July 14 was a very long day. It started on an airplane that landed in Athens at 3 am. I had arranged for a car to take us to the city. I had been emailing with them at London and all was arranged. We exited baggage claim and no driver. We waited and waited. I finally sent an email to the company. I was impatient in the reply. It was already 3:30. We went to taxi stand and hired a taxi to town. As we are pulling away from the airport our driver calls. " I am here and have been waiting on you. " I don't know where he was. So In the middle of the night we are riding in a taxi flying down the back roads of Athens windows down and Grant suitcase halfway out the window. I was freaking out !!! We got a nice education of the smells of Athens. I calmed down as we entered a nicer part of town. All of a sudden there was a beautiful lighted building. It looked like Lincoln Center. It was the US Embassy. Turned out the lights of the room at Electra Palace at 5 am with a wake up call at 7. Yikes!!

We were up easier than expected on 2 hours of sleep. I think it was the adrenaline. Grant and I had breakfast at hotel and GOTours picked us up on time. Wheeled bags up the narrow road several blocks to the bus. The bus is new nice with WiFi . Our driver is Socrates and guide is Milidsa. She is cute petite and full of energy. Drive out of Athens on to Corinth. A stop at the canal and drive through town but not to the ruins but saw were Paul would have landed in a boat . Windy road up to Epidaurvis theatre. Midi had us stand in the middle clap hands then we went up stairs as she tore A piece of paper. It was so loud amazing acoustics. Drive through the kalamata valley to Naphilio . Only stopped for short picture of the 3 forts. A little disappointed. Off through orange groves to Mycenae. Surprised only one other bus and not crowded. Fascinating to hear the history again of the tomb and ancient sight. 1600bc. 23 pounds of gold found in the graves here. Very very hot but still walked around. The drink stand next to the bus was selling fresh squeezed orange juice from local oranges. So refreshing!! The Mountain View's are so pretty. Drive up the Ionia sea to Olympia. Town is so pretty with mountains and lots of green trees. Hotel Europa was nice with an inviting pool I took advantage of. The vista out the back of the hotel had a beautiful sunset and nice restaurant with the view. We had to eat in tourist dining room with buffet. We are all so tired , that food and small walk up to the church , a peak at sunset and ready to bed.