∙ WHAT WE DID/SAW/EXPERIENCED
∙ Time in port: 8 hours
∙ We took a 4-hour HAL tour to see the Sanctuary of Olympia and the Museum. It was $79, when the entrance fee was only 9 Euros (they charged us about $65 for the 40-minute bus ride and guide). I always feel like such a schmuck when I find out how much I overpaid for these things . . . oh well, live and learn.
∙ Some friends were on an independent tour, seeing the same sights, but then heading to an amphitheater, shopping and lunch before heading to the Mercouri Estate Winery. The Mercouri Estate is a family-owned winery, with a 150-year history in producing wine, olive oil and (previously) currants. When our bus returned us to the port at noon, we jumped into a cab and went to the winery to meet the other group. They were late, so our tour and wine tasting were rushed. They re-used the same glass for all the wines and offered nothing to taste with the wines. They charged 4 Euros plus 1 Euro per glass of wine (not much); the larger cost was the 50 Euros for the round-trip cab ride, and for our driver to wait for us.
∙ On the way back, we stopped briefly at a pretty local beach and the row of shops poised next to the ship before getting back on board.
∙ Back on the ship, we had a (non-themed) formal night tonight. I wore my long black “sexy” dress – low-cut, sheer in midriff and legs. We had a refreshingly great dinner in the dining room with Sam, Sally, Jeff and new East Coast friends Jeff and Samantha, consisting of, e.g., caviar, lamb chops, lobster. After dinner, I spent some time “campaigning” for people to vote for our photos in the photo contest – not that I’m competitive or anything! And I wasn’t the only one doing that . . . funny.
∙ THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
∙ This wasn’t our most exciting port, but Olympia and its museum were interesting. The Mercouri Vineyard was quaint, but the wine tasting disappointing. They do it much better on the ship – with nice wines, appropriate glasses, hors d’oeuvres and a relaxed pace. (Plus, Ingo “the Wine Man” is funny and extremely entertaining to watch.) The morning’s highlight was the gyro I had while waiting for the bus to return us to port!
∙ The port town of Katakolon is cute, but like all these port towns, resembles the large mouth of a baby, crying for us to feed him! Stores line the road . . . one sold me a dress (for 22 Euros), which I discovered had a hole in it when I put it on. Thankfully, they have a seamstress on the ship!
∙ Well, we’re down to six (6) ports and seventeen (17) days until we return home! Still to come: Sicily and Naples, Italy; Corsica, France; Barcelona and Seville, Spain; Madeira, Portugal, and then the seven (7)-day transatlantic crossing home. We’re tired, but hanging in there . . . we get to sleep in tomorrow (yippee)!!!
THE SANCTUARY OF OLYMPIA (INCLUDING TEMPLE OF ZEUS)
OLYMPIA MUSEUM
MERCOURI ESTATE
KATAKOLON AND FORMAL
Sondra,
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that our tour of Olympia included: pick up at ship, visit to the historic site and museum, drop off at beach for lunch and swim, and the winery drop off (all fees paid by us), then return to ship. It was 200 euro, which we thought was quite expensive. We were a family of 4. So, Holland's tour was expensive, but not terrible,IMHO. Wendy
Your photos of Olympia were lovely. Enhansed by the lovely purple flower in bloom. Please let us know how you went in the photo comp.
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