Bern and Solothurn

Pictures from the Naef Toy Factory (Kristina, Ashton, and Rachel), the Paul Klee Museum, a park in Bern (Me in one, and Ashton, Daniel, and Kristina in the other) and a view in Bern.

Yesterday we started the day at the Naef Toy Factory; it is a famous Swiss company that hand makes wooden toys (most are wooden anyway). They are really beautiful pieces and are quite expensive because of the design, work, and precision that go into each of them. Our tour guide was asked how he was able to get a job at Naef and modestly told us that he is the grandson of the founder. We got to see how some of the toys are made and then go play with them in a show room of sorts. We all purchased something; I think it would be impossible not to after going there.
We then went over to the Paul Klee Museum, designed by Renzo Piano, to see both the artist's work and the building itself. It was a beautiful exhibit of all of his wide range of work, from study sketches of people to hanging pieces made of wood and string to more realistic still life works. There was also an exhibit called "The Lost Paradise" about humans and their existence in relation to tragedy; it had many photographs and videos depicting people, ideas and scenes from the Holocaust, as refugees, from the atomic bombings in Japan and so forth. It was incredibly powerful.
We were then about to head back to the main part of Bern and spend time wandering around for a while before dinner. After we went dancing at a Cuban/Latin style club. A full, but very nice day.







Pictures from Solothurn. The clock only has 11 numbers because that is a lucky and holy number for Solothurn.


Today we drove into Solothurn; we immediately dropped our stuff off at our hotel, then went on a walking tour with Lucy Ferrari. We were brought down to a main square in the market to wander a while on our own and grab lunch, then she led us around the city. She is from this region, so later in the afternoon she went to visit relatives.
After we went on our own in the afternoon we continued to look around and sketch. Then Ashton, Kristina, Daniel and I went to a cafe to get coffee and knit! That is something I should mention... after I taught Lindsey to knit, everyone has wanted to learn.. right now I've taught 9 people, so 10 of the 16 of us are knitting and more are going to soon! I think we all will be before its over. We are joking that I am starting a knitting revolution.

Tomorrow we leave Solothurn a little later than usual, so we may sleep in a bit, then we are off to Basel!

Vevey to Bern

Today we traveled from Vevey to Bern, Switzerland making a few stops along the way. Once again, I will have to keep this short as I am paying for internet at this hotel.
We drove through a smaller town outside of Bern to pick up Frank's wife Lynn at her hotel; she will be joining us for most of the trip.
From there we drove a little past the city of Bern to the USM furniture factory to have a tour. It was impressive. Not only did we get a thorough tour, we were greated with croissants, coffee, water, and juice, then given a nice presentation, then the tour itself, then a were given gift bags, then treated to a 3 hour lunch! It was an incredible tour, so interesting, followed up with such a wonderful meal of fish, then cucumber wrap with quail fried egg, then veal with potatoes in a cream sauce, then a fruit dessert (plums and others) then cofffee, all accompanied with a lot of white and red wine.
We left around 3 to go back to Bern. There we saw the bear that greats you at the main gate... as Bern means Bear.
We pretty much spent the rest of the day wandering the city. It is absolutely beautiful here. I'm glad we have a little more time here. It is one of my new favorite places!

Beginning of Swiss Tour

This morning began our Swiss tour which we will return from on the 5th of October. (As I had to pay for 30 minutes of internet at this hotel this will be a shorter entry!) We drove through the Alps, taking the long route to Vevey, Switzerland. It was absolutely beautiful! We made our way to a museum in Martigney that currently had an exhibit of Leonardo Da Vinci's inventions, drawings and writings; there were some interactive parts to it. We then went to a castle called Chateau de Chillons further down the road in another area. We are obviously now in the French speaking section of the country, so I actually sort of understand some of what is going on now!
We made it to Vevey around 5 pm, then spent a bit of time wandering around until we met for our included dinner at the hotel restaurant. It was quite nice! Tomorrow we head off to Bern visiting some factories and other places along the way! Hopefully internet will be free somewhere...

Dining at Villa Maderni

I thought that I might periodically provide little insights into daily life here in addition to the details about the trips and what we've seen that I've mostly been posting.

Today I thought I would post about meals here...

For breakfast, which runs from 7:30 am until 9:15 as self service, we have a selection of four types of cereal, a large variety of yogurt, bread, individual jelly and nutella packets, fruit (bananas, nectarines, kiwi, apples, oranges...), coffee, tea, and juice. The yogurt and fruit are available to snack on all day as well as the coffee, tea (hot and cold), and juice.

Lunch and dinner are both two shifts; I am first shift as it is done in alphabetical order, so I have lunch at 12:15 and dinner at 6:15. (Second shift is lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 7 pm).

