Since Sunday, Oskar and Marina Köppel have been hosting guests from Latvia in their home. The six children and three caregivers stayed in Widnau as arranged by the Salix-Alba Lodge of the Swiss Druids Order.
Susi Miara
Widnau. “We’re spending a week’s vacation in my parents’ small apartment while they’re in Italy,” says Marina Köppel. Felix Stoffel, who leads the Narica project, asked her to find affordable lodging. She generously offered her home. “This leaves more money for excursions and sightseeing,” she adds. The six girls, aged eight to 14, traveled two days and 2,000 km from Rezekne, Latvia, arriving Sunday evening. Since Monday, they’ve toured the Three-Country Corner, visiting museums, cruising Lake Constance, and riding the cable car up the Karren in Bregenz.
Culture and Art
Each morning, the girls spend two hours at the Structuristic painting school in Lindau. “We aim to culturally and artistically enrich our youth according to Narica’s ideals,” says organizer Pavel Narica.
In 2008, engineer Pavel Narica contacted artist Laila Capadrutt, then heading the Narica painting school. Lindau students joined Narica family competitions, and the Narica team has visited Lindau twice since.
Shared Goals
Felix Stoffel, founder of the Lindau school, is a member of Widnau’s Salix-Alba Lodge of the Swiss Druids Order, whose ideals align with Narica’s mission. As a social engagement, the lodge funded the project week and excursions; the Narica group only covered travel costs. The Latvian guests return home on Saturday.