Saturday 6 June 2-15 - Katakolon

Up fairly early to eat and get ready to go out.  Richard goes to the car hire shop to collect the car at 9am, but the car has not yet been returned.  They offer us a bigger car at the same price, but much to their amusement we decline because we want to try a Smart car.  The car turns up just after 9:30, so that is fine.  At 10am we are off to Olympia.  It is only 23 km away, so it is not far.  We get to the town where the historic archeological site is.  The town isn’t very well signposted, but we do manage to find our way into the site.  We manage to find the museum which we were highly recommended to.  So we start there.  It is a fabulous museum, which explains the cult of Zeus and the way the area developed.  It has some fabulous statuary and bits of the old buildings.  The problem is that on the archeological site itself, there isn’t much left.  The later Roman emperors disbanded the Olympic games and condemned the site when Christianity took over.  Then to finish it off there was a big earthquake and that destroyed what was left.  So the ruins are pretty limited.  The best part is the Olympic stadium itself, which is super.  It had no seating (except for the judges) and there are just grassed terraces where the spectators sat.  I was impressed.  We walked around it.  There was a suggestion we should run, but I used my bad knee as an excuse not to do that.  

This was also the site of one of the seven wonders of the world - the statue of Zeus.  Unfortunately it isn't there any more.

So we finished the tour just about at lunchtime.  We walked into the town.  There were several touristy restaurants where we could choose some lunch.  We stopped at one, which I am unsure was the best choice.  I just ate giant beans, but R had a moussaka, which upset his stomach.  Not good.

The weather has improved.  The sky is still covered in big clouds, but it is very warm and the sun is out from time to time.  We think about going to a beach, but in the end wind up in a large supermarket where wonder of wonders we find all the things we have been looking for since leaving Italy.  We stock up on Perrier, non-caffeinated Coke, beer and a number of other bits and pieces.  So the car has proved to be most helpful.

Back at the boat we find that we have bought so many drinks we cannot store them all.  We will manage somehow.  We have a bit of a rest and then go into town for dinner.  The car agent has recommended a restaurant.  So we first go to a café and have a cocktail and then have dinner.  We have fish, but make sure it is off the menu, not an unspecified price like the other night.  It is a nice meal.  I have dozens of small grilled sardines and R has fried red mullet.

So back to the boat.  R has finally agreed to connect us to the electricity which works.  So we can shower before going to bed.  The weather is a bit iffy tomorrow, but so far looks OK to go the 30 miles down the coast we plan.