Everything is natural and free in here...

Olympos

Sights of Olympos

Activities

Saturday, 05 February 2011 00:35

kerny
Olympos has become a second home for o a lots of travellers, not anymore a stop… Even the people says that it was much more different , the beach through the ruins and the nature are still impreesing for a lots of people. Kirsten Wearne from Australia, says that it is an illustrate of quiet, tranquility and it is a kind of place, once you come you never wants to leave again…

interview: Hilday Gülgeç

When was the first time you heard about Olympos?
The first time when i heard about Olympos was seven years ago, when i was living in london. A friend of mine came toTurkey and she stayed for a few days in Olympos, when she came back to london she told me about how nice it was and you have to go there, it is such a cool place. I came to turkey on my holiday a few weeks later, and i booked through a travel agent in Istanbul. I just wanted to spend nice time during my holiday, so i booked for ten days in Olympos. So i came and absolutely loved it.

In which pension did you stay at first time?
First time i stayed at Bayram’s. İt was nice and fun,as i was a traveller, a backpacker.There was also lots of other australian backpackers like me. It was like not so much a party place but sociable place, where you can find people to chat and to spend nice time. So i was happy to decide to stay there.But It was much more different than it is now.

Ok we will get there.Then you came back to London , but you went to Olympos for several years, like every summer.
Yes, only the next year , i did not come to turkey, bu t i really wanted to go there again. Then i went back to australia again at this time and i learned that two of my friends was planning to travel to Turkey, but at that time i was making my way to Ireland to go and work. I thought i have got a few months spare and i can come. I also learned at the last time in Olympos that foreign people can sometimes work there, working in a bar, in a pension or something. So i decided i want to spend my summer in Olympos. We went there, two girls, we have stayed at Şaban’s pension. One of my friend in Turkey said before we could probably get work in Turkmen’s pension. We stayed at Şaban’s with our friends and worked at Turkmen’s for a month with my girlfriend.

What it is the attractive thing for you that you came seven years to Olympos and stayed there for such a long periods, 2 months, maybe 6 months?
Especially the beach, it is so natural and free in there. Every one who goes there usualy just stop by, it is like a middle part of any journey for any traveller. They had been travelling down the west coast, they have seen all the sides and they finally get Olympos . When they come, they see that this is a place to relax in the nature, to spend a nice time, to chill out and everything else,which they understand this is their need. The people come from istanbul, through kapadokya, antalya or like after long bus trips, from syria,egypt or after six months on the road. When they get there, they realize that you do not have to worry about food, accomodation or something else, you only have to think what time you are gonna go to the beach and how long you will stay. This charm which i love it most. I went to many places in Turkey but i have never gone back any of those places, except Olympos.

You mentioned that Olympos has changed, what it was changed in there?
Years ago, it used to be all of pensions were smaller and it was still hippie feel but now it is becoming a little bit devlopped . It is still natural but bigger, lots of people are coming during the summer for holiday. Now you can understand the beauty of the Olympos in winter, not summer. You dont know what it is like before the high summer and just after the high summer. There is less people and everyone is going back to be relaxed, not so crowded. But i have to say that even in the summer and even it has changed, everyone who gets there always has the same feeling . You know the people in vacation, always saying what should i do, i have got to go and see the ruins, i have got to go to Smyrna, like in panic about it.As soon as get Olympos and they walk through the ruins down to the beach and they just say that is amazing, i am going to stay here a few days longer. It is always the same.

Do you think that the change of Olympos is because of the people who gets there became different over the years?
No, The type of travellers that are going there are different anyway. There is a lot more Turkish people that are going. Maybe now, the people that are going are not looking the hippie style, or backpaker style but it is still a nice place to spend some time. Because before you come to Olympos you can be a different type of person but as soon as you get there all you want to do is relax. You will feel the difference in your side. There is always enough places and activities for families, for young students, for backpackers for all people, there is always something to do for everyone.

How is Olympos during the winter? Did you stay there whole winter?
Only the begining of the winter, every year. But it was really nice in winter as well, because actually there are no people. It is like you have your own village for yourself, so quite. Everyone sitting around the heaters, relaxing, drinking çay, going to bed early, chatting... If it is raining you can go to your cabin, just listen to the rain fall over the roof... You can do little beach walks, fishing,walk to the village, up in to the mountains, which are so green and beautiful, hang out with some the Olympos dogs.

Which pension is your favourite, and you can recommend?
I have to admit that Cactus is my favourite. But also, i can say Şaban is my favourite because their food are amazing it is the most amazing food you will taste, home style food and places, shelters everything is like home.

You mentioned that you went there for work. Did you able to find another things for work, other than in a pension?
I was working in boats as well in olympos also, you know the boat tour run from Olympos to Fethiye for four day three nights, for two season. Also, my friend, who lived also in olympos for ten years or something, ran sea kayaking for a while. I went with him every day to help. But it was not like working, it was just going and sea kayaking.

So can you tell us a little bit about the activities in olympos? What we can do when we go there?
There is activity office in there, such as there is one of them at the front of the Orange pension , which is really good. Because they organize sea kayaking, canyoning etc. You can find anything for yourself.

What do you want to say to the travellers, backpackers about olympos?
Just packing and spend a lot of time in there. Give yourself more time in there as you will need it, I know that you never wants to leave. Spend some time in the beach and defitinitely go to see flame tour, try do rock climbing. If you want to stay longer, find a job. Canoeing job is realy fun to work there , sea kayaking also is realy fun activity and a job to spend good time. Go to some bars, there are some good places with live music. So, dont spend more time in your pension, enjoy the night life. Enjoy it while you are there because it is a realy rare place.Definitely go to the “Meraba” restauran near to the beach, and drink some beer, just relax. I also want to say it find tayfun.He is my dog in olympos, he is Olympos for me.Find tayfun and dont pet him because he might be looks like small and cute but he is aggressive.

At last, what do you want to say about your special place?
Go and discover , the beach, the nature and of course the ruins which are the most visible ruins in Turkey and the realy important part of Olympos. After you do it go the beach and swim. This is a place like, if you go alone, you never alone. It is friendly place, it is a charm place to get the people together and lots of relationships are born there.