Baltimore: A perfect blend of European reverence and American optimism

When I tell friends and family that my husband and I have bought a house in Baltimore after 15 years in Europe, the response is mostly muted, followed by the polite “Why Baltimore?” or slightly more colorful “Why the hell Baltimore?” A chuckle often follows; I smile before answering. My daughter sent me the crime stats. My other daughter sent me endless housing listings in Chicago, the city of my youth.