OG Olympics
Our official first port on the cruise was Katakalon--the gateway to Olympia, home to the first Olympics. Like pretty much everyone on the boat, we booked an excursion to Olympia, but unlike most, we booked with a private tour operator (Travel Insiders), so our tour group numbered only 15 rather than 25-30. Right on time, our guide Zoe was at the port waiting to share her love of her home with all of us. She won Ned over right away by referring to him as blue-eyed and blonde just like Northern Greeks. He turned to us all with a big smile, mouthing "blonde" as a personal victory. One thing to note, all of our guides have made reference to the significant economic challenges facing Greece, some more pointedly than others. Zoe noted that the high unemployment rate for young men in Athens has led some to return home to work their family farms--a role they ran away to the big city to escape. As a result, Katakalon's olive oil, raisin, and other agricultur...