Magna Grecia Farm Tour

Magna Grecia Farm Tour Fun

On the Holland America Zuiderdam in June of this year, we went to a tour called Magna Grecia Farm Tour at Katakolon. As much as I liked the Olympia tour in 2008 (especially the museum), I just couldn't see do it a second time. There were not many choices, and I knew hanging around Katakolon would be a bit boring. It is lovely but a really small town, at least the shopping area. 

Magna Grecia Farm Tour turkey

At the time I was there, I thought the tour was just so-so. In retrospect, I think it was actually a pretty good tour. We had good food and drink, a small lecture about what the farm does, including growing and harvesting grapes for wine and growing olives and processing the olive oil. The food was amazing, and after of course we did Greek dancing. Everywhere you go in Greece, they have dancing after the meal.

Magna Grecia Farm Tour chicken

The owner said they grow everything that we ate, so unfortunately I don't think either this chicken or the turkey are long for the world.

If you go to Katakolon and don't want to do the dusty and hot site of Olympia, think Magna Grecia Farm tour! More info can be found here.

Olympia, Greece: the Archaeological Site

Olympia, Greece Archeological Site

from the Olympia Archaeological Museum

The day we docked in Katakolon, Greece to make our way to our destination of Olympia could not have been a more beautiful day. We had a warm sun, no clouds and a cool breeze. As the day wore on, it did get hot, as it did almost every day during our Roman Empire cruise, but since it was May, it was still bearable heat. We did not see one drop of rain the entire ten days.

My niece Sarah at the Olympia, Greece archaeological site

With a jolt of java in the morning, my niece and I chatted as we rode from Katakolon to Olympia. There wasn't much to see other than dried grasses and occasional farm machinery. But once we arrived, we realized just how special the place really is. More information on Olympia can be found here. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason.

Doric column at Olympia site

All of us that have studied Greek history have read about the Olympics and how they started. I still find it hard to believe that the first competitors did all that without a stitch of clothes on. Even if we aren't into history, who doesn't watch when we have the Olympic games on TV? My niece and I did the obligatory run down part of the Olympic track. Some members of our tour group actually ran the whole length, and let me tell you, it was a long way!


This is just the first post in a series on Olympia. The highlight for me was actually what they hauled into the Museum. Other than the museum in Athens, I don't think I have seen anything more impressive.

Corinthian columns - look at the size of the people to see how impressive they are

And last but not least, one of the cutest couples on our tour ....

Cute couple on our Olympia tour

Katakolon: the port of Olympia

Katakolon port

Holland America Noordam in the port of Katakolon

The port city of Katakolon, Greece is the gateway to Olympia. In an earlier post, I suggested get out of the port as quickly as possible and run don't walk to Olympia. But looking back on the photos of this picturesque port, I think I was wrong. It is worth its own look and linger. Okay, sure it doesn't have the history of the Olympic Games, but it has its own charm.

My niece Sarah

I will let the photos speak for themselves. It truly is a room with a view.  

Room with a view

Cute restaurant

More information on the port of Katakolon can be found on this website.

Archaeological Museum of Olympia: Part 2

Back by popular demand (thanks, Rob) .... revisiting the Archaeological Museum in Olympia


One of the most impressive museums I have been to in the world. The museum in Athens is much larger and is even more impressive, but the museum at Olympia is awesome. It actually makes sense of the archaeological site. Some of our cruise  mates did not visit the museum and were a touch disappointed in the tour. It was the highlight of our visit to Olympia for me.

More information on the museum can be found here. These are just a few of the wonderful things you can find. The museum is not big, but it is really special. Let's all support Greece and visit there this year. They could use the economy boost. It is a beautiful country, especially the islands. A few of the great things to see below ....

Archaeological Museum of Olympia: Home of the Gods

From the Archaeological Museum in Olympia

Our tour group visiting the Museum

Mr. Lamb taught Greek mythology at Regina High School, where I attended for the 9^th and 10^th grades.  I also took his photography classes and loved those. Can’t say the same for Greek mythology. I just didn’t get it. Too many names, too much drama, seemed almost like real life but more so. Little did I know that 38 years later I would be standing in front of the displays of the Archaeological Museum in Olympia, memorized by all the beautiful works.

It helped that I had gotten a BA in anthropology in the mean time, but my area of study was the Mayan Indians of Mexico and Guatemala. Needless to say though, the works in the museum in Olympia are some of the most impressive in the world.

Dedicated to Zeus, the father of both gods and men, and the father of the Olympics, I walked around this fabulous museum awe-struck. I must have taken photos of every display. Here are a few pieces I photographed. Enjoy!

Bronzes were especially exquisite

We arrived in Olympia on our Roman Empire cruise by way of Katakolon, Greece, a small port town. Other than souvenir shops and a few restaurants, there wasn't much there. Just get on a tour bus or take a taxi and head to Olympia, but let me give you a tip. The best of the best of Olympia is at the Archaeological Museum, so make sure you visit includes this. Below is some information for a good website on the Museum.


From Olympia Museum, and I quote:

"The Archaeological Museum of Olympia, one of the most important museums in Greece, presents the long history of the most celebrated sanctuary of antiquity, the sanctuary of Zeus, father of both gods and men, where the Olympic games were born. The museum's permanent exhibition contains finds from the excavations in the sacred precinct of the Altis dating from prehistoric times to the Early Christian period."