Katakolon

Katakolon is primarily a cruise terminal, rather than a working port, that serves tourism and vacationers in this Peloponnese region of Greece. We enjoyed watching the approach to the dock and the village as we finished our lunch. By the way, everything you may have heard about cruises and food is probably true. We have been offered an incredible variety of very well prepared dishes. Dinners are especially interesting, with four courses and about eight entrée choices each evening. Very good wines are available too.

Of course, the main attraction for us this day was the tour at Olympia. We traveled from Katakolon about 45 minutes by bus to the archaeological site of the original Olympics. Along the way, our guide gave us an interesting, condensed version of the Greek gods and mythology. This was important because so much of the Olympic site consists of religious features. The area had once been buried under sediment from floods and was rediscovered and then excavated in the 1800s. Unfortunately, a vast number of statues and other artifacts were carried away, but what remains is incredible. The site is large, covering what I would imagine being a couple hundred acres and is strewn with large pieces of the many structures that once stood there. These include temples to Hera and Zeus, a wrestling arena, a gymnasium, a building in which officials and athletes dedicated themselves, and a large open-air stadium that could seat about 40,000 spectators (males only!). Games took place every four years from around 1000 BC to the year 393. They were resumed as the modern Olympics in 1896. The torch that is carried to open the games every four years always originates near the Temple of Hera on these grounds. Our guide told us lots of interesting stories about the games and the archaeological work that has been done at the site.

Before returning to the ship, we were treated to refreshments and entertainment at a nearby hotel. Refreshments included local wine, ouzo (yum), olives, cheeses, sausages, breads, and fresh vegetables. The young entertainers performed traditional Greek dances to live music and engaged some members of the audience in a closing dance like those I’m sure you have seen in movies.

We are nearing Santorini as I write this. More tomorrow.

P.S. I’m not posting pictures yet due to the required upload times and the cost of Internet minutes onboard ship. When we are home, we can bore you with pictures if you like.