Mt Olympus in autumn is serene and picturesque.
Although we encountered cloudy weather, the Mt Olympus autumn colours were still vibrant.
Gaining our first view of the famous mountain driving from Thessaloniki was a great moment. Wow, there it is.
First stop on the mountain was the Monastery of St Dionysios.
Sadly, the monastery has been in ruins since WW11.
It is quite a sombre but pretty place.
There's a nice walk through the forest nearby to various points of interest.
You cross a beautiful mountain stream over an old wooden bridge.
There are fish in the stream, suggesting it's in good condition. Fit for a god or two.Or twelve.
I didn't expect to see this fellow crossing my trail. I believe it is called a fire salamander. I'd not heard of or seen one before but I understand they are reasonably common in parts of Europe, particularly in mountain forests.
Vegetation is pretty. Plenty of cyclamen around (I think they're cyclamen - at least they remind me of those we buy at home in pots.)
The `various points of interest' weren't so exciting to generate lots of photos, but the walk itself was great.
Nice views on the way back down as well.
All the way to the sea.
It was fantastic to have the chance to get the feel of such an iconic place, home of the ancient Greek gods, even if just for a day.
