One Road Ends Another Begins

Howdy folks!
Well, the last few days in Turkey were amazing. I had forgotten to mention the Chimera, a natural gas flame that has burned since ancient times. Under one of the mountains around Olympos there is a huge well of gas, and it seeps out on the mountain side in a few places. As soon as the gas hits the air it bursts into flame. Once the flames were a lot bigger and were used by mariners to help navigate at night. Today they are smaller in size, but I have rarely ever seen such a spectacular sight...it was very otherworldly, just seeing flame burning away, with nothing visible as a fuel source. I will give a shout out to my mom at this point, who managed the climb up at night with us, without complaint...what a trooper!
After our two (far too short days) in Olympos, we had to move on, as there were plains to catch, and deadlines to meet. Antalya, which is the major hub of transport and tourism in the region was a really charming town. We stayed in the old quarter, near the tiny ancient harbour. It was very picturesque. We also scored some really good deals on Turkish must haves (like rugs and backgammen sets).
On the second day in town we headed up into the mountains. The scenery all along the Western Med. coast is amazing as there are these huge rugged peaks rising up from the sea, much like along the Aegean coast...only here it is not as desertous, and there are a lot of huge old trees and what not. Our destination was the fortress city of Termessos. Ideally situated in the mountains, it was impregnable in ancient times...and when I say impregnable, I mean it. It was the only city state (Persian Satrap) to turn back Alexander the Great. He never took it, one of the few defeats of his short life. Again, when the might of the Roman Empire tried to force its way up into the hills, Termessos stemmed the tide. Hadrian was forced to agree to an `ally` status with the small kingdom rather then tread them underfoot as they were able to do elsewhere. Amazing achievments for such a small relatively remote place.
The city was breathtaking. Easily some of the best ruins I have seen (and I have seen a lot at this point!). The city sits right up at the top of the mountains, and there is still some impressive remains. The theatre which clings to the side of the mountain was awe inspiring. Of course, the ruins were more impressive in part due to the amazing backdrop!
We wandered all over the place (mom got separated, and wandered to the Necropolis, grave yard, which was 2 km past the city, uphill, at the peak!) dad went off to find mom, and Jer and I explored some of the rock tombs that were cut right into the living rock.
The following day, mom and dad left early to celebrate their 30th in style in London (Happy Anniversary!!!). Jer and I killed time until our flight that night to Munich. I was sorry to see mom and dad go, but onward and upward!
We flew into Germany with out too much trouble, although we almost missed our plane as the passport guy was trying to be a hero and spent forever going over all the passports...we literally had to run to make the flight...stressful.
In Munich we met up with Schwy and Dora and Dora´s friend Mignon. It was a bit of an early night...brad was jet lagged, Jer was horny, and I just tagged along. The next day we got to Oktoberfest nice and early (11ish) and had a few beers (one beer is 1litre in size). we then explored around a bit. It was like a huge fair or carnival, only with more beer and sausage (and of course saurkraut). There are rides, and all sorts of things. I bought my new pride and joy, a real Oktoberfest hat. The chicks in their traditional Bavarian dresses were HOT. I love German Fraulines...very healthy lungs, good oxygen capacity (not to mention those child bearing hips, or more accurately, their Gadunkadunk and\or bootay!!). However, after our walk about, we could not find a table inside or out. It was so packed with people. Each tent holds 6-10 thousand people, and the fairgrounds were wall to wall. we went back to Mignon´s and napped (a few litres in the morning will tire you out!). In the pm, we wandered the city and Mignon showed us some sites. She was great, totally taking us in and showing us a good time (until things got weird, but that comes later).
On the 3rd, it was the final day of the Fest. We went to the Hippodrome tent and sat and had a few beers (we got their at 10:30 in the morning). After awhile in that tent Mignon wanted to go elsewhere. She was off work as it was the holiday celebrating the reunification of East and West. we went on some rides, yada yada yada...come on lets drink!
We then went to a tent where her friend was a cook. It was rammed, but by some miracle we found a table. Brad and I got our drink on...we had 12-14 mass that day...not all beer, as they make this drink called Radler, a mix of beer and lemonade, which was invented for people who cycle (no water for a German, all drinks use beer). Thank god or we would never have made it out alive. all the same, by 9pm we were feeling groovy, and were up on the tables dancing and singing with the Oompa bands and the other bands that spelled them off (and played hits like summer of 69). we were not alone. The whole tent was up and dancing and just having an awesome time. It was amazing. I have never had more fun.
