Easter Break

Monika, Elise, and I visited "la tour de Sauvabelin" last Tuesday. It was constructed in 2003 in the middle of a forest by a group of wood-working apprentices. It is quite impressive! I was tripping over myself all the way up the stairs because I was to distracted by trying to look at the structure around me. There was an awesome view of Lausanne and Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Normally there is also a mountain panorama, but it was a cloudy day, so we only had a peek at the mysterious giants across the lake. Elise and I built our own tower at home, complete with viewing windows which were inevitably destroyed in the process of climbing into the tower. I guess neither of us will make very good wood-workers!
For more information on the tower: http://www.tour-de-sauvabelin-lausanne.ch/

I visited IKEA on Friday with Monika, Elise, and Tabea. It was Tabea's paradise! The building was gigantic with whole stories filled with replica apartments and kitchens to inspire shoppers, a cafeteria with ice-cream makers and live birds flying around in the rafters, mazes of home furnishings, and a warehouse the size of an airplane hanger where people went to get the larger pieces that they would take home in boxes and put together themselves. It was also an interesting insight into the culture of  Sweden where the store originated. Every item had a crazy Swedish name, they sold all kinds of Swedish candies, and there were posters about the great cities of Sweden.

 Afterwards, we went to a mall where Tabea, Elise, and I terrorized the Lindt chocolate store. We were attacked by a cosmetic saleslady who washed our hands with weird, dead sea salts, and polished our finger nails which distracted us all day long with their unnatural and magically attained brilliance. Needless to say, we did not by the 80CHF cosmetic pack, but it was very amusing to bear witness to the cult of salt-obtained beauty.

I have hardly drawn since I arrived, but I thought my IKEA hat-trying-on adventure turned out pretty cute! I made copies while it was black and white, and Elise and I colored them together. I think I will have to do one for McDonald's which will include Max, Christophe, and Anaïs... We shall see!

So far my Easter vacation has been pretty tranquil. Most of the family is sick, so it has been hard to go out and do a lot. With rest and low stress I am getting progressively better, but I still missed out on a day hike around Jura with Monika and Anaïs Sunday, and climbing to the top of the Fribourg Cathedral with a freind today. Send your best wishes so we get well soon and can go visit Ballenberg!

Lots of love!