Beautiful Bayrischzell and the Stammtisch

There were several side trips that I made south by train from Munich. Bayrischzell, which is in an incredibly beautiful valley, was my destination. Cafe Thanner's owner was a woman with great stories and her daughter Trudy spoke English as well as I did. The Thanner Cafe became a hangout for me. Most people who were the regulars there, got to know me and am not sure whether they enjoyed my conversation as much as I enjoyed their conversation. On my second return visit i was invited to sit at the stammtisch, where usually only the village men, the "elders" sat. Like most stammtisches in the 1970's they were for men only. They asked me so many questions about the olympic games. They laughed and sometimes sang or read poetry. I pleaded with some of them to head north and visit Munich and attend the games during that time but they preferred not. They were not going to be a part of such crowds! I would let them know that I usually did not like crowds as well. But to no avail. Somehow the olympic crowds are much more pleasing to me than just any crowded place. Such a variety of sounds and visions, threads that gave more texture and indepth beauty of the "olympic tapestry of mankind".