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Post by inger on Jan 22, 2024 5:15:15 GMT -5
I wanted to check in during a bit of a lazy day during our Big Fat Greek Winter. Still gallivanting around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, still climbing climbing climbing, and every day has been a wonderful adventure. I finally came up with a sports-related angle here yesterday when we visited Olympia, site of the original Olympics from 776 BC until almost 400 AD -- a pretty good run of over 1,100 years. (Well, there was a gift shop in Nafplio called Arod's, but I don't think it was the same guy, so I didn't count it as sports-related.) Olympia is a truly amazing archaeological site, both for its sheer enormity and for how much is here, albeit mostly as ruins. The photo op place is the original starting block for the foot races, which was the only event for the first twelve Olympiads. It is set a short walk from the tunnel through which the athletes entered the stadium, which itself has been excavated as an embankment which held about 45,000 spectators. The original race was 200 yards, basically from one end of the stadium to the other. Naturally people make videos of themselves doing the race, complete with wild celebration at the end. I managed to avoid this ceremony. Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Also at Olympia is the site where the Olympic flame is lit, in front of the Temple of Hera. Without putting much thought on it, I had assumed that it originated in the modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, which is a four-hour drive away. Among the other places within the complex is the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the 40-foot gold and ivory statue of him and is always listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was leveled by several earthquakes in the sixth century after having stood for over 900 years. The remaining pillars show how massive the temple was. The architect was Phidias, the same guy who had just finished designing the Parthenon. A pretty good couple of years for him. His workshop is directly across from the temple and you can still make out the different rooms he operated in. It's a rather remote site, the last stretch of which is via narrow twisting roads where mostly you just hope no one is coming the other way. We've been seeing some jaw-dropping historical sites here, but this one ranks right up there. And the crowds in January aren't one-tenth -- maybe even one one-hundredth --of what they would be in summer. Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ Keep those dogies rollin’… Keep having fun, Pipps. The Yankees will be here waiting for you when you get back… I like that you’re there without big crowds. I’m sort of known for being unknown, visiting landmarks and monuments from the side no one photographs. The north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison for example. Always wished I had been at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I sneak around back of places, take the dusty dirt roads vs. the highways when I can. Of course as an international spy you have to. I just do it to be left alone and because I’m nosy… |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 5:23:48 GMT -5
Inger, we're trading slightly chilly weather -- highs have been in the 50s and 60s -- for tiny crowds. And all the major sites are half-price in winter. Tourists don't come to Greece for 60 degree weather. Plus we actually have time to talk to people.
North rim of the Grand Canyon is nice, even in summer. I think it's closed most of the winter. The views aren't quite as spectacular as the south rim, but it’s more of a pain for most people to get to and it doesn't have as many accommodations anyway.
We went to the south rim on a beautiful day in January two years ago. We practically had it to ourselves. Of course you have to be very weather-conscious at that time of year.
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Post by kaybli on Jan 22, 2024 7:57:54 GMT -5
I wanted to check in during a bit of a lazy day during our Big Fat Greek Winter. Still gallivanting around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, still climbing climbing climbing, and every day has been a wonderful adventure. I finally came up with a sports-related angle here yesterday when we visited Olympia, site of the original Olympics from 776 BC until almost 400 AD -- a pretty good run of over 1,100 years. (Well, there was a gift shop in Nafplio called Arod's, but I don't think it was the same guy, so I didn't count it as sports-related.) Olympia is a truly amazing archaeological site, both for its sheer enormity and for how much is here, albeit mostly as ruins. The photo op place is the original starting block for the foot races, which was the only event for the first twelve Olympiads. It is set a short walk from the tunnel through which the athletes entered the stadium, which itself has been excavated as an embankment which held about 45,000 spectators. The original race was 200 yards, basically from one end of the stadium to the other. Naturally people make videos of themselves doing the race, complete with wild celebration at the end. I managed to avoid this ceremony. Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Also at Olympia is the site where the Olympic flame is lit, in front of the Temple of Hera. Without putting much thought on it, I had assumed that it originated in the modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, which is a four-hour drive away. Among the other places within the complex is the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the 40-foot gold and ivory statue of him and is always listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was leveled by several earthquakes in the sixth century after having stood for over 900 years. The remaining pillars show how massive the temple was. The architect was Phidias, the same guy who had just finished designing the Parthenon. A pretty good couple of years for him. His workshop is directly across from the temple and you can still make out the different rooms he operated in. It's a rather remote site, the last stretch of which is via narrow twisting roads where mostly you just hope no one is coming the other way. We've been seeing some jaw-dropping historical sites here, but this one ranks right up there. And the crowds in January aren't one-tenth -- maybe even one one-hundredth --of what they would be in summer. Thanks for the great descriptions pipps! Happy you’re having a good time! Olympia sounds amazing! Is there a statue of “the Greek god of walks”? I hope not 😆 |
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Post by rizzuto on Jan 22, 2024 8:21:36 GMT -5
I wanted to check in during a bit of a lazy day during our Big Fat Greek Winter. Still gallivanting around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, still climbing climbing climbing, and every day has been a wonderful adventure. I finally came up with a sports-related angle here yesterday when we visited Olympia, site of the original Olympics from 776 BC until almost 400 AD -- a pretty good run of over 1,100 years. (Well, there was a gift shop in Nafplio called Arod's, but I don't think it was the same guy, so I didn't count it as sports-related.) Olympia is a truly amazing archaeological site, both for its sheer enormity and for how much is here, albeit mostly as ruins. The photo op place is the original starting block for the foot races, which was the only event for the first twelve Olympiads. It is set a short walk from the tunnel through which the athletes entered the stadium, which itself has been excavated as an embankment which held about 45,000 spectators. The original race was 200 yards, basically from one end of the stadium to the other. Naturally people make videos of themselves doing the race, complete with wild celebration at the end. I managed to avoid this ceremony. Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Also at Olympia is the site where the Olympic flame is lit, in front of the Temple of Hera. Without putting much thought on it, I had assumed that it originated in the modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, which is a four-hour drive away. Among the other places within the complex is the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the 40-foot gold and ivory statue of him and is always listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was leveled by several earthquakes in the sixth century after having stood for over 900 years. The remaining pillars show how massive the temple was. The architect was Phidias, the same guy who had just finished designing the Parthenon. A pretty good couple of years for him. His workshop is directly across from the temple and you can still make out the different rooms he operated in. It's a rather remote site, the last stretch of which is via narrow twisting roads where mostly you just hope no one is coming the other way. We've been seeing some jaw-dropping historical sites here, but this one ranks right up there. And the crowds in January aren't one-tenth -- maybe even one one-hundredth --of what they would be in summer. Thanks, Pipps! I so enjoy you sharing your travels. Any interesting or notable victuals thus far? |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 8:33:29 GMT -5
I wanted to check in during a bit of a lazy day during our Big Fat Greek Winter. Still gallivanting around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, still climbing climbing climbing, and every day has been a wonderful adventure. I finally came up with a sports-related angle here yesterday when we visited Olympia, site of the original Olympics from 776 BC until almost 400 AD -- a pretty good run of over 1,100 years. (Well, there was a gift shop in Nafplio called Arod's, but I don't think it was the same guy, so I didn't count it as sports-related.) Olympia is a truly amazing archaeological site, both for its sheer enormity and for how much is here, albeit mostly as ruins. The photo op place is the original starting block for the foot races, which was the only event for the first twelve Olympiads. It is set a short walk from the tunnel through which the athletes entered the stadium, which itself has been excavated as an embankment which held about 45,000 spectators. The original race was 200 yards, basically from one end of the stadium to the other. Naturally people make videos of themselves doing the race, complete with wild celebration at the end. I managed to avoid this ceremony. Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Also at Olympia is the site where the Olympic flame is lit, in front of the Temple of Hera. Without putting much thought on it, I had assumed that it originated in the modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, which is a four-hour drive away. Among the other places within the complex is the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the 40-foot gold and ivory statue of him and is always listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was leveled by several earthquakes in the sixth century after having stood for over 900 years. The remaining pillars show how massive the temple was. The architect was Phidias, the same guy who had just finished designing the Parthenon. A pretty good couple of years for him. His workshop is directly across from the temple and you can still make out the different rooms he operated in. It's a rather remote site, the last stretch of which is via narrow twisting roads where mostly you just hope no one is coming the other way. We've been seeing some jaw-dropping historical sites here, but this one ranks right up there. And the crowds in January aren't one-tenth -- maybe even one one-hundredth --of what they would be in summer. Thanks for the great descriptions pipps! Happy you’re having a good time! Olympia sounds amazing! Is there a statue of “the Greek god of walks”? I hope not 😆 Hi there Kaybli. No,I think Youkilis is pretty much unknown here. One thing I learned about the ancient Olympics is that the athletes competed au naturel, supposedly to permit more freedom of movement. Personally, I think they had pronounced voyeuristic tendencies, but I'm no classical scholar. I do believe it would seriously boost ratings if they went back to that. I imagine beach volleyball would outdraw the Super Bowl. But for sure this whole journey has been energizing. The Mediterranean never disappoints. Tomorrow we leave from Pylos, on the Ionian Sea, to spend some time in Athens. We've been there many times but it never gets old for me. Although it isn't hard to find people who hate it. It isn't hard to find people who hate any place when you come down to it. |
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Post by kaybli on Jan 22, 2024 8:40:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the great descriptions pipps! Happy you’re having a good time! Olympia sounds amazing! Is there a statue of “the Greek god of walks”? I hope not 😆 Hi there Kaybli. No,I think Youkilis is pretty much unknown here. One thing I learned about the ancient Olympics is that the athletes competed au naturel, supposedly to permit more freedom of movement. Personally, I think they had pronounced voyeuristic tendencies, but I'm no classical scholar. I do believe it would seriously boost ratings if they went back to that. I imagine beach volleyball would outdraw the Super Bowl. But for sure this whole journey has been energizing. The Mediterranean never disappoints. Tomorrow we leave from Pylos, on the Ionian Sea, to spend some time in Athens. We've been there many times but it never gets old for me. Although it isn't hard to find people who hate it. It isn't hard to find people who hate any place when you come down to it. Imagine playing baseball in the buff? I think our sombrero-ed friend would love that. 
My parents visited Athens a few months ago and loved it. Wishing you a great rest of your trip pipps!
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 9:03:15 GMT -5
I wanted to check in during a bit of a lazy day during our Big Fat Greek Winter. Still gallivanting around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, still climbing climbing climbing, and every day has been a wonderful adventure. I finally came up with a sports-related angle here yesterday when we visited Olympia, site of the original Olympics from 776 BC until almost 400 AD -- a pretty good run of over 1,100 years. (Well, there was a gift shop in Nafplio called Arod's, but I don't think it was the same guy, so I didn't count it as sports-related.) Olympia is a truly amazing archaeological site, both for its sheer enormity and for how much is here, albeit mostly as ruins. The photo op place is the original starting block for the foot races, which was the only event for the first twelve Olympiads. It is set a short walk from the tunnel through which the athletes entered the stadium, which itself has been excavated as an embankment which held about 45,000 spectators. The original race was 200 yards, basically from one end of the stadium to the other. Naturally people make videos of themselves doing the race, complete with wild celebration at the end. I managed to avoid this ceremony. Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Also at Olympia is the site where the Olympic flame is lit, in front of the Temple of Hera. Without putting much thought on it, I had assumed that it originated in the modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, which is a four-hour drive away. Among the other places within the complex is the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the 40-foot gold and ivory statue of him and is always listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was leveled by several earthquakes in the sixth century after having stood for over 900 years. The remaining pillars show how massive the temple was. The architect was Phidias, the same guy who had just finished designing the Parthenon. A pretty good couple of years for him. His workshop is directly across from the temple and you can still make out the different rooms he operated in. It's a rather remote site, the last stretch of which is via narrow twisting roads where mostly you just hope no one is coming the other way. We've been seeing some jaw-dropping historical sites here, but this one ranks right up there. And the crowds in January aren't one-tenth -- maybe even one one-hundredth --of what they would be in summer. Thanks, Pipps! I so enjoy you sharing your travels. Any interesting or notable victuals thus far? Hey there Rizz. Well one consumable we quickly developed a fondness for is Tsiporou, which I had never had before but which has quickly overtaken Ouzo as our afternoon-on-the-taverna-sidewalk drink of choice. It's a bit like Grappa, but I think somewhat less raw. Greek food in Greece is relatively similar to Greek food in the