10/08/2019
After about a month climbing in Kalymnos, Greece with friends, I boarded the ferry to take me to Kos from which I’d fly to Athens and then back to the states.
This was my second year in a row going out there to climb and even though I didn't think it was possible, it was better than the first.
It started with a short stay in Athens where my beautiful Greecian goddess of a friend met me at my Airbnb and sang me happy birthday from the street as I stood on my balcony.
I spent a couple days in Athens before making my way to Kalymnos, a whole island known for it’s climbing (and sea sponges apparently). I was welcomed that year with open arms by people I had met the previous year.
My first day was spent with a couple of the amazing people behind the development of the routes, Hannes and Neils. It was the perfect first day back on the island
The rest of the days were spent climbing beautiful rock with a few of my favorite people. When we weren't climbing we were enjoying everything the island had to offer; fresh calamari and cold Methos, learning all the naughty phrases in Greek, riding around the island on our little scooters that were almost not powerful enough to get two girls with two full climbing packs up a hill, and falling in love with Swiss boys as we slept soundly wrapped up in each others arms on the beach. That last part may have just been me and a whole other story in due time.
So much to unpack, but to keep it short, little did I know that that would be the last time I would be on the island. I had all intentions of being back this and the previous year, but the universe had different intentions it seems and due to the pandemic the following year, I was not able to return.
Someday though.
Someday I'll be back and I look forward to that day I'll feel the Mediterranean sun on my face and the limestone under my hands again.