We were supposed to go to Olympia...

Katakolon.

This port is so tiny 

that only thing we could see

 is a straight line of one street

with full of souvenir shops

and seafood restaurants

Then, why are we brought here?

Because this port is a gateway to Olympia

where the ancient Olympic games were initiated

more than 2000 years ago 

yet, modern game reignited

by French Baron Coubertin in 1896.

And, it is a small but cute village.

We have been to Olympia in our

previous visit.

So, all we wanted today was

having that fabulous fresh

seafood dish for lunch.

We were basically strolling on this street

up and down for 5 times until lunch time.

We did buy two T shirts each in the end

while some of our cruise friends purchased 

very nice expensive jewellery.

Noticed that locals spell this town

without N?

We as passengers love the port like this

as we could just hop off  the ship

to the town or city centre on foot.

Lovely Spring time...

Crispy Calamari dish was so fresh and tender...

but today's star was definitely BBQ octopus.

11Apr Katakolon port for Olymia, Greece

Katakolon is a small but lovely port with couple of thousands of population.
It takes 45 minutes by train to Olympia from here.
Olympia is where the Olympic torch is lit before the race of hundreds thousands of miles to reach the caldron for the games every 4 years.
We initially under estimated Olympia and decided to stay in Katakolon for leisurely lunch as the ship leaves at 4pm.
We got off the ship at 10am with Renee.
It did not take more than half an hour to finish the whole town which is made of a street of packed souvenir shops and restaurants.
We found the train to Olympia that leaves at 11am so we made a quick decision to take the train and come back to Katakolon for lunch.
It has been long since I have traveled on train.
Spring flowers were everywhere on fields and mountain hillsides.
Yellow canola flowers, pale pinkish cherry blossoms and purple flowers on Judas tree were most dominant.
Scenery passing by through the train window is similar to Tuscany hills in Italy, so we enjoyed it a lot.

We were so mad when we arrived in Olympia at the fact that we only gave ourselves one hour in this lovely historic place.
But we were running around to take photos here and there everywhere possible and managed to rush back to catch a train at 1pm.
Because we did not want to give up lunch at Katakolon.
Seafood restaurants are lined up with cruise ships view at the waterfront were calling for us, seafood maniacs.
We were so content that we did make the most out of relatively short day in Katakolon.
Most of all, we enjoyed beautiful fresh seafood we have been craving for.

View of Katakolon

Greek shoes with pom pom

Tiny train station of Katakolon

Small train of two carts to Olympia

Not so big either! Train station of Olympia

Museum

Ruins of ancient Olympia

This is where the Olympic torch is lit naturally by the sun

To the stadium

The original Olympic stadium

Judas trees with purple flowers

Lunch menu at the restaurant in Katakolon

Seafood platter with calamari, fried anchovies, prawns, marinated octopus after prawn saganaki…Yummy!