Friday 16^th July – Katakólon, Peloponnese (Olympia)

37:39.039N 21:19.428E

We had one of our best night’s sleep for ages; it was very quiet in the anchorage, no wind and no swell – there was one odd loud outburst of music around 3am which woke us up briefly, not sure from where but it did not last long thankfully.

This morning, just after sunrise, a cruise ship arrived and berthed in the harbour.  Fortunately we were anchored well out of its path.  It then proceeded to fill the coaches we had seen parked alongside the quay last night with its passengers and despatch them to Olympia. 

After breakfast, we followed suit, but instead of a coach, we took the small train the 27km inland to Olympia (via Pyrgos).  It was well worth the trip.  As well as looking at the extensive site where the original Olympic Games were held it was also quite an education – we saw the place where the Olympic flame is lit for each modern Olympics, we went around the archaeological museum, and also around the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games – I hadn’t realised that the Olympic Games started in 776BC.  The games were held every four years regardless of who was fighting who at the time – there was what was called the Sacred Truce whereby all warring factions would set aside their weapons and grievances to participate in the Games.  It seems there were also similar competitions held in other locations in Greece, notably Delphi, Isthmía and Nemea, though these have not all survived in the same way.

We caught the early afternoon train back to Katakólon and were pleased to see Pyxis still at anchor where we had left her.  As we walked across to the quay we bumped into Albert and Ineke and realised we had come back on the same train; they had set off for Olympia at the crack of dawn by bus – far too early for us.  We then watched as the cruise ship reversed out of the harbour and spun before heading off into the distance.

This afternoon we relaxed aboard Pyxis.  When we arrived back there were just two boats in the anchorage, Pyxis and another new arrival; however, this evening 5 more boats have arrived, the last being C’est La Vie who have just sailed down from Messolonghi today.  They invited us over for a drink and so we have spent the evening catching up on the gossip since we have left.

Katakólon

Olympia

© Pyxis 2010