The Dork Forest: Supplemental Olympic Reading

I'm back in LA and I am full of jet lag.  I am writing this at 3AM since I just can't sleep.  It's Noon to my body, so I actually want lunch.  Unfortunately, I have been gone for three weeks (New Jersey, then Europe), so the cupboard is bare.  I am really tempted to watch my DVR filled with the Real Housewives series, but I know it's going to involve a lot of screaming and yelling over wine.  Instead, I am writing this post in the peace and quiet of middle of the night.

While I was away, the amazing Jackie Kashian posted our interview for her awesome show, The Dork Forest, where we talked about my love for the Olympics.  I listened to the podcast on the train ride from Munich to Prague just days after I had visited the Munich Olympics site and the Dachau Memorial site. So, here is some supplemental reading/viewing if you listened to my interview.

While I was overseas, someone tweeted me the link for an incredible Oscar-winning documentary about the Munich Massacre called, One Day In September.  It's hard to watch, but it is a moving account of how and why this event happened.  The documentary is about 90 minutes long, but it is so compelling.  If you don't think that politics has a place at the Olympics, think again.  It will always play a part in the Games.  In fact, politics played a huge hand in this year's Opening Ceremony when the IOC refused to have a moment of silence for the 11 Israeli athletes to honor the 40th Anniversary because they felt it favored the Israeli nation over the Palestinian nation that also lost citizens that day.  Um, they lost terrorists.  Israel lost athletes and coaches.  It's sick, but it's true and I spoke with a man from Palestine while I was at the ESC Congress, and let me tell you, they don't like the US for siding with Israel.  He made it very clear to me in a conversation that was unprompted by me.  He knew I was American and started laying into Obama within minutes of meeting each other. Say what you want about Democrats versus Republicans, but this was a conversation about how a country views Americans.  Scary.



Also, I picked up a book on the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics while I was in Germany which explains Hitler's role in the Games.  It's a fascinating look at how global politics played into the rise of Nazi Germany in what became a "coming out party" for Hilter at those Summer Games.  If you read the book first, you will see how the 1936 Games were a big factor in the decisions made in the 1972 Munich Games.  It's hard to imagine how one would affect the other, but if you are an Olympics history  buff, read/watch in this order.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the documentary, the book, and my interview!

Interview: The Dork Forest
Book:  Berlin Games:  How the Nazis Stole the Olympic Dream by Guy Walters
Documentary:  See Above YouTube link.

September 5, 2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Munich Massacre.  The athletes and coaches from Israel represented the best in their sport in their country.  Their lives should not be forgotten.

Thank You, Munich! Thank You, Prague!

I am headed back to the States today, but what an adventure it has been.  Traveling to Europe is always a treat for me because I love to wander the streets, get lost, and think.  It's a great way to clear my head and tackle the last quarter of the year.  There really wasn't much to think about because everything I wanted was already right in front of me.  This trip just confirmed it.

I hope you enjoyed my photos because I enjoyed sharing them with you!  I will post a few travel tips for these two cities this week, but it's back to business on Tuesday with a return to AfterBuzz TV.  See you all online and in the right time zone this week!

One last epic shot in Prague with my friend, Meredith.

Forget the photo of me.  Look at the guy surfing in a RIVER in the Englischer Garten in Munich.

Still In Munich!

Wow, I just checked and saw that the last time I posted was on Friday.  The last five days have been a complete blur of work and food and fun here in Munich.  My quiz show hosting gig is officially over, but here are two photos of my station.  I played over 200 rounds of this quiz during my days here at ESC.  Holy cow!  The best part is meeting people from all over the world and trying a few of my Spanish and French phrases on everyone.  Hey, a girl has to practice her languages somehow!  It's also fun to compare the trade shows of the U.S. versus the congresses in Europe.  In Europe, they are more formal and the hostesses (known as "booth babes" in the U.S.) are all dressed up in suits.  I actually like the formality of it versus the khakis and golf shirts approach.  It is somehow more dignified.

Now that my Munich journey is wrapping up, I am hopping a train to the Czech Republic.  Yep, I am off to Prague.  Let the vacation and the shopping begin!  I will be able to post more now that I am on vacation, so join me for more photos this week.  My poor mom was worried when I stopped posting over the last five days, so I gave her this photo bomb on Facebook.

I am also posting more photos on Instagram:  @KristynBurtt and Twitter if you want to follow along!

