Mikes Blog

Olympia and on to Nauplia including the Theatre in Epidaurus
Wednesday 9th May

We have an easier start today. The bus doesn't leave until 10am so Zita and I head over to the Museum of the history of the Olympic games. This is really fascinating. I take photos of some of the beautiful statues. I take photos of the text displays describing the history of the Olympics. This is a topic worthy of it's own publication. It is presented so interestingly here. As a runner and competitor I find this highly interesting

Last night, reading my new book on Greek myths, I came across the following...

"The theft of fire by Prometheus provoked such anger in Zeus that he also wanted to punish men since they had accepted the gift. He therefore charged Hephaestos to make a woman out of earth and water and then called upon the goddesses to furnish her with gifts. He sent this woman , whom he called Pandora, to Epimetheus along with a clay jar which was to remain closed forever.

Epimetheus married Pandora and they lived happily until the time came when she desired to open the jar. Then all calamities flew out of it: war, diseases, death, unhappiness. Even though the inquisitive woman hastened to stopper this source of all tribulations, all that remained inside was hope. "

This is a remarkable discovery for me. Especially so when I recall that an emotional/spiritual theme for this trip is for me is:

"Where is the Hope?"

In no way am I adopting this small myth to blame woman for the scarcity of hope in the world. I approach the myth more like a dream. Accept that it addresses an important theme for me. Let the story speak as it will.

We drive on across the Peloponnese, the southern area of mainland Greece. We climb up over a mountain range to 1000 metres and drop back down to the sea. To the west the Ionian sea, the the East, the Aegean, to the south, the Medtereanean.

We arrive at Nafplio, an attractive and well looked after sea side town that is a common weekend destination for more well to do Athenians. It was once occupied by the Venetians and it still shows a Venetian flavour in its shops, restaurants and general building style. Nafplio was the first capital of Greece after the war of liberation from the Turks (1821-1829).

Before going to our hotel, our bus travels to Epidaurus, a large open theatre orginally built by the Greeks in timber but converted to stone and enlarged by the Romans. It is still used for summer festivals today and has a seating capacity of 14000. As I get off the bus and walk towards the open theatre, Barbara, an ex-work colleque from Tawa College in New Zealand, who I haven't seen for 6 years, comes up to say hello. She is travelling with another group on another coach tour. Small world.

The autitorium itself has a beautiful aspect. Looking from the the seating to the stage area, the backdrop is the rolling hills of southern Greek country side. Ths theatre is used every summer for the performances of the ancient Gree plays.

A modern traditionhere is for visitors to stand on a stone in the centre of the stage area and sing a song. The 2/300 people sitting around the terraces listen quietly and applaud - more so for the better performances.

We return to the Hotel Rex, passing a small bridge, a simple stone structure beside the road, dated at 1400 bc. Thats old.

Tomorrow we visit Mycenae and Corinth canal on our way back to Athens.