Skip to main content

Port 2: Olympia, Greece

Excursions on the ships vary in price. They typically offer around 10 different options, but all include a bus. I am not a fan of travelling in a herd. I'd much rather pay a little more and do what I want, how I want, with whom I want. This is what a private tour offers. I booked through PK Travel  (PK Travel [pktravel_greece@hotmail.com]) in Athens--450 Euros for a 4-5 hour tour, 12 people, and a private mini bus. I had actually been communicating with them regarding our tour in Athens, when Potoula asked if I had a tour set up in Olympia. Totally awesome! He was wonderful. He took care of everything--tour bus, tour guide, etc. We just had to show up. Show up as in, walk off the ship. They picked us up right outside the ship. Who could ask for more? Naiobi was our English speaking guide.The Ancient Olympic site was approximately a 30 minute bus ride from our port.  During the drive, Naiobi introduced us to the area, pointing out Olive trees, and giving us an introduction to the Ancient Olympics. She was full of information and obviously passionate about Ancient Greek history and the Olympics. Naiobi emphasized the purpose of the Olympics being a time of peace and of religious importance.

Like many other countries in Europe, Germany included, Gypsies have made their way over the borders. We were greeted by small, unkempt children approaching the minibus, rubbing their tummies.  It was heartbreaking. They wanted money, food or whatever we could offer. Naiobi shared that the government offers financial support as well as education, etc., but most often Gypsies do not accept the Government handout. For a brief moment, it felt as though we were in a third world country. Women were washing their clothes in a bucket of water, laundry lined a bush, it was startling and very unexpected.



These poor babies were hungry.


Our tour guide.

Check this out--the clothing on the statues were made by these molds!! Crazy to think they had something as refined as molds way back then.

Not ancient, but pretty darn cute. Claire and Mya were tickled to find so many wild flowers along the way.

Taking a break after our trek through the museum. The pillars behind them were dug up from the grounds.


The girls were more into bugs and critters than the amazing history that layed before them.




Not the greatest picture, but this is the spot where they light the Olympic torch at the beginning of every Olympics. Pretty amazing!




Ready, set.....GO! Let the race begin!

Go, Claire, GO!!!


The two crazy people in the front are our friends, the McGuire's, who were stationed with us in Korea but moved to England. His wife is a teacher who worked with me. It was a mere coincidence that they were on our cruise.

Chris and Mya finishing their Olympic run at the ancient Stadium.

Isn't she precious??!

Being we are a house full of girls and a very conservative Father, the girls were mesmerized by the plentiful "man parts" or "privates" as Claire called them, in the museum.






Mya playing hide and seek by an ancient Greek pillar. A once in a lifetime experience ;)




Awww.

Beautiful girl.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

0.0

Yes, indeeedy do. 0.0 is exactly the amount of weight I lost this week. Irritating! Here's the breakdown: number of times I cheated on my diet--ZERO! number of times I worked out--FIVE!! (running, no less). Now that is a mean, mean slap in the face. After I picked myself off the floor and resisted the urge to throw the scale through my window, I've come to realize that it is time to call in the big guns. There will be no messing around. Through a very valuable (HA!--sense the sarcasm) inservice this year, I've learned that I am "Green," meaning logical, research based, problem solver, mathmatical thinker. I am applying the same thought and strategy to my 'get fit' adventure. There will be no relying on the treadmill to tell me how much I've burned. That thing lies, LIES, LIES!! Take for example, the fact that each time I worked out, I burned at least 300 calories--most often 350, my pulse was around 87 (which is pretty much a near death resting ...

my workout playlist

I never dreamed I'd be listening/watching this when I worked out, but it is true. Here it is: photo courtesty of Laurieberkner.com I wouldn't have it any other way. My little healthy lifestyle journey is going well. I have exercised 7 days thus far which consists of treadmill activity and an ab workout every other day. I don't pressure myself to run everyday, but I have run 4 of the 7 days. I am quite proud of that. I have never been a runner or enjoyed running, but I have grown to like it. I used to say that I had exercise induced asthma! I think I did, but maybe I outgrew it? ha. Whatever the reason, I am finding it pretty easy to run and maintain a steady pace for no less than 20 minutes each time. Pretty impressive feat for a girl like me. Interestingly, I had planned to take today off, but didn't. I actually had the desire to run. Chris and I are both sticking to the eating plan as well. So far I am down about 4 pounds. Although 4 pounds is plenty, it ...

Let's just title this one: Stupidity

Look beyond my gorgeous thighs and focus your eyes on the gash. I bet your thinking our children were in danger and I had to unleash my ferocious kung fu kick on them, only to be greeted by a knife to my leg. Ahhh, I wish it were like that--well, not exactly like that, but at least the high intensity kung fu stuff. Pretty cool. Nope. Instead, I had the brilliant idea to put paper on Mya's windows (evidently Korean's like sunlight pouring into their bedrooms at sunrise). Up I went, onto her bed, completing the left window, but couldn't quite reach the right side. Yep. I decided that cheapo particle board bookshelf would be enough support for just a quick lean. Not quite. Bang went the top of the bookshelf, down I went, hitting the easel , dresser and wall. Safely on the ground, I did all that I could to not wail with pain or sob. It was nearly 9:00 on Friday night when this all went down and Chris was still at work, so only the girls took in the spectacle. I was nervous th...