December 21 marks the final day of the ancient Mayan calendar as doomsdayers seek refuge in Sirince, Turkey.

The ancient Greek town is believed to be one of the few places on earth not affected by the "end of the world," prophecy.

Some say they just came to the town to have fun.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH TOURIST ALP ANKIRCIOGLU SAYING:

"They said that it is going to be the end of the world so we just thought that it is going to be a great opportunuty to have a party here."

Meanwhile, in the French mountain village of Bugarach, residents woke to an unexpected calm.

Media frenzy has overrun the tiny town for weeks following rumours that nearby mountain, the Pic de Bugarach, harbours aliens that will rescue the village from the apocalypse.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) AUDE PREFECT ERIC FREYSSELINARD SAYING:

"Today we have no crowds in the village so I observed that our organisation, the police, has dissuaded people from coming to the village."

Some say the end of the Mayan calendar signals doom, while others say it simply marks the start of a new cycle.