it's getting hot out there

 

It is 115 degrees outside.  It hit 100 around 9:30 this morning, right about the time we were stepping off the bus to begin our last day of torture in the Peleponnese.

As much as I love seeing historical sites, these have gotten pretty boring by the third time around.  And it didn't help that our tour guide this year did not speak English very well and was incredibly hard to understand.  I spent most of the three day weekend repeating all the information she gave out because no one listened to her.  I'm in such a bad mood right now, it's pathetic.

This weekend did have its excellent moments though; while the heat was insufferable, we did manage to have a lot of fun.  I finally made it down to the Temple of Athena Pronaia at Delphi on Friday; I've wanted to see that thing for the past two years, so this time Matt and I left the group and went by ourselves.  It was awesome, and well worth the hike down the mountainside.  Friday night we stayed in Olympia, at one of my favorite hotels, and started the evening off right with a group swim in the amazingly beautiful pool.  Then, after dinner, Josh, Leah, Rachel T and I spread out a blanket in the field behind our hotel rooms to watch the stars and hang out.  It is so quiet and peaceful out there, away from the city, it was a much needed respite from the craziness of the group. 

On Saturday morning we toured the archeological site at Ancient Olympia and then indulged in a long, lingering lunch in town.  Our afternoon stop in Lagadia was a big hit with everyone, I stocked up on walnuts, almonds, and honey-items the town is famous for producing-and then enjoyed a chocolate milkshake (my hot weather cafe drink of choice) at the adorable little cafe.  Lagadia is carved into the mountains of the Peleponnese, a tiny little village that seems to be part of a different world.  Time seems to pass more slowly up there in the mountains, at a more leisurely and enjoyable pace. 

Saturday night, our stay in Tolo began with a swim in the ocean, and then dinner out on the patio.  There were fireworks after dark, and then we spent the rest of the night hanging out by the pool.  Josh is my new best friend; we both have the same cynical sense of humor and it's just fun to talk to him.

Today was awful.  I can only think of a few other moments when I have felt that disgusting in my life, and one of them was when I spent 9 hours outside at Warped last summer in 95 degree heat.  We started the day at Epidavros, took a snack break in Nafplio, and then headed over to Mycenae.  Combine 115 degree temperatures with a hike up the ruins of Agamemnon's palace - devoid of shade - and you get a really unhappy group of college students.  Then, put them back on a bus with a barely functioning AC unit and complete lack of space, and you get hell on wheels.

The planning of weekend excursions is turning into mass chaos and getting on my nerves.

I hate that this post sounds negative, because for the most part this weekend was really awesome.  But in the retelling, the fun, you-had-to-be-there moments got lost.

I need to do laundry.

~RLM