Tuesday, May 26th- Athens Hotel Drama and More!

Today was the in-between day, during which we would spend a little time in Olympia, travel all the way back to Athens where we had landed two days prior, then spend some time in Athens as well. Our morning began with breakfast at the hotel and an 8:30 meeting time in the lobby. Shortly thereafter, we loaded up our luggage and jumped on the bus, which was to take us only a few minutes to the same place we had visited yesterday. This time we would be visiting a much smaller museum dedicated to the Ancient Olympic Games that was located just before the archaeological site. Despite its small size, we were able to learn a ton of information, between the exhibits themselves and the mini lectures from Nike, our translator and historian.

First, we were able to see how the sanctuary (part of the archaeological site) evolved over time and which buildings were added or demolished. This was really to cool to see considering we had just been there the day before and had seen the ruins of these very buildings and temples. The museum also contained a lot of old vases and other pieces that Nike told us were given to the winners of events at the Ancient Games. The process that was involved to create all of these "awards" was long and tedious, but the results were really beautiful. Finally, there was a statue of Antinos, who Nike explained was a symbol of beauty back in Ancient Greece and killed himself simply because he had a wrinkle on his face. Overall, the museum was a great way to wrap up our stay in Olympia. 

Following the museum, it was time for the long ride back to Athens. A few hours into the trip, we stopped at a resort town called Loutraki , which was right by a bay and right near the city of Corinth. We had some great seafood for lunch, and afterwards we had a little free time to explore. Most of us took advantage by walking along the waterfront and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Soon enough, however, it was back on the bus for another hour and eventually we made it to Athens and checked into our hotel (which was so poor, we have been trying to get upgraded or switched). A tasty dinner in the downtown area and a little exploration of the streets and alleys, combined with some ice cream, capped off a great day. The weather has been poor since we arrived and the forecast calls for rain, but we all are excited for the last few days nonetheless!