This is when things got weird. Jer ánd Dora had left, leaving us with the 36 year old Mignon, who told us she hates Oktoberfest, she was just their with us to be a good host. Brad and I were having the time of our lives, dancing away on the table top with these Germans we met (the one girl was GORGEOUS, and into us)...it was coming up us. All of a sudden, Mignon, who had surprised us by staying, said she wanted to go to a different tent. Brad and I were obligated to go, as we were freeloading at her place. The other tent, we were warned by our new german buddy, was a swank place, and not as raucous or traditional. Brad and I were pissed off to say the least, but we went. When we got there, they wouldn´t let us inside, we had to stay out on the patio...it was raining hard, and we had to huddle under this tiny overhang...as you can tell not as fun. Mignon could sense we were mad, and kept asking what was wrong...for a psychologist she was pretty fucking stupid.
We stayed there way longer than we should have. Brad and I were the only ones dancing at this place, but we made the most of it and danced away, trying to salvage the night. FINALLY, we went back to the other tent. Mignon told us we would not get in, so she called her friend to let us in, then turned to Brad and said`´what do I get for this?´Brad, in a panic, says a kiss? Now, Mignon was FAT and UGLY and OLD, so Brad goes for the cheek...she grabs his head, and from where I stood, watched what looked like a fat lady trying to eat my buddies face...oh, there was tongue. I almost wet myself I was laughing so hard. I then walked right in, no need for the cook to let us in. Brad followed, and we blined for the washroom. Mignon was chatting with her pal the cook, so we wandered about the tent and met these Georgians (not the state, but the Black Sea country). They bought us a beer, and we talked to them for 10 min or so, then moved on. It was the end of the last night so there was this huge ceremony. We hopped up on the tables, and joined in, waving lighters and what not. Suddenly, I was two handed in the back and almost fell off the bench I was standing on. It was Mignon, who then started freaking out on us. She threw Brads Fest hat into a crowd (it was then stolen), and screamed at me for 10 min, then yelled at Brad. I ignored her and kept up the celebration, as did Schwy. She calmed down somewhat, and then the tent was closed. It was still pouring outside, and we had to walk home in the rain, Mignon the whole time giving Brad shit about how he had ´misused´her, or some BS. Like I said, it got weird. She almost ruined the night, but luckily it was too much fun for one crazy harpy to ruin utterly. Brad fell all over himself to apologise, even though he didnt do anything. That pissed him off, but he felt he had too as we were at her home...she told him that he deserved to have his hat stolen, etc etc. I feel bad for slamming her, as she let us into her home, but she was CRAZY. I was glad to see the back of that place the next morning (luckily, Mignon had to go to work, so we did not see her).
On the 4th, we drove, yes drove, from Munich south to Innesbruck, and then all through the Alps to Vienna. Jer drove, and did an admirable job. The scenery was outstanding. I love the mountains, and the Austrian mountain culture is very quaint and enjoyable. That drive was a real highlight.
When we got to Vienna, we had a little trouble finding as place to stay, but got one for 100 euros for the 4 of us...a little steep, but all the hotels here are (or full). We are in the student area, about 7 blocks from the main centre with all its historical buildings. we are also close to the red light zone...some very pretty ladies in thigh high boots working the night...and they are nice and smart as well, speaking a variety of languages well...I know , as I talked to a few...no, I did not want to spend the 90 euros, but I was sorely tempted...these women are GORGEOUS, not at all like the whores in Amsterdam, who were 3rd worlders, who had seen hard days...these ones are very pretty German, Austrian, Polish, etc. Brad and I were a little scared to walk around, but it was no worries, although we did not go into any of the establishments, as we did not know if they were strip clubs or brothels or what, and we did not want to go into one and get fleased out of our $...Jer and Dora went to the Opera that night while we walked about. Vienna is a great place to see, its buildings so huge and imperially majestic...at one time it was the cultural capital of Europe, but it is just not an area of history that interests me a great deal, so I am content to see it and go.