Solidarity

Four years ago, I spent an unforgettable time in Capanna Soveltra and a beautiful friendships still accompany me since then, although I didn’t make it back there for quite some time now. Always in my heart, I was shocked this autumn to hear that this wonderful mountain hut took fire.

The Capanna Soveltra team was very sad – watch the video “it hurts” to gain some impressions. They are also strong and ready to reconstruct an even more beautiful hut, they say. I am happy to hear that and I am ready to support their efforts. Now the Capanna is in a winter retreat and in spring the reconstruction would start. I will engage in fundraising activities – on the website below you can find all banking details – in case you want to donate something for a good thing in 2017/2018!

More information about the reconstruction of the mountain hut:

http://www.sav-vallemaggia.ch/ricostruzione-soveltra/

This article could also interest you:

My first stay at capanna soveltra

As a guardian at Capanna Soveltra

Gratefulness

I dedicate this first day of this new and last month of 2017 to being grateful.

Over the past years, I have started to integrate a daily practice on gratefulness into my life. It works very well for me to take a moment in the morning and another moment in the evening before falling asleep. Obviously, also a spontaneous “wow” and “thank you” during the day is allowed 🙂

Today, I am heartfully grateful for my family and friends and every human being that I meet on my way. Openness, love (unconditioned) and intimacy bring about beautiful connections.

What are you grateful for today?

2 Winter hikes around Lucerne – “above the clouds”

Stockhütte – Klewenalp (2-2.5 hrs)

I venture into a new area. I take a train and bus to a small village called Emmetten, I jump on a small cable car. On the ride uphill, we cross the “fog barrier” as we would call it. Amazing! From greytones into the light, the blue, the white and the yellow from the sun. A real breakthrough 😉 Sunglasses on and as we arrive to Stockhütte I jump off and start the winterhike. And, for this, I let the photos speak for themselves…

From Klewenalp I take a cable car down to Beckenried. A beautiful way to finish the day is to take the boat back to Lucerne. That makes it a real round trip in any sense of the word.

Mount Rigi (version end of December still without snow…)

The 360 degree views from Mount Rigi are spectacular. And the options to climb the mountain are manifold; you can even get carried uphill by a cable car from Weggis to Kaltbad and hike from there to the top, or arrive by boat to Vitznau and take a train get off at any stage of the mountain you like. 
My favorite routes (so far): 

1) Taking the boat in Lucerne to Vitznau, hiking all the way up (1.5-2hrs) to Felsentor and walk down to Weggis (1.5-2hrs) to jump on the boat back to Lucerne. 

2) Taking the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau, taking the train up to Felsentor and climb to the top of Mount Rigi (2.5-3hrs). Then down again by train to Vitznau and by boat back to Lucerne.

Note: For all those hikes you need proper shoes and with snow I even recommend snow shoes and walking sticks. Enjoy beauty of nature!

Impressions from a winter walk around Rotsee

In the first days of this new year, I did some beautiful hikes and walks around Lucerne. And it reminded me of how much I love to climb mountains and undertake walks to discover and appreciate beauty of nature. 

What do you love to do? Has it already the place it deserves in your life? If not, how do you want to better integrate it?

The contrasting black and white and the different shades of grey impressed me while circumnavigating the Rotsee (red lake) in Lucerne area. Enjoy some of the photos taken with my mobile phone:







People who made a difference this year

The days are becoming shorter and shorter. So is the year. A good opportunity to start looking back on 2016. An intensive and enriching year for me. Where to start? Inspired by Sabrina Gundert’s blog post, I started writing down names of women and men who made a difference in my life this year.

  • First and foremost, my parents. They are always there, they give me a strong foundation and stability thanks to their wellbeing, joy of life and their unconditional love.
  • People who opened the doors to their homes: Monika&Ueli (Aeschi & Ascona), Jasmine (Zurich), Christine&Mario (Zurich),  Rosetta (Gantrisch), Dao&Markus (Lucerne).

I had the opportunity to connect to new people thanks to the digital world that lead to interesting and enriching virtual sessions, collaborations and exchanges:

  • Anne-Kerstin Busch – Journalling Challenge (21 days), creative Inspirations for every day, closed Facebook Group Exchange; during my study time in Zurich.
  • Katrin Zita – Read 3 books she published and decided to get in touch with her, ending up with 3 fun and inspiring skype sessions while I was in Ascona.
  • Franziska Beerle – Seminar “Climb the love tree” and 3 enriching phone calls that helped to change the perspective in relationship matters but also of life in general.
  • Petra Prosoparis – Vision Camp (21 days), inspiring daily tasks and closed Facebook Group Exchange, during my first days in Lucerne.
  • Katrin Schwind – Coaching to write a Laos reportage for a Magazine while I was in Ascona.
  • Rita S. – Coaching to get my own unique Story rightly reflected in my CV during my study phase in Zurich.

