Aunt Sandy. Actually, as Uncle Max explains, they live "in a casa on the Via Poporino between Lugano and Montagnola in the Ticino in Switzerland in Europe on the planet Earth." From their home, Dinnie can see both Italy and Switzerland. While in Switzerland, Dinnie and the other students go on a number of trips nearby. They go skiing at St. Moritz and Andermatt in Switzerland, and the Dolomites in Italy. During the last trip they even encounter an avalanche. They also visit Herman Hesse's house, as well as Verona and Padua, the setting of Romeo and Juliet.

The...