A 6-hour train ride, a 15-hour overnight ferry ride, and a 2-hour bus ride later, Steph and I arrived in Olympia, Greece a bit worn out. We met a lot of cool people during the journey, however. Four 22-year-olds from British Columbia, a guy from Argentina, 2 girls from California, and my favorites, newlyweds Joe and Kaitlin from Alaska. Obviously Palin fans, they were the first Republicans that I have met on this trip. They fish 3 months out of the year for salmon then have the rest of the year off. Joe grew up in a fishing family and then purchased his own boat a few years ago so now runs his own business. We met on the ferry and then we continued on together to Olympia and stayed in the same hostel.

After we arrived on Greek soil, we were entertained by men jumping the fence and being chased by guards. We concluded the men were trying to sneak onto a departing ferry. They were very persistent -- after being chased back over the fence, they would walk further down the road and try again. We watched for a while...very entertaining.

Olympia is a very small town, only put on the map because of its one claim to fame -- it is where the Olympics were originally held. One of the things that I couldn't wait to do on this trip was to run on the Olympic track. I challenged a New Zealand guy to a race and he took me up on it. It was so much fun! He said he let me win.

When we first arrived at the track there was a large group of senior Americans. The men were lined up at the starting line to start their walking race. They had to walk out to the line of women, slap hands, then turn around and walk back. There were a couple of competitive men who were definitely doing more of a jog than a speed walk! Cheaters.

The other highlight was seeing where the torch is lit. Before each Olympic Games, the torch is lit among the ruins at Hera's Alter and then carried to where the Olympics are being held that year.

Off to Athens!