For lunch we have a salad buffet, which always has tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, some protein (fish or chicken or turkey... today was crab meat and little shrimp), beans and/or corn, and any other leftover vegetables. Then a pasta dish of some sort is served. Today was lasagna, but we've hardly had the same thing twice yet; we've had crepes with various fillings, ravioli (also with a variety of fillings), gniochi, all different sauces on pene pasta... and many other things. Slices of bread and butter are always on the table.

Dinner consists of a soup served to the table (family style) first, most of the time. We have sometimes had bread with cheese and tomato on it or a "cheese muffin" or something of that nature instead. Then we have a dish with a protein (like pork escalope last night or meatballs later tonight) and a side (often involving potatoes and vegetables). There is also a large variety with this though; one night we even had scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon, then another night we had shish kabobs... there is a huge range. It is mostly Italian cooking though as our chef comutes from Como, Italy.

Of course there is always dessert after dinner. Last night was "berries cake," tonight is Baked Alaska... often there is fruit in the dessert.

I always have coffee after lunch and dinner here, in addition to the coffee I have with breakfast. It seems to be the way of life here. Luckily I counter that with 3 or 4 glasses of water with both lunch and dinner.

We may be a little spoiled, but its not the same as home cooking still...

More updates on other little insights to come.

Milan, Italy

Photos of Will and then Lindsey in the same little doorway.


Today Lindsey, Chloe, Ashton, Kristina, Will, and I all took the train to Milan for the day. We headed straight to the Duomo as soon as we arrived there; there was currently a service going on in honor of the police, firefighters and other service men going on inside, so we were able to go in and listen to part of it. It was pretty cool to see that going on.
We did want to have more of a relaxing day as the tour of Switzerland begins this upcoming Wednesday, so we will be gone for two weeks. We wandered quite a bit going through the Galleria shopping area and running into some very interesting architecture. We had signed up for bagged lunches from the Villa (the usual sandwich, apple, water, and chocolate bar) and went to a cafe with them to get coffee to accompany the lunches. The one we found was near a church where a wedding was in process and I think first communions were being celebrated just before the wedding, so there was a lot of people watching.
We continued to wander and shop (Will was so brave to go to Milan with 5 girls, but he was very patient). One of the shops we went into was one that Frank recommended; it is called Fabriano. It is a stationary and paper shop that originally began in 1264. Everything was so beautiful, we all bought some souvenirs there. While I loved the beautiful paper, I knew I would be too afraid to write in it, so I wanted to purchase something a little more permanent. I decided on some beautiful playing cards designed for Fabriano in a handmade paper box.
Later in the afternoon we went to look for the complex where the events and shows were taking place for Milan Fashion week. It took a bit to find, but once we did we were able to hang out outside and see some of the models and incredibly fashionable people going in and out. It was pretty exciting! A woman from a Brazilian fashion magazine even came up to us and took some photos of our accessories for the magazine; I think she was looking at current trends or something... at least that is what I think she said. Of course there is no way to find out if those will be published, but it was pretty cool too!
After we made our way back to were the train station was to grab some dinner near there. We found a nice little cafe and then headed back to Riva! We were so excited to be headed back home after a long day, even thought it was pretty relaxing.


Service in the Duomo, Complex for Fashion Week, and Ashton and Lindsey on the train.

Casa Bianca and Milan

This morning our studio took a walking field trip to Casa Bianca, a home designed by Mario Botta here in Riva San Vitale. I saw a little less of it than others, because, as you can see from the photos, I couldn't bring myself to go across the entry bridge. Instead, I had to go down the hill and only went on the ground floor. My fear of heights was frustrating only because, though everyone was trying to help, it only upset me that they wouldn't stop encouraging me to go across. At least I did find the path down to the first floor.
Tomorrow a few of us are going to Milan for the day. It is the start of fashion week; while we can't go to any shows, we have a list of where they are and might catch a few glimpses of some of the models in their designer clothes.

Just a Little Update...

I was too excited to wait any longer to show and tell everyone that last Wednesday I got a second piercing in each ear. I had thought about it on and off; it was a little spontaneous, but I love it! The picture is just after I got it done. The experience at the piercing parlor was much better than the first time around, when I almost fainted. It didn't hurt at all and the two girls, Lindsey and Megan, who came with me to Lugano held my hand. Overall, great experience!

St. Gallen Solo

I just returned this afternoon from an awesome, while cold and wet, trip to St. Gallen! Above is a photo of me on the train and my little hotel room.

