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Kalymnos?? anybody been??
Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 2:23 am
by travelinyouth
Well a buddy and I found a couple of those God sends known as Delta Buddy passes, which enable cheap as hell flights. so we have decided to go climbing in Kalymnos. Anybody been? Any suggestions??
Cheers,
Adam
Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 1:44 pm
by dhoyne
I'm sure it'll be crowded as hell seeing as Climbing mag just had a huge article on it. Just a guess though...
Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 6:13 pm
by travelinyouth
Yeah that's what i was thinking too. I am not going till september so maybe everything will have calmed down by then.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 6:37 am
by mantra51
you guys dont even know
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 1:17 pm
by dhoyne
Nope. And I'm not flying to Greece to find out either.
I'm sure there's a bb for Greek climbers somewhere, might wanna look around.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 5:12 pm
by mantra51
My mom's greek, ive been all over greece, many times. English stops being spoken after a certain point outside of athens. They dont take kindly to americans either, life is cheaper there if you know what i mean, you could get hit by a truck on your scooter, the driver keeps going, and you cant even read the signs that direct you to the hospital. wait there arent even any of those signs like over here! And if there were it'd be in greek. So lets say you actually make it to the hospital...broken arm, whatever. The nurses work on a bribery comission. Im serious, my cousin fell off of a pier once and had to go, the nurse wouldnt even bring a glass of water until cash was offered for the particular service. They probably think of it as tipping, but they wont even come over to you if your not handing out cash. Just to give you an idea of what its like over there. It makes the Red look like a wholesome, caring community, with appreciation for the interests of visitors (climbing). Also greece has gypsies, who prey on the type of people who I see at miguels. Theyre not like the weak little kentucky meth heads, like the ones involved in problems there. Theyll rob you to your face, and usually with strength in numbers and weapons. The cops dont make arrests like here either, theyll stay out of it in most situations and if youre seriously hurt when its over, theyll call you an ambulance. (small minivan, with more bribery operating nurses.) And you flew all that way to climb! Honestly, if your'e not greek or being taken by a greek, i wouldnt suggest going. Stay in athens, or on tourist islands, like mykonos, santorinini, or Corfu, even Zakinthos is nice. Youll get funny looks- but thats the extent of it within these culture cushions.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 8:48 pm
by travelinyouth
So I take it you have been to Kalymnos?? Sure sounds like you don't like the islands all that much. I traveled through Greece for a short time and the people all seemed nice to me. Of course you had to watch your shit, but you have to do that everywhere you go in europe and in the states. The island doesn't seem large enough to really support the intense criminal element that you speak of.
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:10 pm
by mantra51
Ive been, not to climb though. And youre absolutely right im not a fan of the islands. My moms family is native to the patra/nafpaktos area. I lived in nafpaktos for 4 months, got to know the local scene very well through my cousins who live there. "sure sounds like" you werent over there long enough and probably didnt go very far off the beaten american path, and probably looked like a big fat american dollar sign. You do have to watch you shit here as well as there...but the main difference is the police at least act like they care in the US, im talking about greece in general. Youre right kalymnos is very unpopulated, and more primitive than most. So lets say you do get robbed on kalymnos.....your pretty much fucked. You honestly think cops there want to help americans?
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 3:38 pm
by travelinyouth
You sound like your angry in general. With your attitude I am not suprised you didn't get a good reaction.
As far as the gov't cop thing, the island is dying for tourist interaction. The climbing is supported by the gov't, therefore, if the climbers don't come the economy blows. Not that their sponge fishing economy wouldn't carry them through, but I think being an international climbing destination is a little better for business. You are right though I didn't make it to far off the beaten path when I was in the islands. But I think I would be a little irritated too if I lived on a beautiful island and a bunch of tourist constantly came to it, got wrecked day after day, and acted like they were something special. Each place is what you make of it, and how careful you are.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:50 pm
by mantra51
Shut up dude. Im going to rob you myself if you keep talking shit about something you know nothing about. I AM greek and i lived there, im not basing my conclusions about society there from "reactions" Fucking dumbass. Im generally salty at Ethan, and people who form opinions on bullshit.