The 4th International Rock Climbing Festival of Kalymnos wound up on the 26th – and what a fabulous time it had been for all! Already the route setters are looking for a 9a+

... Already the climbers who were on the crags these memorable five days are booking for their Autumn trip –
that is, those who have left at all. Because quite a few have extended their stays, well after the Fest.

Sorry Emmanuelle, sorry Jens, apologies to all of those who wanted to and couldn’t...

The International Kalymnos Climbing Festival will be held on May 22-26, 2009, on the scenic and tranquil island of Kalymnos, Greece.

The event will be organized by the Municipality of Kalymnos.

Climbers of all abilities and from all countries are welcome to attend the event.

As described on the website of Climbing magazine, the island of Kalymnos has incredible limestone routes of all difficulties, both single and multi-pitch, at a variety of angles from delicate slabs to super-steep caves covered with stalactites.
A majority of the routes are based around the village of Massouri with approaches ranging from 5 to 20 minutes.
For other areas you may need to rent a car or scooter.

Although there are several Ancient references to the organic composition and use of the Sponge, much of its natural life cycle has still to be deciphered. We are similarly ignorant as to how long the Kalymnians have been involved in Sponge Fishing. Nevertheless it well known that the Sponges of the Eastern Mediterranean are of excellent quality and that the trading of Sponges originated from this area.

This fact is proved irrevocably by references made by Homer and Oppianus to the ‘gatherers of Sponges’ referring to the people living on the islands of the Aegean Sea. For millions of years, the Sponge, one of the simplest and oldest species of multicellular organisms, has retained its simplicity. The Sponge carries out all its functions of eating, breathing, reproducing and moving, entirely within its own cellular structure.

For centuries the people of Kalymnos have relied on Sponge fishing and their close relationship with the sea for their prosperity and good fortune. Their high standard of living and economic wellbeing led to such spectacular social and cultural growth that it is an understandable belief that, in comparison to the island’s actual potential, such progress made is largely greater than that of other islands. The Kalymnians were able to prosper whilst the people of other islands around them were forced to abandon their homes in search of a better livelihood.