[Fall 2019] Greece.
We spent a couple weeks climbing, exploring, and relaxing in Greece. We flew into London for an overnight before getting to Athens Greece. From there, flew to Kalymnos for a week, then took a boat to Kos, then on to Santorini for a few days. After Santorini, we flew back to Athens, and took a rental car to Meteora, where we spent an additional few days. After that we had an overnight in Kiev on the way back home.
Kalymnos
Kalymnos is a climbers heaven. This was the primary destination for our trip. We had a blast, climbing incredible routes every day, eating amazing seafood every night.
Four pitches up, above the Grande Grotta. Telendos in the background.
Kalymnos is a climbers heaven. This was the primary destination for our trip. We had a blast, climbing incredible routes every day, eating amazing seafood every night.
Dangling over one of the most iconic climbing areas in Europe.
Santorini
The view from our island home in Santorini for a few days.
We explored the whole island over a few days, using another scooter to get us around. This was probably the best food we had in Greece, yet it was unfortunately the most tourist-oriented segment of our vacation.
Meteora
Meteora was unexpectedly interesting. We expected more exploring and hanging out, but we ended up getting some trail running and more climbing in as well!
Meteora monastery through the clouds.
Many monasteries historically had no easy-access path. The idealogy was that your religious peity should keep you safe on the treacherous.
Monastery of Varlaam
On the note of treacherous approaches, we ended up finding an abandoned monastery in the
wild - the only way to get in was to pull out our climbing gear!
We had to climb ~3 pitches to the top of a local mountain, and then rapelled into this
abandoned monastery.
View from an abandoned monastery.
Athens
We then spent a couple days in Athens, visiting all the ruins and museums we could fit, on the last leg of our trip.
Acropolis at Sunset