YIKES!!!!

Who could have imagined that the summer could have come and gone soooooo fast!!!
I´ll get right to the point...I have not been updating my blog because many changes have taken place and a BIG decision has been made!
THIS WILL BE MY FINAL SEASON IN KALYMNOS!!!
Yes, it´s true...time for the next chapter in my life. After 5 great years here living the dream, I am moving on...Arco Italy is the next destination! The plan is to head out in early November as the fall season begins to come to an end.
I want to thank each and every one of you who have made work here a huge success and I sincerely hope that you will all look me up when you plan a climbing trip to Arco!!!
For the time being...life as usual in amazing Kalymnos...climbing is awesome, work is good, sea is transparent, food is delicious and the energy just keeps flowing!!! I will be introducing my replacement...Elena, at the end of October! She is coming in from Lake Tahoe, Nevada and is really looking forward to her time here in Kalymnos.
Feel free to contact me directly at yahkaly@gmail.com for any further information...I will most likely change my email address and discontinue this blog once I arrive in Italy but I don´t want to lose touch with you all!!!
Enjoy your fall season...pull hard but be safe!!!
Ciao Ciao ragazzi!!!

Well, what can I say???

I don´t believe it myself...time just flies by!!! The spring climbing season has come and gone...in a blink of an eye! It was indeed another fantastic season...except for unusually cold spring temperatures. Apparently the weather has been unstable in many European locations this year...make one wonder, is ´´the end´´ coming as predicted??? Well, if it is...what can we do??? Not a thing...so just live life to the fullest, enjoy every moment, take every opportunity, and spread love and laughter!
So, summer is upon us...temps are up...but not out of control! Great time to finish up my advanced level diving certificate!!! Winds are blowing...means less humidity on the rocks! Oh yes, we are still climbing...early starts or early evening sessions are the key!!! My project list hasn´t seen any ticks just yet, was focusing on repeating some all time classics. Now, it´s game on time...trying to get that endurance back so I can pull a few routes in Rodellar Spain this July. Will meet up with old and new friends and try my best at keeping up with these hard core types!!!
The plan (at the moment) remains to return mid August so I am ready for the beginning of the Fall season...September is my favorite month here, and October, well, any one who is any one is here in October! It´s always a month full of climbers from many places in the world, and Masouri is a buzz with energy! Should be another fine time in Kalymnos!!!
Winter...buff, too far in advance to say...but...Italy is on my mind!!! SSSSHHHHHH....
Ciao for now, enjoy your summer holidays!!!
p.s. I have given up my post as property manager at Ibiscus Studios but am still happy to help with reservations if needed. I will be in a new (yet to be decided) location when i return from Spain!!!

CLIMBING FESTIVAL 2011

Hello my friends!!! Welcome to spring in Kalymnos!!! This year we are glad to be having another climbing festival...please go to this link to get information!

http://www.kalymnos-hotels.com/

All is well so far this 2011, some new things in town:

O Miltos grill house in Masouri Square is doing a fantastic job feeding the hungry masses!!! Try his pita gyro, or pita kebab if you need a little snack after pulling hard!

Sunrise Cafe has also expanded and are offering gyro and roast chicken!!! Also a nice alternative for a hearty breakfast when Fatolitis is too busy!!!

Ambiance Cafe is under new management...Evie and Michael have brought new life and energy to the place! It´s a great midway point in town to meet with friends, watch an amazing sunset over Telendos, and get in a good game of pool later in the evening! Anyone up for a challenge game???

LAUNDRY...YES, LAUNDRY!!! We have finally a laundrymat in masouri!!! Located on the south side of town next to Athens cafe-pizzaria.

And as for me...well, on saturdays I am doing massages at EXOTIC AMBELLI on a custom built pirate ship!!! It´s a wonderful place to be, lovingly known to all as ´´Pirate Beach´´. It is located on the north end of the island about 1/2 kilometer before arriving at the village of Emborios. Look for the steep turn off on the left side of the road. There are only 2 cantinas on the beach...Exotic Ambelli is the second one! Stavros, Maria, Manoli and the rest of the family are happy and eager to guarantee you have a great experience! Try the octopus...caught fresh by Stavros! Hope you are able to visit!

Also...don´t forget:

Gecko Pizzaria has mastered the art of Italian pizza!!! When you are ready for something other than a Greek Salad, stop in for a nice meal.

Italian Gelateria on the north side of town as the temperatures start to rise! Best reward after a hot day on the rocks!!!

Fatolitis Snack Bar is always hopping with climbers from all the world...groups, couples, and singles! It´s a great location to meet up with partners if you´re traveling solo.

Ibiscus Studios where I continue to live and work (climbers massage) is all recently renovated and offers comfort in a peaceful setting!

December...Happy Holidays!

Hello from rainy (not sunny) Spain!!! I left Kalymnos just 2 weeks ago and have only had the chance to train indoors 2 times due to the bad weather. Last night there was an incredible storm...thought this old house would cave in on top of me! Hopefully things will clear up soon and we can get out on the rocks...El Chorro is a possibility for New Years...WOW, 2011.



So, perhaps some of you are curious...did I send my projects before I left the island? Well, one day...one go...Politpitis, tik! Rest day. Next day, Kerveros...one go...tik! Imagine my contenment! Then, a couple days later I was off to give Dafni a go. DENIED!!! Fell at the crux (second to last bolt)!
With a only few days left on the island...and several of my friends with projects in the same sector...I decided to leave the draws and return 2 days later. Good warm up...ready to attack...moving well...feeling good! I was looking for a grand finaly for the season and I had decided to not clip the last draw and go for it. The anchor is only a meter higher anyway...I had also decided that once I had clipped the anchor and caught my breath, that I would unclip and fly!!!
So, with my friend Thanasis shooting fotos, and another friend Martin ready to video the flight...I went for it! Solid! Made it through the crux and on THE LAST MOVE...I undershot the hold and off I went! My friend Tiia on belay thought that I had made it and took my flight I was so close...but no...not quite!
It was a 10 meter flight and it was awesome! Naturally, those technically inclined say I can´t tik it...but for all intents and purposes...I think it´s safe to say ¨yes, I did¨!!! I did get back on and complete the last move of course...and gave another go to clean the route but by then I was out of juice. It was still a great way to end the year on Kalymnos...and I look forward to playing on it next year! Here´s a foto of the crux move...at least for me! And YES...climbing in December, in the shade, in a sports bra!!! Great weather conditions!

Well, that´s it for now...oh wait, just one more thing!!! ¨The best Holiday decoration is a big smile!¨ Enjoy the season! See you next year...Monica

December!!!

Well this is a first...Monica in Kalymnos in December!!! Fact is it´s beautiful! The weather is certainly unstable but we´re having perfect climbing conditions. A bit of wind these days but temperatures are really comfortable. It´s always a bit sad this time of year when we all start packing things up and heading separate ways but the good thing is we always have next year to look forward to!!! This was a great year and I only see things getting better and better. There were so many new routes bolted this year that it´s like having a whole new island to climb! With more and more climbers, comes the need for more and more massages...so naturally I was busy enough to have someone else working with me during the peak of October and I hope to do the same in the coming year.



I´ve got just one week left on the island and I still have one project left to finish I will only be away for 3 months this time so I know it will go fast and I am looking forward to spending the holiday season with my cousins in Spain. I will try to meet up with several friends in Almeria in february and try to get some climbing in...but it all depends on the weather.

Ciao for now...