Olympian Adventures

This is taken in front of the ocean by our hotel in Sparta. From the left: Sam, Anita, Justine, myself, and Katie.

Today was a busy day! We started out early and went to a Venetian castle near Sparta. I'm not sure exactly why because it isn't really what we're learning about but it was actually one of my favorite sites because he let us wander around and explore for ourselves. It was so magestic looking, built entirely out of stone and streched out along the coastline. There was an area of rocks before the water turned clear, it looked like something right out of a medival movie. Unfortunately I left my camera on the bus so I'll have to wait and take someone elses pictures once they're put up.

There was a church on the property that we wandered into and no one else was in there. It was even more beautiful than the other ones were. This one had better preserved paintings because it was more recent and they were just glorious. You experience so much emotion looking at the iconography, it's wonderful.

I hate to use the word "religious" because it sounds so ritualistic and impersonal but that's the best way I can describe this country. There are Greek churches everywhere, you can just feel the influence the church has on the people. 98% are practicing Greek Orthodox, it is the state religon: you can pracitce other religions but it is illegal to try and convert people. Every single restaurant or store you go into has at least one cross or icon. I admire their faith even if some is insincere. I've seen about four or five instances of older men or women who cross themselves continuously when they see a church and they continue to until they pass it. I feel so proud to be a Christian here and appreciated, it's much easier here than in America.

We then drove back to Pelos to sit by the ocean and listen to a short lecture on the battles of the Peloponnese. He always gives us short 15 minute breaks but I've come to realize that our professor only does this so he can have a smoke break...how very Greek of him. We then had about an hour drive to a site called Nestor's Palace, the capital of the Myceanean state there. We did that for a bit and then had a longer drive to a beach town where we swam in the ocean for a bit and ate lunch by the water.

Then yet another drive to Olympia where we went to the Olypmic Games museum. Unfortunately it was not what I expected, nothing on the modern games at all, just the ancient ones. I knew a lot of the information because that's what I wrote my paper on so I felt proud about that.

Then we drove to our hotel and it is very nice, I'm surprised CYA is putting us up here! It has a beautiful outdoor pool where all of us girls went immediately after the bus finally got back around 5:30 where we had head stand contests for an hour or so. I then decided to borrow Sam's running shoes (even though they were a size and a half too small) and go for a run. I haven't been for about six weeks but it turned out better than I thought! I really needed it and it felt so good. Once we get back to Athens I'm going to go everyday.

Then we all showered and I washed my running clothes in the sink because I'm running out of clothes. We headed into the town of Olympia, about a 15 minute walk to eat at a gyros place. Our waiter, who may have been the owner, had his little boy out at the table next to us, probably about one and a half. He was so adorable and waved and blew us kisses the whole night. Greek men are much more affectionate with their children, I've noticed I've probably seen more men with their kids than women.

We then headed back to our hotel and just chatted in our room for a while. Now off to bed! We have another long day tomorrow but Thursday we get to sleep in until 9 because a museum will be on strike! Love Greek rights of assembly.