Olympia - Athens

We did a walking sightseeing tour of the city of Olympia and then headed into the mountains of Arcadia over the Corinth Canal to Athens.

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland and therefore effectively makes the former an island. The canal is 6.3 kilometres in length and was built between 1881 and 1893.

As we entered Athens we saw the Panthenon which is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Its construction began in 447 BC.

We then saw Hadrians Arch constructed in 131 AD as part of a wall separating the old and new cities of Athens. The 18 metre gate was made of marble. Hadrians Gate is the entrance to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and is 500 metres east of the Acropolis. We saw the Old Olympic Stadium built in 1896 and a glass monument of a Marathon runner. We saw the ancient roman baths and the changing of the Guards at the Greek Parliament. After checking into our hotel we hopped on the "Happy Train" going to the "Plaka". The Plaka is the oldest section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding motorcycle or delivery truck. The area is full of restaurants, Jewellery stores tourist shops, and cafes. Though it is quite commercialised it is still a neighbourhood and arguably the nicest neighbourhood in central Athens. We then had a Greek Feast at a Taverna where we could see the illuminated Acropolis and entertained by local musicians. It was a wonderful experience.

We walked around the Plaka till early hours in the morning fascinated by the markets, musicians and ruins.

Athens 7th July

Today we visited three Greek Islands on an Aegean Cruise. We visited Poros, Hydra and Aegina. The entertainment on the cruise was authentic Greek dancing and singing. The picturesque Island of Poros had beautiful neoclassical buildings built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill. Its most famous landmark is a clock tower, built in 1927 on the top of the hill. Our next stop was Hydra which had a crescent-shaped harbor, around which is centered a strand of restaurants, shops, markets, and galleries that cater to tourists and locals (Hydriots). Steep stone streets lead up and outwards from the harbor area. Most of the local residences, as well as the hostelries on the island are located on these streets. No cars are allowed in Hydra, so the only transport is by donkey, bicycle or foot. We took a donkey ride up some of the steep stone streets and then went down to a swimming area for a lovely dip in the freezing cold ocean. Then we went to Aegina Island which is triangular in shape and an extinct volcano constitutes two thirds of the island. This island is popular for its beaches. We had a swim and walked around the harbour. Then back to Athens for another night out at the Plaka.......................