The day started off with another breakfast of what I would consider lunch and dinner foods (assorted olives and other various vegetables). Although there were also American choices such as cereal and pastries, why not embrace the heart-healthy culture of getting your veggies in at breakfast?
| My Look for the Day |
A tassel trim matching two-piece from Asos
Accessories: Tropical Leaves & Sequin Flower Drop Earrings, Sam Edelman Tall Gladiator Sandals, and a Henri Bendel Jetsetter backpack
After breakfast, it was time to embark on our 200-kilometer bus ride to Olympia to see the original Olympic Gymnasium. The 3 hours went by faster than expected as it was a time to catch up on our rest post going non-stop with a time difference for the past 72 hours.
Zeus was more than an iconic figure, he was everything and more to the people of Greece. He was God. A god of the sky and thunder. I am no Greek historian, nor am I well versed in Greek Mythology, but I always thought that Zeus was a real person- maybe Disney’s Hercules gave me false hope. He was and still is a pretend person that shaped history in many ways. In fact, half of Olympia is sacred and dedicated to Zeus himself!
Olympia is a small little town with Niche features. The town runs off of true entrepreneurship roots as Family businesses and restaurants fill the monetary requirements of this town. This was one of my favorite aspects throughout Greece in these smaller towns – for more than a moment you were able to forget that life typically revolves around large stores, corporations, and franchises. Here you were able to take in products and services that fulfilled families legacies and passions.
Once we made our way to the original Olympic gymnasium, it was clear that this architecture had been through a lot as very little was still standing or even intact. Restorations have been made to the pillars in the Temple of Zeus. The lines of where the broken lines intersect were easily seen. After years of destruction by war and mother nature, there was just no way that this iconic landmark could have stayed complete after all these years.
Fun facts about the Original Greek Olympic Games:
- They did not have protection during sporting events or fights (or even clothes!), they simply lathered their naked bodies with olive oil as the slippery consistency aided against as many injuries
- “Gymnasium” is the Greek word for naked -makes sense!
- There were no rules aside from not being allowed to gauge out your opponent’s eyes
- The looser wouldn’t get 2nd place, but instead would reach defeat by death
- If you were caught cheating during a game, you were disqualified and would have to pay a fine so that they could make a statue of Zeus in return
- Some cheaters would also be sentenced to death
- The stadium could hold 40,000 people at once
- Women were not allowed into the games
- All of this first occurred during 776 BC according to recordings
- The Olympic games (modern version) were held in Athens, Greece in 2004
(*All historic information cited is quoted from our tour guide with Grand Tours MN)
