After confirming that Hotel Kronio was not interested in providing any form of late check-out I organised myself for an early departure and the ruins of Ancient Olympia.
Although I the bike was loaded and ready to go I had dressed in my super stylish zip-offs to make the walking around easier and cooler.
Ancient Olympia, the sanctuary of Zeus, was essentially the venue for the Olympic Games, held every four years from 776BC, until Emperor Theodosius abolished them in 394AD.
The Palaestra Gymnasium
Over time the ruins in Olympia were covered by up to 8m of soil/sediment and Olympia was only uncovered during the 19thC.
Indications of the Paleochristian Basilica (on top of the Workshop of Phidias)
The back of the Leonidaion
The centre of the Leonidaion
This building had in-wall heating (Leonidaion Thermae).
The Olympic Stadium - Finish Line
The Olympic Stadium - Starting Line
The square holes were used to put the starting gates in. They would drop down when the race was to start.
Where the Olympic Flame is ignited - Temple of Hera (background)
Restoration works clearly distinguish new and old.
Temple of Zeus - mostly fallen down
The ruins of Ancient Olympia are a wonderful setting with lush vegetation throughout the site. During my visit ongoing restoration works were being undertaken and areas were being drawn and recorded.
After completing my visit of the ruins I went inside to the museum to see what was on display.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia has a wonderful collection and is very interesting to see the ages of items that have remained unbroken and preserved for so long.
Glass Perfume Vase - 2nd-3rdC AD
And so many items that illustrate that everyday objects today have a long history behind them and the way they look.
Bronze objects - the car keys are missing…
Hermes bearing the infant Dionysus
The statue of Hermes is remarkably smooth and shiny on the front, while the back is still rough and the quality of the marble seems much better than many other sculptures.
Hermes bearing the infant Dionysus
Nike of Paeonius
Very early bronze helmets
Children's toys
Pediments of the Temple of Zeus
The museum is not particularly large although it contains a great selection of items found from excavations of the nearby ruins.
After I had completed the Archaeological Museum of Olympia I took in the Ancient Olympia Museum at the end of town.
As I approached the museum I noticed an orange GS1200 motorcycle I had seen before in Delphi. As I entered the museum I picked out the rider and asked about his travels, mentioning I had seen the bike in Delphi. He was an Italian and was on a short holiday and was heading back to Patras that day to catch the ferry back to Italy.
This museum has a focus on the Ancient Olympics and as such presents:
Wreaths for the victors
Discuss for the throwing
The museum was quite small and did a good job of illustrating the history of the Ancient Olympics.
As I walked back towards the hotel to collect my bike I noticed a small display of Greek inventions in a new gallery space. It was rather interesting and there was a school group having the inventions demonstrated to them. For some unknown reason photos were not allowed....?
Here's one I took before they told me…..steam driven aeolosphere
Many of the other inventions were much more useful. Such as water based alarm clocks, astrolabe, and hill-to-hill communication devices.
I got back to the hotel and readied myself to depart Olympia. On my way to grab a bite to eat I saw an Australian fella who had been on the Kekova kayaking trip with me. We had a quick chat to catch on where we had been since - he seemed surprised I remembered him.
Olympia - wonderful shade trees
Outside Hotel Kronio - ready to leave
After leaving Olympia early afternoon I headed for Gialova further south and back on the coast. Some of the roads, passing through olive groves , were great along the way.
I had two campgrounds on my list to check and was confident at least one would be suitable. Both were located on the water's edge and I hoped one would be neat and tidy and peaceful. After checking both I decided (easily) that Erodios Camp was far better.
Erodios Camp was tucked away from the main road and looked as though it was well cared and well patronised. I organised myself with a couple of beers and set up camp.
After the tent and sleeping gear was all organised I strung up the hammock that Johnny and Susan had given me as a gift before departing Abu Dhabi. I first used it to string out some of the washing that hadn't completely dried before leaving Olympia - thanks Susan and Johnny.
When I had arrived I noticed a bike that seemed familiar a couple of spots over in the campground. When the neighbours with the GS Adv with UK plates returned I said hello. They were a Polish couple from the UK who were on a holiday and were soon to be heading north to Meteora and on to Albania and through the Balkan States back to the UK.
While we were talking something came about a previous ride they had done where they were on an insurance replacement bike after their own bike was unavailable. The problem with the replacement bike was that it gave the pillion a very sore back. She was still feeling it on this trip and used a cushion to sit on and ease the pain.
Finally, I remembered that I had seen the bike with the cushion somewhere else……it took a little longer to recall but I had seen their bike in Delphi, near the little cafe on the way into town.
It was great to meet them briefly and have a quick chat about their travels.
I had decided I would cook up a storm for dinner so I went to the small shop at the campground to see what gourmet items I would be able to get…...
I picked up some basic ingredients…..
I spread everything out and cooked up some rice on one burner while using the other burner to slowly cook the sliced ham and tomatoes into a nice sauce. I added some of the top quality wine (3.50E for a litre) and let it simmer.
Camp cooking
Mmmmmm tasty
Dinner was quite good with the wine in the dinner was the best way to have it. I struggled to enjoy a cup.
It had been a fairly solid day with the Olympia ruins and museums in the morning. I was glad to have an early night on the blow-up mattress.
The yacht was anchored securely