Whirlwind known as Sunday through Tuesday

We had a few very packed days and were away from the Internet as well so here is a list more for our memory purposes than any.

Sunday
Turkish breakfast at hotel included at all places. 
Walked all the way to the otogar (bus station).
Bus to Saklikentgorge.
Road through beautiful countryside and then saw the amazing gorge.
Hiked with guide through stream 1km up to waterfall. Glad to have him show us the safe way plus he took lots of pictures! We don't have many of the two of us because we have to ask someone else to take it for us. The water was waist high in some spots and a strong current. The waterfall was powerful but FUN! 
Upon returning to main area we went over to tree house area and rented some tubes and a guide to tube down the river with a kayak paddle! It was fun and not too long as the water was COLD. The guide wore one of those Turkish hats that makes me think they are trying to attract dumb tourists. Us!?
We then snacked right ON the river until the dolmus was ready to take us home. We exhausted but happy with our adventure filled day!

That night we went back to the hotel and had a picnic outside with bread, cheese, wine, chocolate, yogurt and baklava! This combo reminds me of my college cluster parties at Luther minus the yogurt and baklava.

Monday
Packed up and said goodbye to Villa Daffodil.
Took a boat cruise tour of the 12 islands (really would have been 5 until it rained and then it was 3!) The day started out great. We enjoyed both decks of the boat, some cherry juice (a new favorite of mine), swimming at the first site, taking the waterslide down and through the boat into the sea and eating a good lunch (I was starving as always). Then mid lunch it rained and got cold. A break in the rain let us begin to explore Flat Island until it started downpouring again... The boat decided to go home it was cold and no one was dressed properly for the change on weather. There were a lot of local young Turks on board- a little too touristy overall and commercial... A little Dells like... The sun did come out for about 20 minutes at the end and we used it to warm up and catch some rays. Some swam during our brief stop at "Rabbit Island" and others chased and fed huge rabbits. We just watched and laughed as we have rabbits of our own we'd be happy to donate to any curious locals! The captain and I talked politics... Sort of ;)

Since we returned early we were excited to hike up to the Lycian tombs carved into the great hills/mts of the area. (with luggage on back- tough missed training!) They were cool but we didn't get too close as lightning was back and we wanted to catch a bus to Oludeniz and then the amazing sounding Butterfly Valley. We got a little rained on but the dolmus came fairly soon and in no time we were hanging out on the beach in O. watching huge waves roll in and looking for a boat to take us to B.V. Then the first major glitch if the trip came. The boat boss said the boat would not return being that the sea was too tumultuous. We were stuck in O. for the night and knew that with our tight schedule and bad boat hours that this meant no B.V. for us at all. We were sad but quickly found a hotel that was willing to knock a third off its price. It is not quite full tourist season and we can benefit from this!

The room was decent and then we walked the stretch.. Holy old Brits out on the town, dressed to impress (beach style)... Totally not our scene and probably least favorite town for that reason! We found an internet cafe to make final trip arrangements and then had a late night snack of vegetable casserole (good). The music was a random mix of US oldies and the terrible karaoke across the street...puke. Still it was a nice evening spent laughing at others with my sweetie. :)

Tuesday
Swimming at beach in Oludeniz.
Got there early to get ahead of the crowds. Plus we only had two hours. Swimming..cold pebbles not sand..ouch! Frisbee.. Hurray! We met a nice couple from Georgia who helped us decide our next destination... Olympos! 

It was a gooood choice. We caught a bus back to Fethiye very quickly and even quicker a bus from there to the top of Olympos 5 hours later. The drive along the coast was AMAZING! 

A dolmus took us into the younger, laid back dead end town known as Olympos. It is a beautiful relaxed place. We settled into our bungalow, hiked down to some ruins along the sea, saw the then empty beach (it was 8ish), had a yummy veggie friendly dinner, and hiked up to see the eternal flames that randomly combust that evening. It was a packed and tiring day. Travel wears me out! When it finally ended around midnight we crashed like rocks.

Sorry about incomplete, run-on sentences and grammatical errors... Typing on an iPod makes it ten times harder and slower!! Ciao.