So you are going to Karpathos for some windsurfing 😛 Well for starters that, I tell you my friend, is a great idea. First of all, I need to again thank Anja Jager and our surfriends from Podersdorf for convincing me to actually go ahead with this part of the plan. It sure as hell was a fun time and my windsurfing improved substantially, probably like 10 times from my – low wind big monster sail and board style XD. That said well be back.

Well back to Karpathos. Once you arrive on this super windy and hot Mediteranian marvel you need to take into account a few things to make it easier and more fun:

1. IT`S AN ISLAND – Harrison Ford said in the 1998 romantic comedy “Six days seven nights” that if it`s and Island “If you don’t bring it here, you won’t find it here”. Gladly in real life that is not the case. It might find you and drag you off late in the night after a party XD.

Once of those nights… dance till u drop XD

2. WE DON’T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS – Yes, its Greece. The sooner u wrap yourself around that fact the better. Credit cards are a no go and ATM’s are scars and not always loaded with cash. Look at the bright side… u’ll save some of that hard earned money for next Monday`s all you can eat barbecue and coctail party.

3. TRANSPORTATION CAN BE A PROBLEM – As we learned early on there is another thing that is sparse on the island next to ATMs. That is rental cars and bikes. We wanted a car and got two Chinese scooters that practically drank fuel.. hell we used more for the 10 km to the bay then we did in the whole of Portugal on a rental Focus for 14 days XD.

Wo jiao Motorbike… Made in Shenzen.

4. FUEL IS RARE AND EXPENSIVE – 1l of gas is 2 EUR and even if you have the cash and want to buy some.. there are only 2 pumps on the island and one works only on Sundays or until it runs dry. So there can be days where there is no fuel and you end up with an empty gas tank in the middle of a natural preserve at 3 AM, but at least you get to see the whole milky way and the universe for once :P.

Forgot how wast and beautiful it all is !

5. AVOID BAR-TABS – I know this is a general don’t especially when you are on vacation but sometimes one just has to spend to much cash on booze and dance till you are just a big lump of sweat. 

6. FORGET THE HOTEL BREAKFAST – The night was awesome and you wake up on the couch at a friends place far away from your hotel. Trust me you wont make the breakfast at 10 AM. It will happen more often than you think XD.

Sunrise .. Hell id like to wake up to this every day…

7. QUIT YOUR JOB AND SLEEP ON THE BEACH – Unlike in real life island life is simpler and better in the work department. If your employment opportunity don’t work out, hell no problem. Just take your board your sail and your board bag and camp out, ride with the first morning rays *as wind is there 24-7* and have a great time… right Tim ;).

8. THE FOOD IS GREAT – All you can eat barbecues, Greek fried cheese, pizzas, Gyros. I am not exactly Anthony Bordain but hell you have to go to that Gyros next to the fountain street in Karpathos and to the Four Seasons. Absolutely awesome food 😛 Trust me you will  not be hungry on this island.. even if it looks like barren wasteland XD.

The bay of Karapthos.. just back 180 up the streat is the good gyros place 😛

9. FOR GODS SAKE TAKE CARE OF THE SAILS – At the Anemos Mistral Surfstation you can rent all the latest and greatest gear for a good price and not worry about ripping sails but regardless of that, let the crew handle the sails 😛 Oh and learn to carry your hardware the proper way. Joep will teach you how ;).

Arne working hard !

10. MEET NEW PEOPLE – It`s funny when u travel to all the freestyle places you mostly run into familiar faces and of course new once. And all these places have one thing in common. They are multi age and culti kinda like a soho neighborhood in upstate New York without the hipsters. You meet people form all over the globe. Don`t be shy 😛 Open your mouth and make some new friends! :).

The chicken bay surfstation

11. ADRIA AIRWAYS IS NOT BAD – Contrary to my previous experiences with our slovenian airline Adria Airways I have to give it to them. Our charter flight was really nice. The stewardesses were nice and we even got hot towels and a sandwich and the captains landing was perfect. Hmm I’ll reconsider selling the few shares I have of that company XD even if in the end there numbers are in the reds. So keep up the good work Adria :).

Adria Airways

12. KEEP UR FILMING EQUIPMENT HOME – As my original plan was to film (hell I even made storyboards on the beach on the first day) more than photograph,it turned out, that the sun, the great wind and only 24 hours in a day keep little time for filming unless you decide to dedicate most of your time to it. In the end I actually preferred to do a few nice photo sessions in the afternoon with our rider buddies from Austria, France, Germany, Slovenia, The Netherlands and even Argentina XD. I was actually very pleased with the results and you will be able to enjoy them in the next post when I make a best of selection. And all of u guys who want them I’ll post them on my google drive when it’s done in print quality as per usual XD. So stay tuned and don’t forget to click on a few if the adds 😛 I need a new 24-70 lens XD.