Started the day with Nescafé on the balcony overlooking the water and Telendos.

Breakfast at Sofranos climber hangout – delicious food and a fantastic patio overlooking the water.

Grande Grotta

The approach to Grande Grotta was steep, I think easier and less loose rock/scree than the Poets crag.

We started with the “classic” 10b, Happy Girlfriend, deep inside the cave, a very mild introduction to the hard overhanging tufas of the cave.

Niko lead classic tufa route, DNA. Jess got to fourth bolt before bailing.

Niko hopped on Fun de Chicane.

Steve and Amy made their way to the right to Panorama to climb Uncle Ernie, another classic 10c.

Alex led Monahiki Elia, I followed lead it after he put the draws up. A really fun but mildly pumpy. Vertical climb to the right of the cave. Jess lead it as well and Becky, Steve, and Amy TR’d it.

Next, Jen put a little work in on DNA, I was three draws from the top and chickened out in the larger spaced bolts between the tufas. A really fun burn and although the hue up was brutal I’d totally want to get on this again.

Met a lovely couple, May and Boyen, based in Boulder but currently living in Kalymnos. Super strong climbers and so fun to hang out with! The encouragement and psych climbing next to them was high.

Niko put a burn on Ibi while May climbed DNA as her warm-down route next to him. Great photo opportunities!

Dinner at Aegean tavern was amazing – beautiful local meals. The house made bread with roasted eggplant mixed with olives was amazing. I got prawn scampi that was in a delicious onion and garlicky cream sauce.