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.

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".

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!