Then there are those wonderful human beings, that accompany me since a long time and I truly appreciate their presence in my life: My grandma, my aunties, my Cousin, my brother, my “ladies” – Rita, Simone S., Sabine, Simone L., Christine, Janine, Susi, Caterina. And those relationships that made it through my 3.5 years “on the road” with Zeenath, Dave, Arthur, Anaïs, Nala, Matthias, Marco&Lisenka, Rich and those who came on board during those past years – Malgosia&Joko, Petr, NADEL students and teacher, new work colleagues in Laos, Switzerland and Europe, Dancers in Locarno, Dr. Bhole, Philippe…

And then there are all those People I haven’t mentioned and those who’s names I even don’t know – people who shared a smile, a conversation or a silent Moment while our paths crossed.

Surprisingly, it has become a long list for this year. I am sooo grateful, truly grateful! THANK YOU for bringing so much Color into my life!

-> Who made a difference in your life this year?

12 Cafés in Lucerne

Here is a list of Cafés that I have visited so far in Lucerne, each and every place has its own flavour and atmosphere, some are also restaurants while other even offer co-working spaces, include a shop or can be perfectly combined with a visit of a Museum or the Cinema next by (in alphabetical order):

Alpineum : https://www.facebook.com/alpineum/

Next to the Löwendenkmal. A small but cosy place. Can be crowded in peak times (lunch time, afternoon tea time, apero time) but

 

Bistro-Bar Bourbaki : http://www.kinoluzern.ch/bar-bistro/info.html

A drink or coffee can be perfectly combined with a movie at Bourbaki Cinema or the Museum in the same building (http://www.bourbakipanorama.ch)

 

Café de Ville – Schwanen : http://www.cafedeville.ch

Noble and traditional Café, lots of magazines, terrazza was in renovation when I went there, beautiful views (also soon again from the terrazza).

 

Café in the Museum of Arts : https://www.kunstmuseumluzern.ch/cafe/

This Café is located on the 4th floor of the famous KKL building next to Lucerne’s main Station. Can be perfectly combined with a visit to the Museum of Arts. Offers a nice ambiente and beautiful views to over the bay and lake.

 

Café Lokal : http://www.cafe-bar-lokal.ch/

A tiny place but apparently well known and frequented by locals, that’s probably somehow the hint for its Name. Next to Museum of history and nature. Reuss-river view.

 

Café Sowieso : http://www.cafesowieso.ch/home

Social Enterprise with arts Exhibition in the Café/Restaurant. Local seasonal cuisine.

 

Chez Cassis : www.chezcassis.ch

A colourful and cosy place. Combines coffee and a shop and they also organize concerts.

 

Heini : http://www.heini.ch/content/14-standorte

A number of traditional (“tea-room style”) Cafés invite for a coffee/tea with a nice Piece of cake or salty dish.

 

Mardi Gras : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mardi-Gras

Friendly Service, nice and arty place. Cakes, magazines. Attracts a mix of People.

 

Mill’Feuille : http://www.millfeuille.ch/

Offers a beautiful view onto the Mühleplatz and river Reuss. It is also a Restaurant. Nice atmosphere.

 

Neubad Bistro : http://neubad.org/Bistro

It used to be a bath that has been transformed into a creative and collaborative space. It has a nice coffee/restaurant place, work spaces, Shops inside and different Events are organized.

 

World Café : https://www.kkl-luzern.ch/de/your-visit/dinieren-logieren/world-cafe

I like the atmosphere, most beautiful and irrestistible deserts. Offers also finger Food and international wok dishes.

 

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Beauty of autumn – filling us with wonder

This autumn is teaching me again to marvel, to be astonished, to wonder about the beauty of nature, the beauty of transformation. And, it is inviting me to feel the beauty of being in the present moment – in the here and now.

I would stop in front of a tree and look up into its crown, watch the leaves dancing in the wind, catch falling leaves or simply watch their dance until they reach the ground. Appreciate the light and colors and the unique shape of each tree and leave.

When we sharpen our awareness, we soon discover that autumn has a little gift for each of our senses – the colors and the light (eyes); the crackling of leaves under our feet and the crinkling of the brown leaves on the trees (ears); the smell of sun-warmed dry leaves; the early morning smog and still some warming sun rays on our skin; seasonal food and drinks such as nuts (incl. the chestnut), pumpkins and apple juice that fill our taste.

Wishing you inspiring autumn days with some of my impressions:

Arts under my feet

Today, I set out on a walk in the rain. An autumn walk, that turned out to be a walk on a path of nature. A walk through arts. Arts made by nature. Walking on different tones of colors, on different shapes of leaves, through different light and arrangements. Enjoy some of my impressions!

Setting out for new horizons: Lucerne to Flüelen

Today, I start my adventure at the World Cafe in Lucerne’s bay. 

After a strong and tasty espresso, I embark on the boat Stadt Luzern.

Off we head, straight through the morning mist that still lays over the town and the lake – a misterious start…I would say.

Different tones of grey in competition. Eventually, the darkness of the water is unbeatable. Until, suddenly, I can spot a little light of hope far out on the horizon. 

The closer we come, the more the door opens. Wide and wider.

Until – magically – we get into the sunshine – blue sky – mountain scenery – autumn colors. Stunning! 

Beautiful – natural beauty and surprising play of nature! 

If this boat journey from Lucerne to Flüelen is the omen for my new professional adventures at the doorsteps, then, I am ready to go through the misty phase – full of confidence – brightness, sun and colors are just around the corner 😉