Olympia, Greece

Olympia, Greece.  Also known as Katokolo.  

We jumped on a tour bus and headed to the Sanctuary of Olympia, the site of the Olympic Stadium.

There were a ton of tours that day, but our guide did a really great job at explaining everything.
People didn't live here, but came here every four years during the religious festival that featured the Olympic festival.  The nearest city was 30 miles away.
These people are walking along the path called "The Sacred Way." The pillars in the photo were used for Olympic training.
The people of Olympia believed that Zeus was born here, on Kronos Hill.

This is called the Philippeion.  It was built by Phillip of Macedon to mark his triumph over the Greeks in 340 B.C., forcing the two countries to unite.

I think this is part of the Temple of Hera.

The Philippeion.

Yes, the Temple of Hera.  It is the oldest structure on the site, built back in 650 B.C.

And this is the Altar of Hera, directly across from the Temple of Hera.  It is the site of the lighting of the Olympic torch, for every Olympic Season since 1936. 

This was left open so that tourists could see what the living quarters were like: small.

Fallen pieces of pillars.

Entrance to the Olympic Stadium.

The Krypti- the once covered tunnel all Olympians entered the Stadium through. 

Inside the Olympic Stadium.  This could hold 45,000 spectators.  Men, boys and girls were allowed to watch- only one woman was allowed in.  She was the priestess of the goddess Demeter Chamyne.  

The best thing about this trip for Pete was running in the original Olympic Stadium.

And then the victory pose.

And then this. I'm really not sure about this one.

More fallen pillars.  The white one on the top left is part of the Temple of Zeus.

The Temple of Zeus.

The Palaestra, the wrestling school.

The Philippeion again.