#9 IDa4 MURAL IN EUROPE: Baden, Switzerland, Baden Youth Hostel

So about Baden

The small town of Baden is today both an industrial-urban settlement just outside of Zurich with modern city facilities, but is also a tranquil thermal spa resort and cultural centre – a town of contrasts.

So About the Hostel

One of Switzerland’s best-looking hostels, this has grey slate floors, earth-red walls and top-quality materials. Members of Hosteling International pay about 20% less and it has all of the facilities that you would expect or could need. It's located in tranquil surroundings with view over the city, we had some of the best nights sleeps since the trip began, and it didn't take us long to relax into the laid back atmosphere of the area

So about our Hosts.

We were blown away by the hospitality of our hosts while we stayed in Baden. Dennis and Anya were absolutely amazing with us.  After sharing a beer with Dennis on our arrival, he suggested that we join him and Anya on a guided tour around their city, this was a great day, they took us all the way up to the top of the ruined castle with the best views of the city. 

We headed down to their favorite coffee house and were introduced to the lovely snack of Baden  called Spanischbrödli (small spanish bread).  We then strolled down to the thermal spa part of town where there is a public foot spa as well as the second ever fitted Schindler lift in the world.  We took our socks and shoes off  at the foot spa, dipped our feet in the lush warm water and watched the world and the river go by. beautiful!! After a day exploring the city we had a huge selection of monuments to include in this mural

They also took us to the thermal water spout, where the water is full of minerals and is really good for you, only one draw back it tastes of eggs! check  out chris first reaction to the taste..

looks like the Roman guy behind had the same reaction.. Egg water joke, making people laugh since 906AD

There hospitality didn't end there, on our last night they surprised us with a traditional meal out on the balcony with blankets over our legs and we were introduced  to the national dish of cheese fondue, lovingly made my Dennis, The Swiss wine that they bought for the occasion was a first for us too and a perfect accompaniment to the meal.   

That night we stayed up late, chatting and putting the world to rights and in the process made two very special friends.  We are going to miss you two and we hope you enjoy your trip to Hawaii, you both deserve it.

cheese fondue and Swiss wine night

So about the Art.

Dennis had to put in some really hard work to get this art on the wall in Baden. it's an old building with a traditional feel, but the inside had been made modern and the room that we did, didn't get used much because it looked and felt a bit clinical.  

We were given a patch of the wall next to the glass doors, which limited our space and this meant we had to be more creative with the wall. 

We were happy to get back to the running theme of giant figures holding monuments of the local area, this worked really well with the Baden tower and the castle ruin along with the old wooden bridge that we used to .

While we were doing our art, planning it, taking the photos, cutting out the different layers, spraying them on the wall, we could tell that Dennis was really interested in this process, so for the first time IDa4 took him through a personal journey on the process of his work.

 Dennis was so enthusiastic at every stage and was a quick learner. We gave him all the tools he needs now to become a professional stenciler too, we look forward to seeing the results.

Dennis and Anya were so nice to us and made us feel like we didn't want to leave, just before we left they came over with hugs and a  bag each full of wine, chocolate, tobacco, juice, Swiss army knives, key rings, juice! it was just a perfect present for a perfect couple of days.

We made a wee present for them too...

#8 IDa4 MURAL IN EUROPE: Basel, Switzerland, BaselBackPack

So about Basel

Basel is home to top-flight art galleries, museums and avant-garde architecture, and boasts an enchanting Old Town.

So about the Hostel 

The reason the description about Basel is so small is because we hardly left the hostel, it's a great pace to spend a few days. This Hostel is ran and owned by a pair called Thomas and Stefan,  What lovely and welcoming people they were with us. When we need  art supplies, they paid the cost, when we needed a beer they gave us a beer, when we said we've bought our own beer, they said have a shot of Swiss liquor, top blokes!

This hostel has a great urban vibe about it, with lots of art all over the place, from the huge jungle scene leading up the stairs to a graffiti piece done by a young skater, but the biggest influence has to be by Stefan one of the owners and a really good artist too.  His collages and artist touches make this feel like a cool and happening place.

