Katakolon & Olympia - One Day Review

[PenelopeCorelli]

Tuesday, July 14 DAY 8 – Katakolon, Greece

Olympia

 

Had breakfast delivered early & got off the ship about 8am or a little before. Walked toward the train station. The ship’s information, detailed in most respects, omitted any reference to a train station in Katakolon and there was no sign of it on the map we received.

 

We walked up the street, and then followed another couple that was hurrying on. DH noticed that the tracks were on the right. When we had traveled farther, a woman called out to the young couple ahead of us, directing them back the way they had come, and down a different street toward the tracks and the beach.

 

We backtracked a few blocks, turning down toward the water, and saw a small yellow building with a platform. A small crowd was there. (This train station can actually be seen from the ship, we later discovered, and is directly across the parking lot at the port.) Taxi drivers along the way had called to us and said that the trains were “still on strike.” A shop owner told us that the trains were on strike on Monday (the day before). We never asked them anything; they perceived we were heading for the station and volunteered the information. Whether the trains had been on strike or not, they were not on strike today. “They’re regular trains,” spoke out another taxi driver as we were approaching the platform, as if to tell us there were trains, just not the ones we wanted.:rolleyes:

 

The train tickets had gone up a little in price from what we had read online before we left, from €1 to €1.5 per person, per trip. The train ticket takers on board charged us €9 total, 3 people, round trip.

 

The ride took about 40 minutes, quite comfortable, and I believe they were air-conditioned, as they were modern and looked almost new. It was still early and not yet hot.

 

We got off at Olympia. The train also stopped at Pirgos. It just ran between the three towns. Occasionally in Nafplion and near Pirgos, on our way to Olympia, we saw some gypsy families or groups. Noticeably different, dark, brooding looks, dirty, and other than the young children, either emotionless or sad. Had no interaction with any of them anywhere; they kept to themselves. Very poor.:(

 

Noticed the loud humming of cicadas all over the area, as on Nafplion.

 

Used a restroom at a café and walked on to the Archaeological Museum. The cost was €9 for the Museum & the Ruins, €6 for the museum only. (I think it was also €6 for the ruins only.) Our DD, 13, was free.

 

We took photos of the marble statues, assembled in lots of pieces, sometimes. Must have been a tremendous challenge to figure out what was what & where it went! This is a new building with high ceilings, marble floors, and good lighting.

 

Walked out toward the ruins. We came upon hundreds of tourists, and dozens of tours, the flags up and flying as trains of people followed. Acres of ruins, columns, pieces of columns, & walls.

 

Occasionally we heard a shrill whistle and looked to see an attendant frantically waving at persons standing or sitting on a column or rock where they were resting or were having their photo taken. We saw no signs with posted rules, but a tourist would find out soon enough what was and was not acceptable. We brought a Family Doll of another DD, & took a photo among the ruins, but were prevented from doing so in another area that had been a Roman church, I think. I believe our intended action was being interpreted as disrespectful or irreverent, although the attendant said it was okay for people to have their pictures taken.

 

Though it was still fairly early, now about 10:15am, it had grown increasingly hot. We walked back to the Archaeological Museum, stopped at the café there, and had a large lemon granita (lemonade) - €5. Pricey. I think I had asked for a small one, but once it was poured, it was too late. DD got a small cone of chocolate ice cream - €2.50.

 

Everyone was pleasant except for what I think was a rude American who refused to move his chair so DD could sit down in her seat. We wrestled with the chair until it was freed from its place – the chairs were armchairs which took up too much room when anyone sat in them, as they had to be pulled out far enough from the table to squeeze in.

 

Took the 12 noon train back to Katakolon – it was a very rocky ride this time – via Pirgos. At another place we had 2 calzones - €3.40, and two drinks - €2.

 

I stayed in town to shop a little while DH & DD went back on the ship. Saw an olive wood workshop with some lovely items, although I don’t use wood very much. Beautiful chess sets, salad bowls, and cutting boards. Napkin rings were €1.90 each, but they wouldn’t get used much at our house. Most items were very expensive, but all were hand crafted, so a lot of work went into each. Each piece of wood is studied to determine what will be made from it. I settled on an olive pick for €2.90, an appropriate item to represent the area, I thought.

 

I found an embroidered, tasseled placemat or small table runner that I bought for €5, a good price. Also got a small sponge at the same shop. Sponges are everywhere, in all the shops in all sizes, not particularly inexpensive, either, in my opinion. This one was marked at €2.50, but I had €2 in change, so the shopkeeper okayed it. I believe that some people try to bargain here, because as I was looking at a pillow cover marked €15 the owner said she couldn’t go less than €12.

 

In all the stores in Greece (and Turkey) the “evil eye” amulet is very popular, on everything from jewelry & keychains, to icons & paper products. They are often glass or plastic beads with two blue circles around a black center, one a darker blue. Sometimes the Evil Eye is paired with Byzantine or Christian icons, also a popular souvenir here. They are worn as protection from evil – the stares of strangers casting magic and bad luck.

 

This whole area of Katakolon was quite clean and pleasant, in contrast to Nafplion, which in spite of the scenic views had a lot of graffiti (and places with litter.)

