27 April - Olympia-Home of the Olympic Games

A short bus ride from our hotel to the ancient site of Olympia. 

We walked through the area of the gymnasium (which was large enough to allow athletes to train for the 192m sprint).  Some stone and a little marble!

Next we visited the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Hera (his wife).  Near the alter to Hera is where the Olympic Torch is lit before travelling the world to the next games site.  More stone and lots more marble!

Cheat's Plinths

Next we approached the ancient stadium.  Just outside was a line of plinths.  These were where statues of cheats were placed.  The plinth would record the cheat's name, event and village.  There was no forgive and forget happening here!  More stone!

In the starting blocks! 350BC style.

We then walked down the tunnel (or what's left of it) into the stadium.  Some trivia we picked up about the games: when the games were on, the states of Greece had to cease warring in order to compete; only men competed in the games... and they competed naked; some of the events could result in death; women were not allowed to watch the games... going by the statues I know why!


We then visited the Olympia Museum... some of the exhibits were just amazing!!  The skill of the craftsmen who made the statues was incredible!!  Hopefully, the photos will give you some idea.  You guessed it.. more stone and lots, lots more marble!!

After, Olympia we visited a Greek Korean War veteran who has a private museum.  He was a very proud man who, with his wife, opened his house/museum for us to have a look.

Greek Swiss?

Then we were off to Delphi to visit the Oracle.  On the way we drove through Patra and crossed a magnificent suspension bridge which spans the western mouth of the Gulf of Corinth.  We approached Delphi in the evening... as we increased our altitude we passed through wisps of cloud and mist. The town of Delphi is perched halfway up the mountain and had the feel of a Swiss town (well, it met my idea of a Swiss town... given I've never been to Switzerland!).  Our room in the hotel looked over the valley which was full of olive groves with the odd dark green cypress pine sticking through.

What a view, eh!