caving in kalymnos

[kay]

This isn't UK, but it's not an expedition either, so please forgive me for posting it here!

I'm trailing along with some friends on a climbing holiday in Kalymnos.
Since I don't climb, and since Kalymnos is a huge lump of limestone, I'm
hoping to do a little horizontal caving while I'm there. Does anyone
know of any sources of advice, or have any advice they can give? I've
written to the Greek speleological society but had no reply.

What I am particularly concerned about is do I need to get any
permission from anyone, are there any problems with carrying caving gear, lights and batteries on aeroplanes (does anyone get twitchy in
these post 9/11 days?) and do I need a rabies jab? I've caved quite a
lot in the Yorkshire Dales, but this is the first time I've considered it abroad.

 

[SamT]

Hi there

Cant seem to find much on the web. Seems mainly to be climbing related stuff. It might be worth a go writing to the tourist board in Kalymnos. :? or maybe some of the adventure activity type hotels.

As for taking your kit on the plane - friends of mine had no trouble recently when flying to geneva - probably best packed in the hold and not in hand luggage. The one thing you cant take is Carbide.

Its always worth taking you kit - you never know - you can do a bit of exploring, you can always play the dumb tourist if confronted (unless your in mexico, a member of the armed services and have mapping software on you). I find people a ususally friendly to cavers if they are confronted by friendly cavers.

Hope you have a good trip and be sure to let us know how you got on.

 

[Dave H]

I agree with Sam - just play friendly tourist, and often you will be given pointers by the locals. It certainly worked for me on Gozo a few years ago! See the surveys I made there at www.cavesurveys.com and burrow down through Europe/Malta/Gozo. 8)
Just follow a few logical rules : Don't go anywhere there are fences, or armed guards, and don't take cameras or notebooks anywhere near any Military bases. The Police and Military out there are VERY twitchy so avoid them. :sniper: Best not go near any of the ancient monuments with caving gear on as they will certainly get the wrong idea about your intentions!

Have a good time!

 

[kay]

OK, thanks, both

I think that's set my mind at rest about exploring and carrying kit - just leaves my other worry - do I need rabies vaccine? Dave - what did you do on Malta?

Gosh - you can tell I'm new to this, can't you! :wink:

 

[bubba]

I shouldn't worry about the rabies thing. You've got to be pretty unlucky to be bitten by a rabid dog/bat and even if you are, you can be vaccinated afterwards.

 

[Dave H]

Kay,

In Gozo (island off Malta) I drove around the island in the mornings looking at the sights with the family, and while they rested by the pool in the afternoons, I explored any interesting areas I had spotted. :look:

I wasn't expecting anything big so the only caving gear I took was a woolly hat and a notebook! :huh: Candles and matches I obtained locally. In Calypso cave, the candles were supplied by 'guides' at the entrance (I had the courtesy to ask if I could draw the cave while I was there, and they were only too pleased). Surveys were done using simple trig and my feet (hence only 1B grading)

There were a number of sites that I did not visit, because they were either used for habitation or had well maintained fences around them. There were some caves that had been used in Neolithic times and are now a World Heritage site (although that is really only for the structures outside the caves) so obviously you can't go anywhere near them.
The other thing I was warned by a local about is not going into areas owned by gun clubs, especially at twilight, when they apparently like to shoot anything they see moving. (In my 2 weeks there I didn't hear a single shot, but it was Fiesta time so everyone was very busy anyway) The Police in Gozo are not trigger happy like many of the Mediteraneans.

My aim was to provide an insight into the caves of Gozo, as I could find nothing about them on the web, and a couple of ex-pats I contacted over there said that the local were not interested in them except if they could build a house in the entrance. Many of the caves were little more than rock shelters (which nearly all contained signs of habitation, such as walls) or well decorated solution chambers, intersected when boring for water.
If I visited it and it could be mapped, it's on my website! :roll:

 

[Titch98]

Probably too late for a reply to you Kay, as you are probably in Greece already enjoying yer hols...........

8)

Anyway, just in case you are not, just to reliterate what Bubba said, do not worry about rabbies jabs etc. There are no vaccine requirements for travellers in Greece, which is a good pointer to the fact that there are not many nasty bugs out there.......

Not a lot of restrictions on luggage - as mentioned, Carbide (fuel sticks) is a big no-no, as well as ANY type of knife (if you taking SRT kit). Sealed caving batteries (such as the FX family) are OK, but as SamT said, carry in hold luggage bags and not cabin (just in case they do split.........but never heard of such a problem).

Any ideas where you are visiting? One place you might want to visit is the Grande Grotta Cave, just off the Grande Grotta Craggs, which is high above the town of Armeos. There is some information available on the system at http://www.rockfax.com/databases/results_buttress.html?id=566. There is also the "Cave of the seven virgins", north-east of Kalymnos, at the foot of Mount Flaskas, which is a bit of a dodgy cave (constant landslips and soil erosions have caused problems in the interior of the cave) and might be best avoided. Anyways, lots of cave systems on the island and talking to natives will point you in the right direction.

