Pure pleasure
Another lovely morning here and with the day ahead of us, we agreed that we would head for a favourite spot.
Not much more than an hour and a bit’s drive from here, the route takes us through more of the lush green countryside we love. The city of St Gallen is not only attractive in itself but is also the centre of the Swiss textile industry and home to one of my favourite museums too. It’s open on Sundays!!
Oh what a beautiful morning!
As usual, we stayed off the motorways where possible but our drive still took us through tunnels.
There’s a particular spot not far from us in Gloucestershire where a tunnel would be the obvious solution to a long standing traffic problem. How I wish the Swiss engineers would come and work their magic there!
The simplest journey offers so many examples of their skill, including this railway viaduct, across which we’ve been several times in the past. I find it more spectacular from down here though.
My Hero had identified a convenient car park in the city centre and as usual, we step out and admire the cleanliness and high maintenance standards (though later, we discovered the pay machine was broken. “Again?!” said an exasperated clerk in the hotel reception next door!)
A short walk brought us to a familiar place.
with the unmistakeable piece of “lace” above the entrance.
The current exhibition was right up my street. Textile Innovation from Japan? Yes please!
So many small details make this museum special. Not only are the tickets still printed on fabric but wherever possible, the signs are embroidered too. Today, the stairs were adorned with pieces of patchwork representing the second exhibition currently running about St Gallen’s history of linen production.
As is our habit in places like this, we chose to start on the top floor and work our way down. I’ll write a separate blog post with more details about the exhibits for my textile-y friends later, but suffice to say, for the next hour or so, I was in seventh heaven.
For here was innovation, creativity, technology, colour, pattern and to cap it all, displays of working samples and the tools and materials set out in a really pleasing way. The commentary was translated into English on handouts to take away, so I felt free from the need to be scribbling it all down too. I could simply absorb it all.
Having made our way through the exhibition, we reached a video presentation, or rather, a series of videos about the traditional textile processes associated with four areas of Japan and how they have been adapted into a more contemporary style by means of technology. We sat on benches to watch, upon cushions made from the techniques we’d just seen and I’ll leave you to imagine the delight when just as I got our my camera to take a snap, the process on the screen was exactly that shown on the cushion right in front of me!
All the techniques we’d seen and possibly more, were collected into a Japanese style curtain in the final room, where the lighting was magically used to offer some lovely reflections too.
I would have been quite satisfied to have left it there, but there was more to see. Down one floor and we were standing on a beautifully made “carpet”, printed with the images of old St Gallen. The room showed the variety of people associated with linen production in the past, described each of them and depicted them with a handmade shoulder bag hanging beside them with an illustration of their skill. Clever design. Actually, the story here was also of the celebration held each year: the “Bignik” when residents are invited to create a patchwork contribution to a giant installation. Now we understood the relevance of the squares on the stairs we’d seen earlier.
What a great place - even though the library was closed today, because that will still be here next time.
The street names around here reference the textile heritage too, so we wandered down Weberstraße towards the Kloster.
This is such an attractive old town, especially on a sunny day. We sat on the terrace of the blue cafe above and had a bite to eat, watching the people, enjoying the sunshine and simply being here.
St Gallen is noted for its oriel windows and a fine example was right there opposite from where we were sitting. It’s an old favourite and I have no idea how many photographs I have of that very window, but I can’t resist taking another.
The same goes for this corner window, supported by an amusing figure which has also featured here on my blog previously. On this occasion, though, our car park was just around the corner from here, so it’s a useful aide memoire for next time.
I loved this pair of windows that we passed by along the way.
Heading back to Lachen, through another tunnel; this one with a junction in it! Our sweet friends Res and Yvonne had invited us for tea this afternoon and as we drove here this morning, I’d been keeping my eye open along the roadside for a farm with flowers for sale.
I had spotted one, made a note of the location and now, on our way back, we stopped in the farmyard so that I could hop out and make a purchase. The flowers were beautifully tied in bunches of assorted sizes and there was a simple honesty box for payment.
Except.
I looked in our Swiss purse and there was hardly any change - certainly not enough for a bunch of flowers - and all I had were two ChF100 notes. (1 ChF = approx £1) Alongside the honesty box was also directions to pay by card, but on following those, I discovered it required me to download an app and link it to my (Swiss) bank account. Aaagh.
That’s when I spotted the sign to the “Hofladen” - the farmshop. I went in search of assistance and rang the bell in the shed opposite the farmhouse. (As I did, I heard a slight rustle behind me - there was a big, sleepy dog laid under the table who looked up at me before going back to sleep!)
As I did, I heard the voice of the farmer from the balcony there, so called up and explained my situation. “Ein moment” he called, “Bin ich bald da!” (I’m coming!)
As I apologised profusely for disturbing his peace and quiet, he took out his purse (containing a breathtaking amount of cash) and changed my ChF100 note for five twenties without bother, commenting as he nodded in the direction of his sleepy dog that he was no use whatsoever as a guard dog! “Komm ‘rein”, he added, beckoning me into the barn. “für die Reise” (for the journey), he said…
“schön süß” - beautifully sweet - !
I chose my bunch of flowers, left the cash in the honesty box and off we went! Isn’t life filled with the best adventures?
It was a glorious afternoon and I couldn’t help but take photos along the way, even though the windscreen could do with a clean! Sorry about that!
We headed back to Lachen, from where our friend Res came to take us to his new home and where we spent a couple of happy hours sitting in the most glorious setting with him and Yvonne, catching up over delicious home made cake, coffee and Sauternes and reflecting on Tra’s fabulous recital last evening. Meanwhile Tra was on her way back to London, ready to begin preparation for a new recording later this week.
We, the lucky ones, were able to sit and savour the delightful company, the beautiful surroundings with mountain views and, in my case, feel very envious of Yvonne, who swims in the lake 365 days a year from her garden. How lovely is that?
