The Backpacking Battlers went to Olympia today to finish off our time in Greece. We found it rather fitting that we went and visited the Olympiad the day of the opening ceremony for the London Olympic Games.

It’s something we hadn’t really thought about going to see until we were over here in Greece but decided we had to visit, particularly after seeing the magnificent Acropolis in Athens.

We walked through the gates of the venue the first ever Olympic Games were held in the 10th century BC. It is absolutely huge. I’m not particularly interested in much history or half the crap that is historical we’ll probably come across, but stuff like seeing the Olympiad of which I can relate to makes it more interesting and special.

We saw Hera’s Alter, the place where the lighting of the Olympic Flame takes place every start of the Olympic Games. Was crazy that we were in the actual place where something as traditional and historical as that takes place.

Can’t really find words to describe what it felt like being amongst fallen stone pillars and outlines of old competing arenas and stadiums. It’s something you just have to see for yourself and unfortunately the photos we have taken don’t give it justice.

I’m really glad we took out a day of many to see such a phenomenal part of the world that still has connection to most of the world today. Countries uniting and putting political issues aside to see who will be the victor of a wide range of sports in a sportsmanlike nature is really what this place thrives on I think. To understand the similarities and differences of the Games back then to now makes you appreciate them more I reckon. I guess the same goes for most things in life though.

To be here now when the Games are about to start and to walk around the Olympiad being Australians makes us proud to live in the country we do. To know that this whole thing started from an ancient Greek tradition and to see that first hand really is a remarkable experience and one that we both definitely won’t forget anytime soon