Wednesday
Our Andritsaina innkeeper really, really wanted to talk to some Americans during breakfast but his english was about as good as our Greek. We all tried, had a good time but I'm not sure we did a lot of communicating.
Leaving Andritsaina our first destination was the Temple of Vasses, a beautiful remote temple dedicated to Apollo.
They are continuing the restoration and the temple is under a large tent. All in, my opinion is this is one of the best ruins we have seen. The temple columns are nearly intact and when the tent does finally come down, this is going to be one of the more beautiful temples in Greece. A good stop.
Now for our adventure in mountain driving. The destination committee decided to head to Ancient Olympia. It seemed like a simple drive over to the coast at Thorlo and up to Olympia. It didn't turn out that way. A simple turnaround and drive back by Andritsaina would have been the right way (in retrospect) but our trusty British lady's voice captured in the GPS routed us the short route not really considering the road quality or in some cases even if they existed. We ended up literally and figuratively weaving back and forth over some mountain roads without a whole lot of lateral protection to keep you from driving off the mountain. Over the 40 miles we traveled, we met perhaps one or two cars, dodged small boulders washed onto the road and downed trees from the previous nights thunderstorms, ran out of pavement a couple of times, waited for goats and sheep to get out of the road and while "never lost", had no idea what the next turn was going to bring us.
We stopped in the little one taverna village of Platania and had a great lunch (once again as the only customers) with a spectacular view of the mountains from their terrace. The taverna owner didn't get high marks from Mary and Kathy because he kept ordering "his woman" to do things for us.
We finally surfaced on the coast, not at our intended exit point but nonetheless, in civilization and drove north and then inland to Olympia.
Reading ahead we had picked out a couple of places to stay and our first look see at the Hotel Pelops was successful.
Another family owned inn, the sons had recently purchased the property from their grandfather and the dad and sons were very helpful in giving us direction on the ancient ruins and dining.
While late in the afternoon, we made a run at seeing the ancient olympic ruins. The afternoon light was fantastic for photography but the afternoon thunderstorms won out. We took refuge in an archeological hut with a few others from Germany and still ended up touring the museum with some wet clothes, These ruins also go on the must see list.
The Greeks started holding athletic competitions at this site around 776 BC and really went into a building boom around 500 BC that continued through much of the Roman years until one of the Roman leaders decided Christianity and the games couldn't coexist. Between that and earthquakes, the Olympic grounds fell into disarray. But what a beautiful place it is today and how spectacular it must have looked in its time. So much history for me to butcher in my reflections, but well worth the visit.
A mountain drive to remember
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Olympia, Ditiki Ellada, Greece
Other Entries
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1Departing the US
Sep 165 days priorLouisville, United Statesphoto_camera2videocam 0comment 2 -
2Athens - A memorable initiation to Greece
Sep 183 days priorAthens, Greecephoto_camera12videocam 0comment 6 -
3Naplio - First day on the road
Sep 192 days priorNafplio, Greecephoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
4A drive to the mountains
Sep 201 day priorAndritsaina, Greecephoto_camera13videocam 0comment 3 -
5A mountain drive to remember
Sep 21Olympia, Greecephoto_camera15videocam 0comment 10 -
6North to the gorge
Sep 221 day laterDiakofto, Greecephoto_camera11videocam 0comment 0 -
7On the road to Delphi
Sep 232 days laterArachova, Greecephoto_camera14videocam 0comment 0 -
8Exploring Meteora
Sep 254 days laterKastriki, Greecephoto_camera18videocam 0comment 2 -
9Finding Mt. Olympus
Sep 276 days laterParalia Katerinis, Greecephoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
10Thessaloniki to Crete
Sep 287 days laterIrakleio, Greecephoto_camera10videocam 0comment 0 -
11Crete - Coast to Coast
Sep 309 days laterChania, Greecephoto_camera23videocam 0comment 0 -
12Closing out Crete - Back to Iraklion
Oct 0110 days laterHeraklion, Greecephoto_camera7videocam 0comment 4 -
13Ferry to Santorini
Oct 0211 days laterOia, Greecephoto_camera22videocam 0comment 0 -
14Mykonos - The party island
Oct 0615 days laterMykonos, Greecephoto_camera17videocam 0comment 0 -
15Athens - Pointing the horse to the USA barn
Oct 0817 days laterAthens, Greecephoto_camera6videocam 0comment 0 -
16Greece - The wrap up - Hints and Insights
Oct 1019 days laterLouisville, United Statesphoto_camera2videocam 0comment 5
Comments

2025-02-11
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Howard Zuckerman
2011-09-29
Thanks for the travelogue. Thoroughly enjoying the pictures and commentary . What a stark contrast with the US - - preserving ancient structures v. tearing them down after a few decades.
As a long time Mac user, glad to hear you have finally seen the light.
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Spence
2011-09-29
Thanks for sharing all this. When are you headed back?
Joel & Mary Osborne
2011-09-29
Enjoying the running commentary and great pictures. Wish we were there!
Roseann Kurrle
2011-09-29
Hi Mary & Rod:
I'm enjoying your blow-by-blow of your trip...not sure about the mountain trek, though. I can't believe that Mary tolerated that! Bob is flying me to Pensacola tomorrow so that I can drive Jen, Cameron and Mattie (the boxer) back here. Anxious to have them on our turf. We'll be off to SFO next week (Jen to DC) then repeat the sequence on the return. Look forward to hearing about the rest of your adventure...Roseann
brjeffries
2011-09-30
If I don't get to visit Greece, I will still have had a great first person account and pictures. Thanks
Mike Land
2011-09-30
Was there in 1963 but due to the local wine i have trouble with were i was, but i think that i had a great time.
Sam Wyche
2011-09-30
Have some more fun for Jane and me.......we are in Pickens, SC waiting for the buffet line to open! sw
Christine Malcolm
2011-10-02
What an awesome trip. After years of saying that we were going to work forever, we are seeing the appeal of semi-retirement - - our favorite spot in Greece is Santorini - take the donkey ride,,,,,Best to you all -
Warm regards, Christine and Mark
Julie Vigeland
2011-10-02
Well, I seem to be caught up with your travels. What great adventures! We traveled much of where you are traveling, although not on your most adventurous roads, only we did it in reverse. We had traveled down the coast of what was then Yugoslavia, ferried to Brindisi, and ferried to Greece. We didn't have "Boss" but we did have a "hot" Ford Capri that was small enough to feel safe on the narrow roads.
All your descriptions may make it very hard to not return 40 years later!
Ray Connolly
2011-10-03
Good to see you having such a cultural time, Rod and Mary. And with all your dollars flooding into the economy maybe Greece won't have to default after all.
Happy travelling.
Ray