Over Pentecost, an exciting week in the upper Lake Constance area ended for a highly motivated group of children, teenagers, and adult caregivers from Latvia. After an exhausting journey of about 2000 km, they were welcomed late on Sunday, June 5th, in Lindau by the project leader, Felix Stoffel, and his deputy, Sandra Zellweger. The journey continued a good distance through the three-country region. The Latvians were allowed to stay in the beautiful home of the Rheintal entrepreneurial couple, Marina and Oskar Köppel, heads of the Swiss branch of the German endoscopy group Storz. They thus offered a generous centerpiece of the project.
Every morning there was a hearty breakfast in Widnau, and then immediately strengthened, they drove to Lindau to the Structuralist Art School there. Under the expert guidance of Laila Capadrutt, the Latvian participants received a daily free course in this new and fascinating style of painting. Great pictures were created, which can now be viewed at the painting school.
Lunch took place at the Lindau restaurant 'Treffpunkt Zech'. These meals were arranged by Lindau residents Rainer and Monika Hellwig and kindly sponsored by the city of Lindau (specifically organized by Petra Schönherr) and the responsible association, and excellently catered on-site by Gaby Zobel and the kitchen team. The quality of the food is confirmed by the following anecdote: Ludmila Narica, one of the volunteer caregivers from Latvia, feared that the food might come from the freezer and be reheated in the microwave. She was always concerned that her Latvian protégés would eat healthily. When she personally saw that the served food was fresh and finely prepared, she herself ate the entire menu with as much relish as the rest of the group.
In the afternoons, the children visited some of the interesting attractions in our area. For example, the stimulating natural history museum 'inatura' in Dornbirn or a fun cruise with the MS 'Bayern' of the Wiehrer shipping company.
Since the weather last week was not at its best, the swimming fun planned for Tuesday in one of the surrounding bathing establishments unfortunately 'fell through'.
But they wouldn't be real girls if they hadn't known how to help themselves. At least all the young participants of the Latvia group wanted to see a typical local shopping center to check out the latest fashion trends. So they visited Lindau-Park at Berlinerplatz and later bought some souvenirs on Lindau Island.
Afterward, there was a wonderful dinner at the 'Bodolzer Dorfstüble'. This was donated by Silvia Stockhammer, a diligent Structuralist painter, and her husband Ralf. The Latvians enjoyed everything so much that they only returned to Widnau late that evening.
The next day, they went up the Pfänder by train. This excursion was particularly longed for by the children, teenagers, and adults from Latvia. Except for the group leader, Pavel Narica, they had never before experienced elevations of this kind, let alone mountains so close. Unfortunately, the weather again did not cooperate, so the bird show visit had to be canceled after ten minutes. Although they had been told several times before the trip, the Latvians still did not have enough weather-appropriate clothing. This was because they couldn't believe that it could be so cool here in the 'south'.
Nevertheless, the concerned escorts, Judith Capadrutt from Lindau and Daniel Sommer from Bischofszell (the sponsor of that afternoon), safely led the group down to another culinary highlight at Berggasthof Fritsch in Lochau. The excellent meal was donated to the Latvians by Diana and Thomas Fritsch.
On Thursday, immediately after painting and lunch, they went to Baind to the 'Strodel' riding stable. There were riding lessons throughout the afternoon, which were not only conducted but also donated by the well-known Lindau riding instructor, Ellen Stoffel. She was assisted by the student Onna Rageth, living in Lindau and also a passionate rider, and Elisa Wahlpahl, an ambitious riding student from Neuravensburg.
In the evening, a big barbecue party took place at the Köppel house in Widnau. Some members of the Swiss Druid Order (www.sdo.ch) also attended, who essentially made the entire week possible with their donations.
Because a new lodge institution for the Rheintal and Vorarlberg area is currently being founded in Widnau. The responsible members, who have committed themselves to supporting social works, chose this first project because the Latvian organization of the Narica family, based in Rezekne in the free state of Latgale, pursues ideals and goals that are considered worthy of support by the Widnau Salix Alba Lodge. The Naricas have long strived to provide Latvian children and young people, who otherwise would not easily have access, with cultural, especially artistic, development. Several Druid members from Zurich, Eastern Switzerland, and Southern Germany contributed to the great success of the project with their monetary donations. A special modesty is shown in the fact that they made their contributions discreetly, without wanting to be mentioned by name.
The conclusion of this busy week was crowned with several events. First, there were numerous farewell gifts. Several sponsors, such as Amnesty International Lindau (Rainer Hellwig), Claudia Drexler from Achberg, Hanspeter Hoffmann from Liechtenstein, and Wolfgang Gröger from Lindau ensured that the Latvians did not have to return empty-handed. Among other things, there was a complete painting set for all participants. The contribution of the International ZuozClub, made possible by the Vice President, Bettina Schlumpf from Chur, should also be mentioned here.
For lunch, they went to Bad Ragaz to the now Europe-wide known service area 'Heidiland' (the Latvian guests were a little surprised at how expensive it was to eat there. Without the financial aid, they would never have been able to afford such a lunch). Afterwards, they followed an invitation from the Bad Ragaz secondary school center, where the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary was celebrated. The Latvians were personally welcomed by the local school board president, Hansjörg Hürlimann. The school administration gave everyone small gifts and typical souvenirs, for which the Latvian children and young people thanked them with an astonishing dance and song performance on stage. The Bad Ragaz school community gave them much applause for this.
They now had enough time to stroll leisurely through beautiful Bad Ragaz. The bathing facility with all the charming hotels and the golf course impressed the visitors. When they reached the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, which majestically thrones amidst the towering mountains above the village, they were completely thrilled. The director, Barbara Zettel, and her husband Patrick, offered a dinner that formed a more than worthy conclusion to this unique holiday week.
On Saturday afternoon, the Latvian guests and now friends, all tired but happy, began their two-day journey back to Latvia.
The impressive stay of the Latvian group received much attention everywhere and will certainly remain well in the memory of the participants involved. All those involved in the background are once again warmly thanked for their selfless commitment.
Stoffels©onception 2011 Germany:ZEITRAUM Felix Stoffel
Schneeberggasse 3
D-88131 Lindau
Tel: +49 (0)8383 943 10 93
Switzerland:
ZEITRAUM Felix Stoffel
Girlenstrasse 27
CH-9443 Widnau
Tel: +41 (0)71 720 11 59