http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Greece , West Greece , Olympia en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 10:04:37 +0000 Sat, 25 May 2013 10:04:37 +0000 Very low key day. The nice thing about Olympia is that it39s small enough for you to walk to all of the main sites. Don39t have to worry about missing a bus. So took my time in the morning getting down to Ancient Olympia. The one badannoying thing though was all of the tour buses. These are the people that swoop in in the mornings are herded around do stupid things and then drive off a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-726228.html Hands down my favorite day of travel yet mainly because nothing went according to plan. The first couple hours went smoothly enough I just retraced my steps on the bus by going through Sparta to Tripoli. It was in Tripoli that it happened.I knew ahead of time that the next bus to Olympia wasn39t set to leave until 6 PM and was prepared to sit in the bus station for something like six hours http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-725982.html Today we woke up at a reasonable hour and our lovely man made us breakie at 9am with amazing freshly squeezed orange juice I stayed back at the hotel initially cos I had to skype home and sort clothes to be sent over to London now that i was going to be going back so much sooner El and Andy went to the Archeological museum of Olympia and spent a few hours walking arund that. it was all about the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-635897.html Today we got up and I got in touch with ppl about startig to organise my stuff afer having everything stolen Then we mished it to the bus stop and met up with Andy a friend from back home.We didnt really have any idea where we were going but managed to find the bus and boarded it and spent the next 5 hours travelling to Olympia. We arrived at about 7ish pm and as we arrived at the hotel which http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-635895.html Olympia the home of the ancient Olympic games of wrestling chariot and horse racing and a pentathlon. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-631266.html This is our cruise ship THE MSC MUSICA http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-630985.html Dear friendsDuring our crossing from Mauritius to Savona we also visit the ancient Olympia Port of call KatakolonEnjoy the pictures.Costa Cruises It39s a way of livingStay tuned for more Costa Cruises PhotodiariesFrom the living seas with loveJacqueline and Adriaan B.Monkey and BearInformation about Acient Olympia Thanks to Wikipedia.Olympia Greek Olympa a sanctuary http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-622321.html Friday 3rd June 2011Up and off today to our final Greek sightseeing destination that of the ancient site of Olympia where the original Olympic games were founded. The first stage looked easy on the map about 80 miles of motorway and started as expected following signs for the A8 to Patras. However either we missed the turning I don39t think so or this mostly imaginary motorway is still http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-617339.html Lagkadia is a beautiful place but they apparently are not used to seeing women traveling without a male or something We had a warm reception at our hotel but received a lot of weird looks from the locals in general most especially the older men. In fact we were actually turned away from a coffee place That grouchy old man either did not speak English and didn't want to deal with us or http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-591835.html Olympia http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-523658.html I was headed into an inferno at least that was what the news story on the Internet led me to believe. It was old news really I remembered first hearing about the fires burning across the Peloponnesian Peninsula when I was in Rhodes a few weeks before. I had never even considered changing my plans due to the fires though. After all I had lived for many years in California where forest fires http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-482549.html Location Katakolon and Olympia Weather Sunny 34 CI have a true appreciation of how students feel about listening and work when it is hot Today I travelled to Olympia site of the original Olympic games but while the guide was explaining things all I was trying to do was find some shade. It was a bit like the episode of the Simpsons told from the dogs perspective every time the humans http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-434411.html This stop was amazing Hey all sorry for the lack of entries we are in rome and have been here for a little over three days internet cafes fill up pretty quick so it has been pretty hard to get on one so hopefully we will get a couple knocked out. Katakolon is the port city to Olympia home of the first olympics. Jess and I had been looking a ruins for long enough so we walked around the litt http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-398407.html Ever wonder where we got the English word gymnasium from I know I have...n't. lolPerhaps it wasn't a shock that we borrowed the word from the Ancient Greeks but what surprised the hell out of me was that it meant place to be naked.As in barebottomed with all your bits and pieces on display for public inspection.Er I think we have another English equivalent to that though...it's more com http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-385537.html I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I last posted I have been keeping very busy and life has certainly been pretty hectic. As usual Greece has been a lot of funOn the sixth of March my program took us on a tour of Brauron and Sounion. Brauron used to be a Temple to Artemis and Iphigenia and Sounion was a Temple to Poseidon with a smaller Temple to Athena across the way. The wea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-384673.html Our final 4 days would be spent with Chatours with about 18 people on a bit larger bus. Gianis would be our directore and guide. Adonis would be our driver. There seemed to be several hours a day driving from point to point with frequent bathroom and lunch breaks. But each stop along the way seemed to bring new levels of awe and wonder. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-334345.html So the storm following us has had to give up its water to cross the Adriatic. Did this mean it would give up No. Of course not.So the second day after we arrived in Athens the wind blows up sunshades wrench at their moorings and up on the Acropolis unimpeded by the buildings below the wind howls through the ruins of temples and ancient monuments driving stinging dust and a steady strea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-291488.html ...from the temple of Zeus or at least it's earthquaked remains.I have a bunch of photos to upload again I'm only going to upload highlights this time as we've taken so many... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-291460.html Day 5Sailed into the small town of Katakolon on the coast of western Greece.This is the closest port to the famous ruins of Olympia. Bus to the site and we werent disappointed.The Olympic torch is lit some month before the start of each Olympic Games at a very insignificant spot in the complex.On our return to the ship we stopped at a tavern and were given light snack food including local octo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-272536.html Two wonders of the world TallDarkHandsome MenI'm sorry I have neglected my blog for a few stops but this past week has been a whirlwind of ports and shows...so here is my best update. Since I last wrote I have visited my first worldwonder the forbidden city of Petra Jordan then off to the pyramids in Cairo Egypt then Rhodes Athens and Olympia Greece and finally Valletta Malta. I re http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/West-Greece/Olympia/blog-270355.html