Olympia
We checked out slowly from our hotel and drove to Chora to see the museum with all the sculptures from Nestor’s palace was great. Especially the reconstruction in water colours.
Every four years the entire Greek world would stop wars and call a truce for athletes and spectators to travel to the games safely. Like today the Olympic games brought people from all different areas together in the spirit of competition and togetherness.
7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Female Athletes
Women had their own festival, the Heraea, in celebration of Hera. At the Herea, the girls ran and competed in physical games clothed in short dresses that had the left shoulder and breast bare. I know this is something the Greeks accused the Amazon women of having but I did some reading and historians seem to agree this is the female athletes dress.
The modern Olympic Flame: The photo on the left shows the altar of Hera, where our modern Olympic torch is lit every 4 years. Since the beginning Priestesses use a mirror and the sun light the torch which is carried across the oceans to open the games to this day.
Driving onwards towards Patras we stopped by a tiny town to ease our hunger. The locals were amazed to see tourists (clearly not a tourist destination). We made friends with the daughter of the taverna owner, who collected tins from all over the world. She begged us to send her a metal tin from london – which we will do!
She was going to travel the world this year but because of the Greek economic crisis her wages were cut in half, then medical expenses took most of her savings….so she’s not sure when she will be able to travel. I gave her a nice tip to help with savings…..I hope she gets to London one day.
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