 

We stopped here a second time on the cruise two weeks later – the only repeated port – and went to town just to use the Internet at a “Café”. There is one very close to port. We were without DD on this leg of the cruise, and both of us used the Internet for 30 minutes at a total cost of €5. We also bought a mini book on Greek mythology for DD, as she’d be studying this topic & reading the Odyssey as a high school freshman. The rest of the time we stayed on the ship, which is nice when most passengers/”pax” are off - An unoccupied hot tub!;)

 

There’s a rocky “beach” area here at the port, but we didn’t go. DH went back on the ship & I took his photo on the balcony. There’s a Duty-Free shop here as you get off/on the ship. Prices are in dollars or euros. In addition to the cosmetics, perfumes, liquor & cigarettes, there are some toys and souvenirs of Greece.

 

People say Katakolon is only a stop for Olympia, which may be true, but it has a pleasant ambiance that makes it a nice place to hang out, if you like to shop (some good bargains here) and just wander around. :)

[cruisemom42]

Thanks for the heads up on the train cost.

 

Were you able to buy your train ticket at the station, or did you buy them on the train?

[larie]

Thanks, great review.

[cruiser620]

The "station" in Katakolon is just a tiny building -- no one was there. You can buy tickets on the train.

[LC_YVR]

Hi there,

I think I read somewhere that the price of the train depends on the time you take it... an earlier train say around 8am may cost more than the one you take at 10am. Of course the prices may have gone up as well. :D

[PenelopeCorelli]

Hi there,

I think I read somewhere that the price of the train depends on the time you take it... an earlier train say around 8am may cost more than the one you take at 10am. Of course the prices may have gone up as well. :D

 

The price in July (2009) had gone up from 1 euro to 1 1/2 euros each way, since we had researched it on the internet. The return trip was the same price, because we bought them both together. Still the best value in Greece!:)

[jstducky]

Thanks for the heads up on the train cost.

 

Were you able to buy your train ticket at the station, or did you buy them on the train?

 

There is no actual "station" in Katakolon. The yellow shack is just a shack with no attendant or sign or anything.

 

Train tickets are purchased on board.

[cruisemom42]

There is no actual "station" in Katakolon. The yellow shack is just a shack with no attendant or sign or anything.

 

Train tickets are purchased on board.

 

thanks, that's sort of what I had gathered. Just good to get it confirmed!

[PenelopeCorelli]

From my pictures: The sign at the "shack", and the view of it from the ship - the little building in the middle. The train itself is new and modern.:) That last photo of the train is at the Olympia station, I think - the newer platform with street lights.

[tamsam07]

Hi Penelope,

 

Thanks for that valuable piece of information. Where exactly do you go once you get off the ship? Left, right, how far, what is nearby? Also, when you board the train do you just buy a ticket and get off where you like or do you need to tell the conductor where you wish to go? How long was the train ride from Katakolon to Olympia? How did you know where the Olympia stop was?

 

How often does the train run? Is there somewhere to find a schedule? Just wondering how easy it was to get back to Kat from Olympia and in enough time.

 

Thanks!

[PenelopeCorelli]

Hi Penelope,

 

Thanks for that valuable piece of information. Where exactly do you go once you get off the ship? Left, right, how far, what is nearby? Also, when you board the train do you just buy a ticket and get off where you like or do you need to tell the conductor where you wish to go? How long was the train ride from Katakolon to Olympia? How did you know where the Olympia stop was?

 

How often does the train run? Is there somewhere to find a schedule? Just wondering how easy it was to get back to Kat from Olympia and in enough time.

 

Thanks!

 

If you can see the little building from the ship, then go that way - it'll be to the right. Just keep close to the water and you'll see it. We walked too far & had to backtrack. The train only stops twice, once in Purgos and then in Olympia. I think the new train was what made Katakolon a cruise city. It's a small train that just goes back and forth. One problem is that it does not run frequently. They would need two trains to be taking people back & forth more often. It goes to Olympia and back again - 40 minutes there, 40 minutes back.

Here's the schedule; someone else posted it here also.You can buy the ticket onboard - 3 euros round trip.

 

The first photo shows Katakolon harbor from the ship. The second photo is a close-up of the area on the right and the little boxy train station. If your cruise makes it hard to use the train, then you'd have to pursue one of the other options that CC members have mentioned. Most people do not spend very long in Olympia, so you'll get a range of viewpoints on how long you need there.

 

The schedule is shown on the website olympia-greece dot org slash katakolon-train-bus

 

Katakolon - Purgos - Olympia

Train line. Ε 1382 departure 08.25 arrive 09.06

Train line 1386 departure 10.55 arrive 11.41

Train line 1388 departure 12.52 arrive 13.44

Train line 1390 departure 14.51 arrive 15.38

 

Olympia - Purgos - Katakolon

Train line Ε 1387 departure 11.46 arrive 12.28

Train line 1389 departure 13.48 arrive 14.32

Train line 1391 departure 15.43 arrive 16.32

[tamsam07]

Okay, that is too easy. Thanks again Penelope!