Kalymnos - a climbing paradise

by Martina Cufar

Of course we must not forget the local tourist organization, which put a big effort into organizing this festival. Again I could speak only in superlatives! Every evening we were warmly welcomed and served like kings in a different restaurant. Before going to bed we watched slide shows and movies that were taking us away to the Dolomites and Yosemite (with Alex Huber), Salto Angel (with Stephanie and Arnaud Petit) and Mallorca (with Chris Sharma). Something to dream about after the Kalymnos dream is finished!
Many of us stayed on Kaymnos for a week after the end of the Festival. We became really like a family, spending all days together, from the morning coffee till loukomadas (a fried sweet with honey - a local specialty) served for free after dinner.

The weather turned from summer to winter in a day. Rain, even sleet, wind, dark clouds, a menacing sea…  But the collective motivation won: we went climbing in “impossible” conditions. Chris (Linders) made a fire by the wall. It didn’t make a big difference for my frozen fingers while climbing, but those extraordinary climbing moments will stay forever in my memory and warm up my soul.

 Photos: www.sambie.fr