An Olympic-Sized Munich Photo

As you can see it was kind of a stormy day in Munich. I loved every minute of the 65 degree weather since it has been so hot in Los Angeles the past few weeks.  It was welcome relief to just enjoy "fall" weather.  If you know me well, then you know my first stop would be Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Games.  I was so excited to be here and sit in the Olympic Stadium which is now used for soccer....er, football, you get the idea.  The grounds are beautiful and lush and I even managed to see the site where Mark Spitz set the record on 7 races coming home with gold in each event.  That is kind of awesome.  I also went through the maze of Olympic Village and Building 31 where the Israeli athletes were kidnapped.  Not so awesome.  I was kind of disappointed that the memorial to the fallen athletes was small.  I guess I expected something beautiful and majestic in their honor.  It was more of an afterthought on the grounds. (But given the recent controversy surrounding the IOC's reluctance to honor the 40th anniversary at this year's London Games, it really should be no surprise to me.)

The stadium is still bedecked in 1970's avocado green and the rake is so steep and without rails, it would never be up to code today, at least in the US.  I had sweaty palms as I walked through the upper deck praying I wouldn't trip and tumble down the steps.  If you notice on the roofline, you can see people up top.  They offer climbing tours and zip lining through the stadium.  How very touristy, but it was fun to watch them swinging over the workers prepping the soccer/football field below.  The other odd thing is that the Olympic rings are not really on display.  I thought it would be decorated in rings, but I couldn't grab a photo anywhere.  I took tons of photos, but I figure the stadium was enough to focus on for my photos today.  Tomorrow, I shop and I work.  Auf Wiedenshen

Munich: Photo Of The Day

I have safely arrived in Munich after a 13-hour trip from LA to Chicago to Munich.  I am a big fan of public transportation, so I looked up my hotel to see how easy it would be to get from the airport to the neighborhood I am staying in. Since the Munich Airport is farther out compared to most European cities, I had to hit the train and a bus.  A girl came up to me in the airport and handed me a free bus and train pass for the day and told me to "pay it forward" since she was heading home back to the States. Score!  My first ride through Munich was going to be free.

I have to admit I have been a bit intimidated by the German language since I only know how to say "hello", "thank you", and "awesome".  It's much easier in the romance language countries since I know enough Spanish and French to have a conversation, not so much here.  I was worried I was going to wind up in the German countryside versus my hotel, but I am happy to report that their signage was perfect and I made it safely to my home for the next week.

I managed to grab drinks and food with my colleagues today and actually have a bit of a post-mortem meeting on the event I hosted last week in New Jersey.  It's kind of weird to meet up in Munich to talk about a NJ gig, but I am not complaining.  I am still amazed people are willing to fly me all over the world to host a show for them.  Tomorrow begins my first day of rehearsal with a bit of sightseeing mixed in.  I will be updating this site each day with a photo.  Today, I leave you with my travel outfit.  I honestly hate it when people take photos in the bathroom, so hopefully, this is my last, but I couldn't resist.......I looked like a homeless Olsen twin.

Where In The World Is KB?: Summer 2012

Many thanks to Roni B. for making sure I had my signature hat for my trip!

Around this time last year, I was off to Paris, thanks to a really amazing client who hired me to host a game show (Or a quiz show for you dignified Europeans.) for them.  They kindly also sent me to Orlando, Chicago, and New Jersey over the past year. (Don't knock NJ, I had the opportunity to meet this guy.)  This year, they are shipping me off to Munich which means I won't be drinking beer now that I am officially Gluten Free.  (Ah, better to miss the beer than to endure a migraine.) I plan on having a blast and posting a photo each day, so I hope you join me on this adventure.  I will also be hitting one other country after the job is over for a little R&R.  Gute Reise!

 

The Friday Five

Well, it's been quite a week here at Red Carpet Closet!  I've answering your comments and Tweets all day, you are keeping me busy and I like it.  Keep it up!  We chatted about baby bumps, Thor, life after porn, and beauty.  Here are a few other things you may have missed:

1.  Dark Shadows: I saw the movie on Sunday night and as a fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, I was a little disappointed.  Find out why in the article I wrote for Fanboy Comics this week.

2.  Giveaway:  We have TWO winners!  Congratulations to Karen W. who won the gift bag and to Maureen G. who won the Sanuk footwear.  Make sure to take a photo and I will post it.



3. Viral Video:  I caught the battle of the "Call Me Maybe" covers.  I know the Harvard boys started it first, but I think the SMU ladies win for their upside-down creativity.  It's going to be hard to get this song out of your head, I'm warning you.

4.  Munich:  I'm going to Germany for a job in August, so I plan on spending some time in the country after the job ends.  Where should I go? What should I do?  Most importantly, what should I eat and wear should I shop?  I am open to suggestions, so let me know in the comments below or on Faceook or Twitter.



5.  Rock of Ages:  I am not a fan of Tom Cruise--never have been even going back to his Top Gun days. THIS movie has me excited and it's starring Tom Cruise along with a whole host of familiar faces including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, and Julianne Hough.  It looks spectacularly cheesy and I can't wait to see it.  Watch the trailer and tell me if this looks like a campy disaster.  The film opens June 15th.

Have a great weekend!  See you all on Monday.