Number one priority when I first arrived on Thursday after about 5 hours on trains, was to find my hotel, which was just off of the main market area. It took me no time with the help of my handy St. Gallen map; I stayed in a single room with a sink, but the restroom and shower were in the hall, so it was pretty much a youth hostel. The accommodations were nice though, and breakfast was included (always a plus... even McDonalds, which I refuse to eat at while here, is between $10 and $13 for a combo meal).

After I found the hotel and settled in, I went exploring the city a little bit and found some of the places I wanted to visit the next day. By the time I did all of this traveling and wandering it was about time for dinner. I had saved the apple from my bagged lunch I got from the Villa before leaving for the train ride and a mini nuttella from breakfast and bought a bread twist pretzel thing at a bakery for my meal; my French only comes a little in handy when looking at Italian, the German in this region of Switzerland doesn't resemble anything I know. I went back to my room to eat and sketched while watching American television shows in German, including Home Improvement, Married with Children, the Simpsons, and the movie What Women Want.

The next day I got up early to get a good breakfast and go see all I wanted to see. It was a little cool that day and got a bit wet later in the day. (At least the day I arrived it was nice!) I went to re-find the Textile Museum and wait for it to open by meandering and sketching in the outdoor living room created by two artists. It looked like red carpeting covering parts of the street and becoming a permanent car and seating areas.
At 10 am I went into the Textile Museum, which currently had an exhibit called "Secrets" which is actually about women's lingerie throughout history; it was really fun and interesting. Some of the displays were photographs or postcards behind large wooden key holes so you would have to get close and peer in to see them! I was tempted to buy the book on the exhibition, but it was 50 francs and I was able to take a lot of photos.
After this I went over to the main Cathedral and Abbey where I visited the Cathedral itself and the accompanying library. Both were beautiful, but I thought the library was the most interesting of the two. It was from the medieval period and entirely wood; we had to put on felted slippers over our shoes to protect the wood inlay floor. I was unable to take photographs in the library, but I did sketch, purchase a few postcards, and there are lots of pictures online as it is a UNESCO world heritage site.
I grabbed lunch at a little take-away bakery/cafe (amazing chicken curry sandwich, who knew curry would be a thing around here?) then went to find the two works by Santiago Calatrava. I was excited to see them, though I kept hoping I would see them in motion and purposely walked past them many times to check!
I later used the St. Gallen guide book I purchased at the library to check out a few other places and an art piece by Max Bill (who I spoke about earlier). It was a busy day!!! My guide book told me the bratwurst in St. Gallen was the best of any place, so that if I had the opportunity to try it I should; I did and it was very good. They serve it with a bread roll so you take a bite of the sausage then of the bread; I don't know that I could eat that very often though.
Yesterday was very cold and rainy unfortunately. I spent the day really just exploring and trying to take it easy.

Now its time to get back into the studio project and be productive until we leave again for our group tour of Switzerland on the 24th of the month!


Photos show piece by Santiago Calatrava, the Outdoor Living Room, and one of the displays at the Textile Museum. I took lots of pictures, but unfortunately can't put them all up!

Swiss Ambassador and St. Gallen, Switzerland

Last night we held a reception at the Villa/Casa Maderni for the Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Urs Ziswiler. We had a "garden party" in place of dinner; heavy hors d'oeuvres were served and a variety of wines were available to try. The Ambassador, the Mayor of Riva San Vitale, the Dean of the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech, Lucy Ferrari, and some of the students from Virginia tech studying at the Acadamia College in Mendrisio joined all of the students, teachers and staff that study and/or live here in Riva. We were all, of course, dressed for the occasion as well.

After we ate, we all went into the Villa for an address by the Ambassador and a presentation of gifts to him. I really enjoyed listening to him speak, though we were all unfortunately very tired from lack of sleep from studies and assignments as well as the food and wine.

He made some really interesting points about United States and Switzerland relationship and had a few key things he wanted to bring up that he felt were very important to mention. He spoke about the many similarities both countries have as well as the great relationship the Swiss have with the U.S.; the ability of the two countries to agree to disagree on some points (namely Iraq) is a sign of the strong relationship. He brought up the "anti-American" view/feeling many European countries have that he hoped could be altered as people maybe see America doesn't equal Bush which also doesn't equal Iraq. I think he is hopeful about the election coming up, in that it might help to change this view. Immigration was also mentioned, as that is something Switzerland and America share; he believes that as long as work pays $8 a day on one side of a border and $8 an hour on the other side, people will find a way to come into the country despite walls, laws, guards, what have you and said that he thought it was the wrong policy to continue to make sanctions against it. As the country is made up of so many little groups of people and has four national languages, he also believes it is important for the majority to provide the minorities with more rights to maintain the country; if they have everything they want and need in Switzerland, there would be nothing to make them leave, and the country, already very rich, would stay rich. I think the last key point he brought up was that at any time, it is completely inappropriate for one country to attempt to instill their own government policies on another country. A country may be used as an example to help another, but it must grow in maturity and allow the culture and religion and so forth to develop before even that would be possible. (Obviously a reference to the situation in Iraq.) While he wouldn't say who he would vote for if he were able to, I think I have and idea of who that would be.