US. Although the ingredients tend to be much fresher, which is true of European food in general. Everything is locally produced and that makes a huge difference. Especially with yogurt and honey and olive oil (olive trees are everywhere) and fruits and poultry and seafood. They make a note of it on the menu if anything has been frozen and they will discourage you from ordering it. Heavy emphasis on seafood -- octopus and squid are on every menu -- they like their mixed grills -- but it's not hard to find old US Greek street food standbys like souvlaki or gyros either. Local unassuming wines are cheap and perfectly fine with taverna food. Because we are here in the off-season, restaurateurs and shopkeepers are far less harried and love talking to you about their relatives in the US or about the stuff they are selling. Driving is relatively insane, but we adapted quickly. Maybe of interest to you is that close to where we have spent the past five nights in Pylos is a relatively recent excavation called Nestor's Palace. Fascinating palace similar to that of Knossos in Crete, and from roughly that same era around 1400 BC. What the archaeologists have found is that Homer's description of Nestor's Palace in "The Iliad" bears a remarkable resemblance to what they have unearthed here. Nobody is yet conceding that either Homer or Nestor were real historical personages, but maybe it's another case of the same guy under a different name. I love this stuff. Very dramatic topography all around us, with mountains plunging down precipitously into the sea. A pain to drive, but still beautiful. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 9:06:19 GMT -5
Hi there Kaybli. No,I think Youkilis is pretty much unknown here. One thing I learned about the ancient Olympics is that the athletes competed au naturel, supposedly to permit more freedom of movement. Personally, I think they had pronounced voyeuristic tendencies, but I'm no classical scholar. I do believe it would seriously boost ratings if they went back to that. I imagine beach volleyball would outdraw the Super Bowl. But for sure this whole journey has been energizing. The Mediterranean never disappoints. Tomorrow we leave from Pylos, on the Ionian Sea, to spend some time in Athens. We've been there many times but it never gets old for me. Although it isn't hard to find people who hate it. It isn't hard to find people who hate any place when you come down to it. Imagine playing baseball in the buff? I think our sombrero-ed friend would love that.
My parents visited Athens a few months ago and loved it. Wishing you a great rest of your trip pipps!
Your parents sound like serious travelers Kaybli. We can spot each other a mile away. |
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Post by chiyankee on Jan 22, 2024 9:30:40 GMT -5
Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Great to hear from you Pipps! Did you see Barry Bonds or Ortiz's name on those statues?  |
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Post by chiyankee on Jan 22, 2024 9:32:21 GMT -5
Inger, we're trading slightly chilly weather -- highs have been in the 50s and 60s -- for tiny crowds. And all the major sites are half-price in winter. Tourists don't come to Greece for 60 degree weather. Plus we actually have time to talk to people. What I would give for those temps right now.  |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 9:44:14 GMT -5
Something I thought was funny was that in the tunnel the athletes went through to enter the stadium, there was a series of statues of Zeus, in whose honor the games were held. These statues were financed by fines levied on athletes who had cheated. On the base of each statue was inscribed the name of the athlete and the infraction for which he was cited. Talk about in your face. Sort of a reverse Monument Park. Great to hear from you Pipps! Did you see Barry Bonds or Ortiz's name on those statues? I was definitely thinking of them Chi!! One example of a guy who cheated around 2,600 years ago -- I can't remember his name, but athletes were supposed to arrive one month before the games for practicing, going through the various rituals, etc. Well this guy showed up just before the games and claimed that his ship had hit bad winds to delay him. The judges later found out that he was delayed because he was competing professionally at various stops along the way to Olympia under a fake name. I had to laugh at how modern that sounded. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 9:46:30 GMT -5
Inger, we're trading slightly chilly weather -- highs have been in the 50s and 60s -- for tiny crowds. And all the major sites are half-price in winter. Tourists don't come to Greece for 60 degree weather. Plus we actually have time to talk to people. What I would give for those temps right now. Yep. Over here I keep getting notices on my phone about "destructive cold" because at night it was hitting 40 Fahrenheit. It's all what you're used to. |
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Post by inger on Jan 22, 2024 9:59:51 GMT -5
It must be fun to be there with “Rizzo” and Danny and Sandy… the rest of the cast…
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Post by pippsheadache on Jan 22, 2024 10:50:37 GMT -5
It must be fun to be there with “Rizzo” and Danny and Sandy… the rest of the cast… Greece is the word. |
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Post by inger on Jan 22, 2024 11:26:23 GMT -5
It must be fun to be there with “Rizzo” and Danny and Sandy… the rest of the cast… Greece is the word. Don’t get stranded at the drive in… |
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