Luzern Bahnhof

...is the name of the train station at which I first landed in Luzern. It is a large railway depot - I think there are at least 10 tracks? There are a few shops and restaurants above ground - but the underground part is where things are HAPPENING. There's a Bachmann (like on every other corner of Luzern), a COOP grocery which is a lifesaver after 6p, and several tourist stops and food/beer selling places.

Tonight, while searching for a wine I chose...poorly... in the "Drinks of the World" store, I met a lovely shop-worker named Marie. We chatted briefly about rock bands. I had asked who was playing on the shop's speaker, and it was Gogol Bordello (it was a less vocal-centered track, so the telltale Eugene Hutz voice didn't tip me off).  Luzerners seem pretty enthusiastic about the Festival - the KKL (pronounced "Ka-Ka-Ell", at least by the Swiss folk around here...) is a pride of the country. It is beautiful in glass, metal, and water (inside and out), though from a distance by boat it has a bit of a fishing-shanty appearance (flat dark roof, and the glass outer walls just look dark from far away).  It is undoubtedly one of the nicest halls in the world to perform in, I've been told (and will find out next week for myself!!), and is beautiful up close with the fountain, the Vierwaldstättsee, and the Bahnhof surrounding it.

All week, I've been riding the 7 bus, to and from my host family's stop (Sternmatt, slightly downhill; Rodtegg, slightly uphill). Riders are usually hushed-to-silent, and there's an honor-code about buying tickets. (Granted, to be caught without a ticket gets you a 100CHF ticket, which would suuuuuuck). It is an amazingly civilized atmosphere - the bus stations indicate when the next bus on each line is arriving, and they are generally on time (and come every 7-10 minutes, on my line).

Amazingly civilized too is the street. Walking on busy streets around downtown - it's usually pretty quiet, and there is little eye contact or stranger-interaction (I have witnessed only a few instances of harassment - of companions with me - in the Bahnhof area). Most people aren't extremely smiley or friendly, just...neutral har har I made a funny about the Swiss. But seriously - everything seems to be on an even keel, and civilized - down to the following of pedestrian crosswalks. Imagine my shock, then, to witness a yelling argument between an (older?) woman and a middle-aged dude on the next bus platform over earlier tonight. I have no idea what either was saying, but she was LAUT. Und she was talking animatedly with two other people sitting on benches waiting for the bus (in addition to getting up in the guy's face).  After a week in Luzern, this seemed odd, and I immediately thought "she must be foreign or mentally ill".

This, after witnessing a yelling fight between customer and staff in the KC Ward Avenue Verizon Store under two weeks ago. Didn't even faze me then.

It's weird living in a tourist-destination city (I haven't before). . .I am not sure what the attitude toward tourists really is - as retail folk, restaurant folk, and basically everyone else is polite and will try to speak English. Especially when, like me, you struggle, and are shy-to-silent for fear of speaking badly what a silly attitude I have!  I personally get annoyed when people don't walk with a purpose, which seems a hallmark of tourism..."Walking slowly in unpredictable directions in Liz's way". I got places to BE.

Today's places: FIRST TUTTI REHEARSAL OMG Y GZ. I galoshed through a damp morning commute to the Obergrundstrasse building - and took my spot "stage right". It was indescribable to hear the other parts. Just, Damn. Berio.

After rehearsal, bought a bag of Tagessalat (which includes the tiniest strings of carrot and BEET YES) and went home to eat/escape the rain.  Decided to visit the music store, where I saw mandolins and Blockflöten advertised. . .it did not disappoint, except a sale-mandolin had already sold. BooooooooooooI didn't need it right now.

The lady at the desk was very kind to let me play a few alto, tenor, and bass-recorders (made of palisander, rosewood, birnbaum -pear!, ebony, and other beautiful materials).  I felt a little badly not buying - but identical instruments can be found for half the price in UK/US. Even the ones made in Schweitz (Kurg?).  I just wanted to know what it felt like to hold a nice, non-soprano recorder. As much as I'd love to learn mandolin, I have this feeling that my hands are just hardwired to pick up wind instruments of the recorder/clarinet variety.  Tenor is a bit of a stretch (the holes are fairly far apart, and increasing the distance between one's middle and ring fingertips is not always comfortable) - but the sound is so, so good.

It's a financial goal to work towards - affording an instrument and a teacher...


//boring navel gazing ahoy

The argument could be made that it's a distraction I should avoid.  Happily, I'm getting better at filtering the "should" things out.  Who knows what I should do?

I -need- to help pay rent so I don't bankrupt my favorite guy. I -need- to make excellent music and be around others who do the same. I -need- to have contact with my family - blood and chosen.

I -want- to keep playing, and improving, at multiple instruments. I -want- to visit beautiful places and observe how people live. I -want- never to drive to a gig again.

I -should- finish my doctorate. At the same time, I -should- give myself some time out of school and away from constant academia to gain better clarity into what I need and want as a musician.


What -will- I do?