Irene – Kalymnos for insiders: food & history
This experience will take visitors along a walk-about on Kalymnos island, featuring worth-knowing sights, local culture and cuisine with the help of a local family.
WHAT you will LEARN:
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The past and current history of the Kalymnian people, especially Kalymnian sponge divers
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Points of cultural & historic interest: sights, museums, monasteries
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First-hand practical acquaintance of the intricacies of Kalymnian cuisine
Kalymnos - Where the Experience will take place
What Wikipedia says
Kalymnos is a Greek island and municipality in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It belongs to the Dodecanese and is located between the islands of Kos and Leros. In 2011 the island had a population of 16,001, making it the third most populous island of the Dodecanese, after Kos and Rhodes. It is known in Greece for the affluence of much of its population.
Being mostly barren (only 18% of the land can be cultivated), agriculture has always played a minor role in the economy of the island, except for the valley of Vathi. The island is famous for its citrus fruits grown in this area. Another industrial activity typical of Kalymnos was the production of painted head scarfs, which were the most original component of the female dress.
In recent times, tourism has become important for the island, particularly for rock climbing. In 2006, the island also acquired an airport, the Kalymnos Island National Airport near Pothia, to better link the island with the mainland.
Kalymnos is known and billed as the "Sponge-divers' island." Sponge diving has long been a common occupation on Kalymnos and sponges were the main source of income of Kalymnians, bringing wealth to the island and making it famous throughout the Mediterranean. Sponges are still fished individually, by hand.
Irene Skylla is your Hostess for the whole experience
Irene has many years of working experience in the hospitality industry, taking tourists along sightseeing tours in Kalymnos and presenting them with the local culture and history.
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Place of ORIGIN: Kalymnos
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LIVES in: Kalymnos
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SPEAKS: English
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LOVES: taking care of guests, swimming, reading, history and folklore
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Has TRAVELLED to: Greece, certain European countries
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Personal TRAITS: hospitable, patient, joyfull, sociable
Here's how we'll spend the day and what we'll do together
Visitors will visit, by car, all the beautiful hotspots on the island, explore the sights worth seeing, and learn the past and current history of the Kalymnian people. Sights visited include the cultural and archaeological museums, the St Savvas Monastery, a stop-over for swimming, and a traditional boat trip to the Vathi fjords. There will be plenty of picture-taking opportunities.
The visitors will spend a lot of time with Irine’s family, preparing and tasting local home-made food delicacies and learning first-hand the intricacies of Kalymnian cuisine. They will also learn the real history of Kalymnian sponge divers, as told by the real protagonists, and indulge themselves in numerous other activities (depending on availability) like diving and climbing.
WHAT you will LEARN:
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The past and current history of the Kalymnian people, especially Kalymnian sponge divers
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Points of cultural & historic interest: sights, museums, monasteries
-
First-hand practical acquaintance of the intricacies of Kalymnian cuisine
Here are the details for Booking this Greek experience
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Place: Kalymnos island
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Meeting Point: at the main docking pier of the local harbour
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Duration: 6 hours
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Timetable: 10.00-16.00
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Availability: 1 May - 30 October
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Group size: 4 persons max
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Price: 100 euros per person
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What’s SPECIAL about this experience: an opportunity to learn the local culture from the real locals
