In the fall of 2022, I had the unique experience of speaking at international climbing festivals in 3 countries of Europe. You can read about my events in Italy (in the Dolomites) and in Switzerland (the Italian-speaking part, in the Alps) in my 2 previous blogs. Today I’d like to share my adventures in Greece.
The small city of Leonidio, where the climbing festival took place, is in the Peloponnese region of Greece, in the Municipality of South Kynouria, about a 4-hour drive west of Athens. Behind it rise the “Red Rocks of Leonidio” —
After Covid, getting back together for a real, face-to-face festival was wonderful, especially among the beautiful Kokkino Vrachos (Red Rocks) of Leonidio. We are back!
My friends / climbing partners & I stayed in a delightful boutique hotel, a former private mansion, the Archontiko Chioti
Stone walls, flowers everywhere, unimaginably sumptuous breakfasts, and friendly, helpful staff made our stay memorable in so many ways! So many details stand out, like the rocks in the indoor walls or our rooms, the delicious liqueur made there from geranium leaves, the lovely sitting areas… I don’t usually get so excited by lodgings, but the Chioti was exceptional and I look forward to going back someday.
The whole region is studded with beautiful golden limestone rocks, cliffs, bluffs, mountains…a climber’s paradise. Here are some glimpses of our adventure —
So many beautiful places to climb, within a short drive from Leonidio! Always a view of the green-blue Aegean Sea, always the golden glow of sun on the rocks…
And sometimes, we just got to hang out with friends. This plateia (plaza) is filled with the local men playing chess & just talking…and me & some climbing friends.
Climbing & speaking in Leonidio was an experience I’ll always cherish…for the new friends, like Thomi…
who organized and shuffled and made things happen…
And Aris, and Kirios Kavas and his amazing store and restaurant…
and Panagiota, and all those who made it an outstanding experience…
Adio, Ellada!…Au revoir, Greece — until the next time.
What a wonderful adventure! We’ve been to Greece – the mainland and some of the islands, but never to the Peleponnese Peninsula. I’d like to go there one of these days.
Thanks for this latest episode of your climbing/speaking European adventure. Greece is one of my favorite places to visit. I’ve been to the Peloponnese Peninsula, but only to Olympia. It was nice to see this other part through your eyes.
This looks amazing, Dierdre. I need to get to Greece. Thanks for sharing!