Next Stop: The Ancient Olympics!

Welcome to the Peloponnese islands, home of Olympia, Kalamata, and Sparta! 

We were only able to visit one of the three, so we went to see where the ancient Olympics were held for nearly 1000 years.  Here is what is left of the Olympic grounds, fields, stadium, and other buildings.

This used to be the gymnasium.  We learned tht "gymna" in Greek means "naked", and the athletes worked out here naked, hence the name "gymnasium"!

The highlight of the visit was the Olympic track field.  We all had fun racing each other on it.

This tunnel was the entrance to the stadium, much like today's stadiums are built.

We also saw where the Olympic flame was kept burning.  During ancient times, the fire was never allowed to go out.  Priestesses, who were the only women allowed at the Olympic site, kept watch over it for hundreds of years.  Nowadays, the fire is relit at the beginning of each Olympics and the torch is lit here and carried to wherever in the world the Olympics are held today.

The fire pit isn't much to see unless you read the plaque to see what it is!

After visiting the site, we did some shopping in town.  Jason and Lainey ate lots of kalamata olives and we did our Spartan duty by buying a big bronze Spartan helmet.  We almost didn't get it on the plane as security really questioned it, but luckily we passed.