Michael and Pam's Travels Our European Motorhome Adventures and other Travels

Ancient Olympia, Greece. 2015 🇬🇷

Travelled: 84 kilometres from Kalo Nero to Katakolo, the Peloponnese.
Visited: Ancient Olympia, Archeological Museum and Archeological Site €9 pp.
Stayed: On the waterfront at Katakolo just north of the port, free no service. N37.65114, E21.31718



It’s been a very pleasant night at Kalo Nero, we have been chatting away with our Dutch neighbours about camper car adventures and the Greek work ethic V Angela Merkel.  Another Dutch couple wander over, they spent many years in Australia when they were younger and have many fond memories.  We BBQ some calamari and cook a paella having a walk up to the taverna for desert later in the evening.  It’s a hard life on the road.


Beachfront parking in Kalo Nero.
Beachfront parking in Kalo Nero.
The clouds gather on the mountains behind Kaol Nero, by the time we get to Olympia the skies are clear and it's hot.
The clouds gather on the mountains behind Kaol Nero, by the time we get to Olympia the skies are clear and it’s hot.

Another cool night and we hear a little rain on the roof, but by sunrise the sky’s are clear. First light is not until after 7 am and a dozy sleep-in is very easy. It’s a busy morning, there are several motorhomes parked along the beach and people are swimming or servicing their vehicle prior to moving on, we are doing both.



We depart by mid-morning heading north before turning east into the hills for Ancient Olympia. By mid-day we have arrived in the village of Olympia and park with a couple of other motorhomes near the entrance to the site. After the last week or so on the coast, it seems hot here in the hills some 30 kilometres inland. We have a coffee before walking to the ticket office, we are €9 pp poorer and begin the walk through the gardens to the museum.


Pam is constantly drawn to men in uniform
Pam is constantly drawn to men in uniform
This photo was the start of my problems, I got a real lecture from a very attractive young security person who insisted I delete the photo. I was so taken aback I accidentally deleted a picture of Pam in the shower instead, hence the photo.
This photo was the start of my problems, I got a real lecture from a very attractive young security person who insisted I delete the photo. I was so taken aback I accidentally deleted a picture of Pam in the shower instead, hence the photo.

It’s proves to be a fascinating visit, the archeological site is immense, the museum extraordinary.  The sacred grove of Olympia took shape a thousand years before the birth of Christ.  The ruins of most of the significant buildings date to the 7th century BC.  Games were conducted here every four years for a thousand years.  For a couple from the Shire it stretches the imagination.  The Olympic torch relay starts from here, every four years.


This photo is for Gaye, she loves all this old stuff. The items in the museum were just amazing.
This photo is for Gaye, she loves all this old stuff. The items in the museum were just amazing.

There has also been an obvious effort to shorten the dole queue by employing a huge staff within the complex.  Every 50 metres in any direction there is another security person.  Co-incidentally every security person is talking on their phone to family or friends.  The security staff are all female between 20-30 but we presume that’s co-incidental or there are three men on the selection panel.  Then there’s the rules regarding pictures, you can take a picture, but not a selfie, no personal photos and no photos of the security staff, however that may be something to do with them being on the phone.


Click this panorama to get a full screen picture. It's the series of statues from the cable end of Apollo's Temple.
Click this panorama to get a full screen picture. It’s the series of statues from the gable end of Apollo’s Temple.

Pam lights her torch for the relay. Got another lecture for this photo as well.
Pam lights her torch for the relay. I got another lecture for this photo as well.
Visiting Greece is about the culture as much as the weather and the beach. We have found you need to find a balance. You cannot look at stone columns and museum every day and find it interesting.
Visiting Greece is about the culture as much as the weather and the beach. We have found you need to find a balance. You cannot look at stone columns and museums every day and find it interesting.

It’s been a great visit and we walk up to the village enjoying a gyro for lunch and some free internet.  The Greek gyros are a great lunchtime snack and our favourite with a refreshing beverage.  We manage to upload some photos and post a blog before heading back to the coast for some R and R in Katakolo.



On our way into Pyrgos we start to see large piles of rubbish on the side of the road.  There is obviously something going on, a strike perhaps, we never find out why.  But it’s windows up and airconditioning on until we pass through Pyrgos which takes a while.  It’s the worst thing I have seen for a long time and I don’t know how they will ever clear it.


Bonus Photo, another cemetery another tap !
Bonus Photo, another cemetery another tap !

Michael and Pam


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