Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Olympic Park and Awesome Revolutionary Stadium

The massive tent-like canopies kept us comfortable, allowing a pleasant filtered light as we watched the games. The metal ropes held these huge sheets of acrylic glass. Revolutionary thinking, planning and executing for 1972! Frei Otto was a master planner and Gunther Behnisch was a master architect of the Olympic swimming hall, the multipurpose venues and the Olympic Stadium.

Because of the magnificent beauty of the park I found myself wanting the largest longest poster that was printed, which for me was quite unusual. Managed to find one...almost six feet long! I remember thinking that it would be impossible for any future olympic stadium or park to be better than Munich's. No way, no way at all could anything be better!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Early Morning on the 10th Day of the Munich Games

The awesomeness of these festive, peaceful, well-planned games multiplied with every day that passed. Munich was radiant. Totally RADIANT. As usual, at times like this, I was wishing that my family and friends could experience this incredibly beautiful dream!

Then, very early on the tenth morning members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage inside the village. Because of my "beginners-only-German", I could not understand the rapid flow of news. Besides, that Tuesday morning I left Wilhelmstrasse very early and headed for the Olympic Park. The sidewalks gradually tapered and as you approached the magnificent stadium they gradually widened.

On the way to the Olympic Stadium, a masterpiece, the path went very near the Village where the athletes lived. At that time, I did not know that the Israeli team lived in the section of the village that was so close to the path. Those who were walking on the path were most likely all foreigners like me and could not understand German. Therefore we all were not yet aware of the news that the Isaraeli team had been taken hostage. The grass near the fence between the path and the village became a stopping spot for everyone. What is a masked man with a rifle doing in the village? He walked back and forth. What is this, a prank? Amazingly, we were not told to leave and there were no police around that I can remember. The security and some police wore light blue and white caps. I remember looking for them but no doubt they were all being briefed on the unfolding tradgedy. When I felt the bad energy in the air matched the vision of this masked man, I headed home. To say that Mama Graf, Mrs.Munich Olympics, was upset, is indeed, an understatement. As we listened to the news about this historic event, news that you all have heard about..."the Israeli team was eventually murdered by Black September, an Arab militant group", we grieved...big time.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Theatrestrasse at the Munich Olympics

Near the olympic stadium there was one area near a small mountain for kids of all ages. The mountain looked huge from a distance and beneath it was old WWII rubble. Many suffered greatly in WWII and this was a symbol that we should do away with war, end all war. Lovely green grass grew upon it and not far from it was Theatrestrasse. Many large hanging metal pieces were hung. As everyone passed by, they could and would make music as they passed. Strangers giggled together as they composed harmonic sounds. It was, naturally, one of my favorite places and became a pleasant meeting place for me and my new olympic friends.