Our early morning wakeup call was courtesy of a small earthquake. Greece has three plates beneath it, and a faultline runs up the Ionian coast - where we're staying! Whee!
Today was mostly spent at the site of the original ancient olympics and in the accompanying museum. At the Olympia site there is the original field that the athletes competed on, and they have been able to identify the start and finish lines. I had a run about on it, but I don't think I'll be winning any apples (the original first prize) or olive/laurel wreaths (the later, replacement prize).There was also a workshop for a famous ancient artist, who created the 12 metre high statue of Zeus that was one of the wonders of the ancient world, and a sacrifial altar to Hera, where the Olympic torch is now lit for the modern Olympics.
What's blowing our minds is that this stuff is several thousand years old, especially since the degree of artistry is already so developed. There's very little difference, for example, between the Hermes of Praxiteles and later works by Michelangelo (who never saw it, as it was only dug up in 1877).In the afternoon we skirted through Patra and across the world's largest suspension bridge, and up into Mount Parnassus where we are now. It's like a little Alpine village, and we have a view to die for from our hotel window.
Tomorrow - Delphi, where we will be talking in tongues!
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