 

[kay]

Titch98 - thanks - no I haven't been to kalymnos yet, so that was useful. You've been to kalymnos, have you?
I've emailed the owner of the appratments we're rented, who says he is going to try to find a local caver for me, but hasn't come back to me yet.
I've heard about the two caves you mention, and also a third - Skalia - but you seem to be suggesting there are other worthwhile caves as well as these? - that's good to know.

I'm coming to the same conclusion about the rabies jab - DaveH - do I assume from your lack of prparedness for caving that you didn't have one? :wink:

 

[Dave H]

The Rabies vaccine is such a nasty jab, with relatively low levels of protection, but large side effect, and there is so little risk of contracting Rabies in most parts of the world, that nobody seems to bother with it.
The only precautions that I take are a box of Immodium, some kind of insect camouflage spray (often miscalled repellent) and something like Swarm in case of an insect bite.
The risk of catching anything other than an upset stomach is very small in most of the developed world these days.
Good luck and enjoy! :mrgreen:

 

[Mrs Trellis]

8)

Hi Kay - I've holidayed on Kalymnos (at Kandouni)

It's all limestone - it's basically three big limestone dry valleys drowned by rise of the Aegean. The cave systems are in the SW , NW and E.

In Vathi there is Rina which sits at the mouth of a deep fjord. Near the mouth of which is the Cave of Daskaleio. In its inner stalactite chamber were discovered a horde of Neolithic and Bronze Age items on display in Pothia (Kalymnos "town")

The landslide danger is Spilia Epta Parthena - Cave of the Seven Virgins (sounds unlikely in Derbyshire!!!) which is SW of Pothia. This (and maybe other caves) are visited by taking a kaiki from Vlyhadia in the SW.

Emborio, northern most of Kalymnos villages is a small fishing village with a small pebble beach and a few tavernas and rooms to let. Near by is the Cave of Kolonostilo (Stal Column Cave) and a cavers dream. Also there is a cave called Skalies near to Skalia north of Massouri south of Emborio.

Since Kalymnos (like most Greek Islands) is a border (with Turkey) the military and border police are very sensitive (see advice by other posters) . Observe the "No photography" signs at all times, do not take down aeroplane numbers and play the tourist.

The "Tourist Police" speak excellent English - but then do most Greeks under 40. Bit of Greek to help you (in Greek polysyllabic words have one stressed syllable which you must get right - stressed syllable bold - hence Kalymnos:-

i pronounce same as ee in feet , e pronounced as e in bet - all vowels are pronounced - dh as th in this - an i before a stressed a sounds like ya so I've spelled it with a y to get the sound spilya rather than spilia

Poo iparhi spilya -Where is there a cave?

Poo ine i spilya - Where is the cave?

ine makria - Is it far?

Posa lepta - How many minutes?

Poses metres - How many metres?

me ta podhya- on foot

Me to aftokinito - By car

Me to kaiki - By caique (kayeekee - Greek fishing boat)

Ine Megalee - Is it big?

Ine Vathi - Is it deep?

Apano or just pano- Up

Kato - Down

Aristera - left

Dhexya - right

Any more I'll help you with.

On a holiday note - the sunset behind Telendos (from Myrties) is to die for, as is a sunset cruise around Telendos. Most of the rock climbing piccies are from the West Coast opposite Telendos so you can probably combine the caving, sunbathing, and Telendos sunset all in one. Btw a chap in Kandouni next to the Kandouni beach hotel ran a Gulet doing day excursions to Leros, Pserimos, Bodrum etc. They were very good; nice comfortable boat and good food and company on board. There is a large Greek bouzouki club near Massouri to which every Kalymniot goes on Saturday night.

DO NOT HIRE 2 WHEEL TRANSPORT. GOLDEN RULE IN GREECE 2 WHEELS BAD 4 WHEELS GOOD. Kalymnos has a horrific death rate amongst young moped/motorbike/scooter drivers. Shared taxis are very popular in Kalymnos and are quicker than the buses.

The sponge fishing industry stuff is defo worth a visit. The island has its own dance called the Mihanikos (Mechanised Diver) where the normal island syrtos steps are interrupted by the lead dancer using a walking stick and hobbling - portraying an ex-spongediver crippled from the bends.

The locals refer to the West Coast as "brosta - front" and the rest as "piso - back"

Have a great time - more info mail me on glyn.wyche@alphameric.com

Kalo taxidhi

 

[kay]

Thanks, Dave H, for the rabies advice, and thanks, Mrs Trellis, for all the kalymnos and language info. We're staying at Massouri, so will presumably get to see several of the Telendos sunsets

 

[Mrs Trellis]

No probs,

Looked up some stuff at home last night. The name of the cave near Vlyhadia is Kefalos.

You get a kaiki then either walk (45 mins) or donkey up the hillside.

Look out for the water taxi boatman Myrties - Telendos who has yellow eyes - spooky.

8)

Kales Dhiakopes - Happy Holidays

Kalo Taxidhi - Safe Journey