Great Olympic Camping Sites...and then Schwabbing!

The line for the olympic camp grounds was long. As I waited in line I listened and tried remembering my German. The line moved at an even pace and when there were only about three people in front of me a German woman came to my side. Now I wasn't able to understand her but some of the others in line translated. "She wants you to come to her house, you can stay at her home". I wasn't quite sure what to do but my first response was asking them to explain that I would like to remain in line. She was insisting. The line moved quickly and although I was still wondering I did pick up some great camping brochures and because it was still early enough I joined an incredibly enthusiastic wonderful woman who had been listening to the olympic committee for years ask the locals to share their homes. The olympic committee was accepting phone calls and would allocate the foreigners to the homes that were offered. This very bright warm-hearted woman decided that...rather than have someone ELSE decide who should live in her home...SHE, quite simply, would do it herself!!!

And she and her family will be part of the next posts!

Olympic Games of 1972, Munich, Germany

Several posts would be needed to cover my life during the years preceding Munich. And no matter how many posts I could enter about the games in Germany, none could express the amount of excitement that those games brought. In any case, here goes just the beginning.

I flew into Munich and with my backpack and maps headed for a large OLYMPIC INFORMATION CENTER. Whew, it was big and there were lines for almost anything anyone would or could be wondering about. I first usually walk the circumference of a new place and check all out, so I did. Although I got in the line for "camping", I ended up in one of the grandest apartments in the city!

Between Mexico '68 and Munich '72

One of the years prior to Munich '72 was the busiest year in my father's business so was happy to help home at the Jersey Shore. Then my home became Ipanema Beach, adjacent to Rio de Janeiro, where I taught sixth grade at the Escola Americana and became a TV English teacher with a little puppet for Channel #9.  Such a buzz it was...to be on the beach after school and have requests for autographs.  Inflation was high, but Bob's was always busy!  Managed to enjoy not only Brazil but Paraguay, Uraguay, Argentina, Iguacu Falls, Brasilia...and because Brazil won the world cup in June we had an extra carnival that year.  It was Father's Day in USA so my dad came to Brazil!  It was glorious.  He wrote from atop Sugar Loaf to my mom, "This is the closest to heaven that I have ever been."  And the Carnival continued, banks closed, school closed but dance and music celebrations were open for all.