OLYMPOS . . . TURKEY . . . THE ETERNAL FLAMES ! ! !

WE GOT OFF ANOTHER LONG BUS RIDE, SEARCHED FOR A CHEAP TREE HOUSE OR CABIN TO STAY IN AND THEN SET OUT FOR A HIKE. WE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT THE BEACH BUT THERE WAS A BIG FENCE OBSCURING THE PATHWAY AND 'BEACH SECURITY' DEMANDING WE PAY ADMISSION TO ENTER THE BEACH. WE DECIDED OUT OF PRINCIPAL NOT TO PAY. WE PROCEEDED TO CLIMB DOWN INTO THE RIVER NEXT TO THE FENCE, JUMP THE RIVER TO AVOID SECURITY BLOCKING US AND FOLLOW THAT DOWN TO THE BEACH. ONCE WE CROSSED WE CUT UP INTO THE FORREST TO TRY AND REACH A NICE HIGH VIEW POINT TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT OUR NEW SURROUNDINGS. ON THE WAY UP WE FOUND SOME AMAZING OLD RUINS AND THOMBS. ONCE WE REACHED THE TOP THE VIEW POINT WAS INCREDIBLE ! ! ! PERFECT WHITE SAND BEACHES WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER AND THE SUN A SKIN WARMING 24 DEGREES. YESTERDAY IN BELLOW MINUS ZERO TEMPERATURES AND NOW AT THE BEACH. WHEN WE REACHED THE BEACH A LITTLE DUCK FOLLOWED US AND HAD A WEIRD OBSESSION WITH TRYING TO NIBBLE MY FEET. HE EVEN GOT EXCITED TO GIVE THE LENSE OF MY CAMERA A LITTLE NIBBLE TOO ! ! ! ONWARD DOWN THE BEACH WE MET THE NICEST LITTLE STREET DOG. IT WAS ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL ANOTHER DOG JOINED AND BIT OUR FRIEND! ON OUR HIKE WE EVEN FOUND A BIG TURTLE ! ! ! HE WAS SO SLOW AND ACTUALLY SUN BATHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALKING TRACK! THE FOLLOWING DAY WE WENT ON ANOTHER TREK IN SEARCH OF THE 'ETERNAL FLAMES' . . . ALONG THE WAY WE SAW THE DOG FROM THE BEACH THE DAY BEFORE. HE JOINED US ON THE TRECK UNTIL YET AGAIN HE GOT ATTACKED BY ANOTHER DOG ! ! ! BUT BY THE TIME I HAD A CHANCE TO BREAK IT UP HE WAS RUNNING OFF CRYING YET AGAIN! ALONG THE WAY A FARMER STOPPED AND ERGED US TO HOP ABOARD HIS TRACTOR TO HITCH A RIDE. THE OUTER AREAS OF OLYMPOS WERE SURPRISINGLY VERY UNTOUCHED . . . ALL HOUSES HAVING FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLE GARDENS . . . CHICKENS, SHEEP, GOATS AND THEY EVEN HAD WELLS FOR WATER RESERVES. IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE LIVING 100% FROM THE LAND ALSO WITH NO ELECTRICITY LINES IN SIGHT. AFTER A FINAL RUGGED UPHILL HIKE WE REACHED THE 'ETERNAL FLAMES'. THE FUEL SOURCE OF THE FLAMES IS LEAKING METHANE GAS WHICH COMBUSTS CREATING THIS AMAZING SITE.