Where, you say? Katakolon is a tiny port city of 500 souls and the closest point for ships to dock near Olympia, famous of course for the first Olympic Games (776 B.C.).

Originally Olympia was a sacred site, as early as the 10th C. B.C. altars were dedicated to the worship of Zeus and Hera (and home in 470 B.C. to a Seventh Wonder of The World – a huge gold & ivory statue of Zeus). Over time temples, and treasuries, and sports facilities, and training sites, and hostels, and minor temples, and communal baths, and stadiums, etc, etc were built creating a huge religious and athletic complex.

Terrible earthquakes, notably in 551 and 552, reduced the site to ruins and now it’s mostly just the outline of foundations and toppled columns and building blocks. There are info signs everywhere explaining what once was there but I’m afraid my imagination couldn’t quite see it so I settled for just enjoying the beauty of the day: the interplay of clouds then sun on the stone, the dappled shade of the pines and oaks, and the contrasting curves and corners of the ruins.

A few FB pals and I arrived on the 8:40am train from Katakolon, and were warned by the conductor that the only return train was at 1:10pm. That left me with a leisurely 1.5 hours to window shop my way through Olympia and wander some of the local streets. I did succumb to buying a little pendant, my souvenir of the visit.

A late lunch at 3pm left me with no desire for a large dinner with my mates so I watched the choreography of our departure from Katakolon between our big ship, the powerful tugboat and tiny pilot boat from my balcony. A late bite in the buffet between chapters in my book suited me just fine.