We would also say a big thank you for Thomas for buying 10 of the IDa4 vinyl art. What we do with the exchange idea is amazing in the fact that money is never involved, and we like that.  We don't want to profit from this experience, that's not the point, but we all need to eat and the vinyl art is the way we support our self on the road. SO A BIG THANK YOU THOMAS x

The Rooms are to a very high standard and the one we stayed in felt like a New York apartment.  When We were there they were in the middle of converting some space into two luxury apartment type rooms, if they are up to the standard of our room, they will absolutely lush!

So About the Art

It's nice when you come to a hostel and the owners give you carte blanche to do your art and don't have a tight brief in what they want.  This was the case here with the amazing Thomas just saying, please make the common room a more brighter and happier place. This we can do...

With this Room IDa4 wanted the feeling of Heart, Body, Mind and Soul.  With them all interacting with each other on the three walls.

#7 IDa4 MURAL IN EUROPE: Zürich, Switzerland, City Backpacker

So About Zurich

Zürich is a city whose reputation precedes it - Its expensive, bloody expensive! one barman told me it was between here and Oslo for the most expensive place to live in the world!! that was after I'd just bought a pint of Guinness in a bar for 9.5 Swiss Franc's roughly about £8, but all was forgiven because, said bar, was where I watched  Sunderland beat their arch rivals Newcastle 2-1. Bitter Sweet taste...

But seriously everything is at a premium here, Switzerland in general is expensive, so budget good and budget well if you come.  

Apart from that Zurich is located on a picturesque river and lake whose water you can drink, easy to get around and a stranger to the hassled lifestyle that defines bigger cities, this affluent, fashion-conscious place enjoys the finest things in life. (if you can afford it)

I don't think it's really set out for backpacker life, as a couple of young Aussies told us they paid 27 Swiss Franc's for 2 Kebabs. The staple of a backpackers diet..

But it is worth it with the views of the lake and the alps in the background, a lovely walk around the lake, with its beautiful parks and vibrant  street performers  everywhere.

So About the Hostel

CityBackpacker - Hotel/Hostel Biber is located in the pedestrian area right in the heart of the beautiful and lively old part of town.

The team here do its best to keep this old building looking and feeling fresh, the manager Reto, with his team of Ruth and Albert do a sterling job. Don't forget to check out the roof terrace view. Also this was the first time we stayed in a dorm room, we can only apologise for synchronised snoring that the other guests must have endured. 

We bonded with Reto over Swiss larger and break beat dance music. He was more than accommodating with us and even got us on the guest list for Gonzo Club, a class cool basement night club, with queues round the block, it's so nice to once in your life swan up to the front and get in straight away.

We were given 24 Swiss Francs out of his Reto's own money and told on his instructions to ask at the bar for Tequila, Gold Tequila with orange and cinnamon!  this was something very new to us and we enjoyed so much we got another 4 rounds in, the last round was on the barmaid, who joined us in shooting back this loveliest of shots.  (i can only imagine the free round was because of our free style dad dancing!) But anyway this part of town 'Züri-West' district used to be industrialised but now its inhabited by a younger, hipper crowd and has a similar  feel and buzz as Berlin's Prenzlauerberg or Mitte.

So About the Art

In this Hostel there was not a lot of space to do the large wall pieces that we had done in other hostels,

 so we came to the decision to do 30 unique vinyl art for the hostel to put up in their room.

The main thing that Reto wanted was to have signs up around in the common room to suggest to people to get off your phones and start interacting with people.  We came up with some sayings and stuck them on the vinyl's.  We also used the multi language words on this piece.  

They wanted some colour brought in to the plain rooms, so for this hostel we used a wider range of brighter colours.

This is the rooms before the vinyl's where put on and here are the finished vinyl, As of yet we don't have the photos from them on the wall as they were waiting till the rooms were free to hang them, but as soon as they send me the photos I'll stick them up.