He was presented with a Virginia Tech book, a very, very nice bottle of wine, and a toy designed by Olivio Ferrari that is really a symbolic gesture. Overall it was a very nice evening and I think we all enjoyed hearing what he had to say in terms of his own policies.

Tomorrow I will leave to spend the weekend in St. Gallen, Switzerland! I will not be taking my computer with me, but I'm sure I will put up a few photos and provide a little information about the trip when I get back!

The photos below show the table of food and wine; people standing around with Frank Weiner (my professor) speaking with the Ambassador in the center of the photo; Frank Weiner, Lucy Ferrari, the Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and Lindsey another student at a table having a discussion; and Megan and Kristina (both other students here) having some dessert.

Photos

This is just a quick note, because I'm not sure that everyone knows (I didn't until recently)... you can click on a photo and see it at a much larger scale as they are not very big in the blog itself.

This week will be a busy one. As our long weekend is coming up, Frank is having us push the projects quite a bit before we all go out of town Thursday to Sunday.

The Swiss Ambassador is coming to the Villa on Tuesday; we are having a special dinner/party all together and he will make an address to all of us. Everyone is excited and looking forward to that evening.

Also, the Dean of Architecture will be coming for the next week... I am assuming that he is just coming to check things out.

It should definitly be a busy one!

Library, Fireplace Room and Rainstorm

I just wanted to post a few photos from the past few days... I promised some Library photos (there are two of the library and one of the Fireplace Room) and there was also an incredible rainstorm (so there are two of that) that I did my best to get photos of... so here you go!!!

Seminar, Lucy Ferrari, and St. Gallen, Switzerland

Every Tuesday night the 16 architecture students have a Seminar class from 8 pm - 10 pm in our little library here. I have to take a picture of the library to post here; it is in a room that used to store wheat and grain in the winter above the old stables. All of the books in it were bought and donated to the library by Olivio and Lucy Ferrari, who together founded the Riva center and did a lot to develop the architecture program at VA Tech. It feels like a little castle room going up the small staircase from the 'fireplace room' to get there.

Last night we discussed Max Bill, an artist who studied at the Bauhaus and then taught at the art and design school in Ulm. We will see some of his work later this semester during our travels.

Today Lucy Ferrari came to talk to us about the history of the Riva center and the development of the VA Tech architecture program. She is full of amazing stories; I look forward to having her travel with us on some of our tour of Switzerland. She also told us a little more about Max Bill. As her late husband was a student of his, there is a direct connection there. She informed us that Max Bill had hosted an artist, who is on one of the Swiss Franc bills, and her husband while they hid from the Nazis during the war. It is interesting how connected the Nazis and Hitler are to the art movement; the Bauhaus collapsed because of Hitler's disagreement with the way of thinking and ideas they were developing. So many artists had to flee during this time to protect themselves. Its amazing how it all intertwines in history.

This afternoon I made my plans for a long weekend we have for personal traveling coming up. I will be going to St. Gallen, Switzerland. There is an amazing library, a textile museum, a marketplace, a work by Santiago Calatrava, a cathedral, and a number of other places I'm excited about going to see. The trains I have to take to get there go through the Alps as well; I can't wait for the train ride there (and back)!

Meanwhile, we are working on our projects for the semester. If you are interested in what it is we are working on, here is the website...
http://www.japan-architect.co.jp/english/5info/topics/skcompe2008/index.html

Riva San Vitale, Switzerland

I've decided to start a blog to help keep everyone updated as to what we are up to and what is going on here in Riva San Vitale. I hope to keep up with it as much as possible; however, between journaling by hand, it may work, trips and be difficult to stay on top of everything.

We've been here about a week and a half, so we've really just settled in to everyday life and class. We have taken a trip as a class to see Mario Botta's studio/office in Lugano, Switzerland. He is a very famous Swiss architect; later we will see some of his work.

We have all also made some trips on our own to nearby towns, mostly Mendrisio and Lugano, just to check out the area. A few of the architecture students ventured off on a long, intense hike this past weekend, while some of the business students went a little further away as a group to places like Nice, France.

We are all looking forward to the adventures we still have ahead of us!






Photos: Alps, Lugano, and Day Trip Lunch