‘THIS IS SPARTAAAH!‘
I don’t know if Leonidas actually said those words in real life but he certainly did in 300.
We got to visit Thermopylae (translates as ‘hot gates’) that was the site of the infamous battle between the small-but-terrible Greek army against the infinitely larger Persian army led by Xerxes (love that name). Basically a David-and-Goliath story. As large as it was, the Persian army, between 100,000 and 2,000,000 strong depending on who you talk to, for logistical reasons could not just stand still. They either had to advance position or retreat. The Greek army which numbered almost 7000 were joined by 300 Spartans to try to defend the very small pass at Thermopylae as long as possible, and simultaneously to buy time for the evacuation of Athens. The battle lasted 3 days.

The Persians won the battle but apparently not the war.
Most if not all the Spartans died after a local betrayed them and led the Persians to a backdoor attack. Athens was ransacked and burned but evacuated in time. 
The cynic in me wonders if this all really happened but if I were to take anything from it, it’s that no matter what the odds are, no matter what your position is…the Greeks will whip your ass.

Next, climbing and more climbing…