Day 8: February 26

So I apologize for missing a day but an internet cafe really just wasn't available in Olympia!

February 25:

riddle answer: draw
fail: We did not get that one. Enough said.

dare: to dare someone else (go big or go home)
success: I dared Jacob to climb into a tree (not in a tree or tree branches, but rather in this big hole that put him within the tree). He did it of course. And I also dared Dr. Cohen to eat cod at supper with me. Neither were big dares, but we really weren't in a place that allowed for epic dares.

quote: "Only he who has traveled the road knows where the holes are deep." - Chinese Proverb

riddle: Close to the words of life stay I, But I wither, wane, and grow dry...

February 26:

riddle answer: Bible-pressed flower
fail: We didn't get it, but Nancy was closest. She guessed leaves.

dare: to surprise myself...and Dr. Cohen
success: This was Jacob's brilliant idea. I got Dr. Cohen to order me an appetizer at our restaurant so that I would be surprised, and then he would be surprised when I actually ate it (which is definitely surprise-worthy if you know my limited eating habits). He ordered me zucchini croquettes, and I ate a whole one, which was surprising to us all. Then I gave the rest away.

quote: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to." - Frodo and Bilbo
side note: We loved this quote particularly since The Lord of the Rings has oddly been a constant topic of conversation throughout this past week.

riddle: Which candle burns longer than a blue candle and a green candle...

I am currently sitting in an internet/gamer cafe in Naflion. There are a lot of guys playing video games, and might I add that the background of this computer is a scene from World of War Craft, which I'm sure will be particularly hilarious to some of you out there.

Yesterday we finally saw the site at Olympia. I'm glad we didn't miss it. It was spectacular. There were quite a few buildings, and they looked really amazing with grass and flowers growing up around them. My favorite part was definitely this little forgotten house over by Nero's house, where there was no rope locking us from wandering around it. It looked just like a scene out of Secret Garden! We also did the customary racing shot in the stadium, and Seonaid and I did some wonderfully embarrassing exercise routines in the gymnasium. Apparently people could see us from the other side of the site, and they thought we were dancing! But at least we can say we exercised in an ancient gymnasium!

After that, we went to Bassae which was pretty cool despite the giant circus-like tent they have over it. Apparently it protects from the frost, and although that sounds stupid when you're thinking about Greece, it was pretty chilly up there. It was amazing how close you can get to it though, compared to other temples. Then we found an amazing panoramic view of the mountains, and we definitely understood why the Ancient Greeks would decide to build a temple up there.

After that we pulled into Pylos for the night and slept there. This morning, we actually went to the site of "Nestor's Palace". The bathtub was by far one of the most interesting aspects, which is pretty standard, I believe! We also went into a tholos there, where Emily-Jean, Seonaid and I tried to initiate a flash mob doing the running man, but it just turned out to be the three of us doing our own awkward version of the running man with everyone else watching. We have also nicknamed ourselves "Ivan and Nancy Plus 8" (name courtesy of Emily-Jean). Our happy little family arrived in Nafplion just around supper time.

Oh, and we heard that the women's hockey team won gold! We are ecstatic! Go Canada!