GREECE Day 5

Day 5 Olympia, Delphi

In the morning, after we had a breakfast at cafe, we went to the archaeological site, Olympia. Olympia is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad (i.e. every four years), the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC. In 394 AD, (after exactly 1170 years) emperor Theodosius abolished them as they were then considered reminiscent of paganism. The first Olympic Games were in Olympia in honor of Zeus.

Palaestra

Ruins of the Philippeion

Entrance to the Olympia Stadium

The Olympia stadium

We spent half day at Olympia. There is a museum at Olympia too but because we did not have time enough so we did not get in to there. After we had lunch at the restaurant in Olympia, we then left for Delphi.

Rion-Antirion bridge

The weather is very nice as you would see the blue sky. Driving under weather like this made me feel very good. We must cross the Gulf of Corinth to Delphi. Here is the bridge, Rion-Antirion, which is the longest cable bridge. If you have time you can stop by Patras before you cross the bridge. Delphi is about 230 Km away from Olympia but because it is not highway so you we could not drive 100 Km/hr. It took about 4 hrs to Delphi. It just kept driving place to place and stoped at each place for 2 hrs only. As I told you that I have very limited time but I wanted to go everywhere because I might not have a chance to come back here again. Anyway, I do not recommend to follow my route in less than 10 days ha ha..

Delphi Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python, a deity who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth.   Delphi in ancient times was considered the center of the world, the place where heaven and earth met. This was the place on earth where man was closest to God. When Zeus sent two eagles to find the centre of the Earth, the birds met over Delphi, thus mark the site as the omphalos, or 'navel' of the world.


Archaeological Site of Delphi is another UNESCO world heritage site

Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia

The Temple of Apollo

The reconstructed Treasury of Athens,
built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon

The Theatre

We made stop at Delphi only for 2 hrs and then we continue driving to Mateora, Kalambaka for another 230 Km or 4.30 hrs. Kalambaka is a municipality in the Trikala peripheral unit, part ofThessaly in Greece. You could stayed at the hotel in Trikala too but Kalambaka is closer to Mateora. At Kalambaka, we stayed at Hotel Kosta Famissi which is located in the center of Kalambaka and right below the monasteries "Mateora". Breakfast buffet is inclusive. Good money valued.

The hotel is in town, surrounded by many shops and restaurants. I had dinner the the restaurant near hotel.

GREECE Road Trip Start

Day 4

We came back from Santorini to Athens by ANEK Lines. Again, the ferry was 5 hrs delayed. Hotel sent us to the port at 9 pm while the ferry was scheduled to leave at 10.30. Anyway, it was 5 hrs delayed!!Oh my god. This ruined our schedule because we plan to pick our rental car in early morning but because of this we arrived Athens almost noon.


Because we did not pick up the car on time, our car were sent from Hertz at Piraeus port back to the office in town. We had to take taxi to Hertz office in town. It made me feel so annoying.


After pick up the car, we head to Nafplion first. We use GPS and map altogether for this trip which is ok. We arrived all destinations well in planned time. Nafplion is about 140 Km away from Athens.  On the way, you can see the Corinth Canal from the car. 

Corinth Canal

Nafplion is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplion is popular resort town as it enjoys a very sunny and mild climate and is a popular day- or weekend road trip destination for Athenians in wintertime.

Square of the Philhellenes

Nafplion

Constitution Square

The castle of Palamidi

The castle of Bourtzi 

We stopped at Nafplion around 1.30 hrs and then continue Mycenae which is about 20 km away from Nafplion


Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, located about 90 km south-west ofAthens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Mycenae is UNESCO World Heritage Site and well known for its main entrance, Lion Gate, and Tomb of Agamemnon.

House of the warrior vase

Panoramic view of the site

Grave circle

Lion Gate

Sunset restaurant

We left Mycenae around 5pm and continue to Olympia to stay overnight there. On the way, we stopped by Sunset Restaurant to have a dinner. Very nice restaurant but I don't know exactly where it is. Just passed by. Olympia (Ancient Olympia) is about 70 Km away from Mycenae. 


We arrive Olympia very late at night, almost 11PM because we got lost. We could not find Olympia on GPS so I must search from zip code of hotel address. There are 2 Olympia and where I have to go is called Ancient Olympia (Ολυμπία Olympía) which did not show on GPS. We kept asking Greece people along the way. They could not speak English well but they are very helpful.

We finally arrived Hotel. We stayed at Ilis Hotel It's small hotel but very clean and convenient. It is very close to Olympia site, walking distance. We stayed in tripple room. Very tired ZZZ